The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 19 Part 2 Making Sure We Raise Our Children For God!

Matthew 19:13  Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

This small section gives us some insight into the disciple's hearts.

Some parents in the crowd that followed Jesus brought their little children to Christ.

They wished that Jesus would lay His hands on them and confer a blessing upon their lives.

In bringing their children to Jesus these parents testified of the respect they had for Christ and knew that He was full of grace and blessing.

This reminds us that when we are born again by the power of the gospel, we also should endeavor to glorify Christ by bringing our loved ones to Him.

This means sharing the gospel of Christ with those whom we love and earnestly praying for the Spirit of God to do a mighty work in their hearts.

Most children that were brought to Jesus were suffering some illness or affliction and grieving parents sought help from Christ.

However, these children are physically healthy and it seems that the parents brought them to Jesus, seeking God's blessing upon the young ones.

For some reason, the disciples tried to stop the parents from bringing their children to Jesus.

Perhaps, they thought their Master was busy with more important things such as healing those who were afflicted.

Matthew 19:14-15  But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. 15  And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence. 

Though the text that does not tell us how many parents there were, we do know that Jesus readily received them.

Jesus swiftly intervened and commanded "Suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto me!"

Our Lord made sure to clear the way for parents who wanted to bring their small children to Him. 

Jesus spoke to His disciples with a positive statement "Suffer, or permit little children."

He put it as a negative command to them "Do not stop of hinder them in any way!"

Christian parents and grandparents should be encouraged by this exchange, for it is clear that Jesus wants us to bring our little ones to Him.

They must learn about sin, death, and Hell. They must be shown how God loved them so much, He crucified His only beloved Son, so that their sins were dealt with.

Then, they must hear the beautiful words of life "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (See Acts 16;31).

This connects back to the child like faith and trust of children in their parents, being the faith needed for new life in Christ and with Christ.

Mark 10:13-16  And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14  But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16  And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. 

Mark's gospel adds that Jesus was very much displeased at the hard hearted response of His disciples to the sincere action of the parents on behalf of their children.

Matthew simply states that small children with a pure, simple faith and trust in Christ are those who inhabit the kingdom of heaven.

Mark's gospel is more emphatic. "Whoever does not hear and heed the gospel  of the kingdom like a little child with simple, pure, sincere faith, shall not enter into it!"

Matthew's record is brief in its conclusion saying that Jesus laid His hands on those little children.

However, Mark tells us that Jesus took them up in His arms, which is an act of tender affection toward these little ones.

Then, Jesus laid His hands upon each one of them and blessed them.

1 Samuel 1:9-11  So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. 10  And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 11  And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. 

Hannah was a godly wife and her husband was Elkanah. Unfortunately, she was barren and her husband's other wife named Peninnah, had many children.

Each year, Elkanah took all his family to Shiloh to offer sacrifices as God commanded. 

Each year Peninnah mocked Hannah for being childless and this greatly grieved Hannah.

At this point, she determined to go into the tabernacle and plead her case before God, for only He could help her.

As she poured out her soul and anguish to the LORD, she vowed that if He gave her a son, she would dedicate him to God.

God sent a peace into her heart and her sadness disappeared (See 1 Samuel 1:18).

The following year, Hannah gave birth to a son and she named him Samuel, which means "heard of God."

1 Samuel 1:24-28  And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young. 26  And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. 27  For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: 28  Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.  

Hannah wanted to wean her son before taking him to the high priest, Eli.

She then offered an appropriate sacrifice for presenting Samuel to Eli.

Hannah then told Eli how God answered her prayer and that she gave him to the LORD for as long as he should live.

Samuel knew the LORD at a very young age and he was a righteous judge of Israel, a prophet of God, an anointer of kings and a priest.

Thus, Samuel was given to the LORD when he was very young, and he faithfully served God all his days.

Exodus 13:1-2  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2  Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine. 

This is another example of Jesus literally fulfilling the law of God that commanded all first born children to be dedicated to His service.

Exodus 13:12 adds that this refers to the firstborn male children only.

Luke 2:22-24  And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23  (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24  And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 

Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple to present Him to the Lord as the law of God commanded.

They also offered the appropriate sacrifice.

2 Timothy 1:3-5  I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4  Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5  When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. 

The apostle Paul led Timothy to repentant faith in Christ. 

Paul took Timothy under his care to prepare him for gospel ministry when it came time for Paul to leave this world.

This is Paul's testimony of Timothy's salvation. He heard the faith from two godly women in his immediate family.

His grandmother Lois was the first to be born again in his family and she led her daughter to faith.

Eunice was Timothy's mother and along with Lois, they pointed Timothy to saving faith. 

Thus, they demonstrated the spirit of the parents who brought their little children to Jesus for His blessing.

2 Timothy 3:14-15  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 

One last note from Paul is that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (See Romans 10:17).

Therefore, Paul reminded Timothy that he was led to faith by his godly mother and grandmother, along with Paul's witness for Christ.

From a child, Timothy was exposed to the scriptures and those holy words are able to make any person wise unto salvation through repentant faith in Christ.

Psalm 78:4-7  We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. 5  For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: 6  That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7  That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: 

Here, the Psalmist tells us that God gave His law to Israel so that parents in each home would teach their children about Him.

This was to be accomplished in each generation that was born so that all the children grow up by setting their hope in God, by remembering His mighty works for them by learning to keep His commandments.

Proverbs 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. 

King Solomon tells us that a parent or grandparent has a duty before God to train up their children in the ways of God so that His Word guides their steps.

Children must be trained up in the ways of God so that they learn to walk on the path that God says He will bless.

In New Testament terms, Paul tells Christian fathers to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, again, for the same reasons noted above.

Let me just insert here, that parents should not delegate this duty to a youth pastor. 

This is the parent's responsibility and a local church is here to complement and reinforce Bible truth that is being taught in the home.

Pastors, I encourage you to examine your ministry and make sure that you are not in a pattern of separating parents from their children in worship services.

This is not God's plan, but I know this is a fairly common practice in modern churches.

What we do in church during the worship hour and Sunday School must be aligned with what God says in His Word.

In fact, all that we do as Christians and as a church family, we should be able to draw a line to the scriptures that support what we do.

We see the heart of God on display and Jesus always had a tender heart of love for little children.

We must seek to have the heart of Christ so that we do our very best to model the gospel in our own lives and to point our children to Christ.

May God be glorified and honored by our response to His Word.

Bob