There are two ways of looking at this incident which we are
studying today. There is the
literal interpretation of how the kingdom of God relates to children which is
expressed in vs. 16. And there is
the metaphorical application of how becoming like a child relates to entrance
in the kingdom of God which is expressed in vs. 17. Both are appropriate perspectives revealed through the
text. Jesus is obviously
expressing both principles in this passage. So we will look at them in that order; first how the kingdom
of God relates to children, and secondly, how becoming like a child relates to
entrance in the kingdom.
Now before we get into those two principles, vs. 16 sets it
up for us. Remember, this is a
literal, actual event in the life of Christ, and so we must always approach a
passage of scripture from the vantage point of it’s historical context first
and foremost.
So first in the context of the chapter, let us consider why
Luke positions this event in just this way. As we remember the previous parable that Jesus gave in vs.
9-14, Jesus was teaching a parable of contrasts between the type of person that
trusts in their own self righteousness, and that of the person typified by the
tax collector that comes to God in humility, recognizing their unworthiness and
their sinfulness. The over arching
principle taught in that parable is that humbleness is necessary to be accepted
by God. Jesus said that the tax
collector went away justified whereas the self righteous Pharisee was not
justified. Justified means to be
declared righteous. And for God to
accept a person into the kingdom of God, a man or woman must be righteous, even
as God is righteous.
Now the Pharisee thought that his good deeds would be enough
to make him justified before God.
But Jesus said that they were not.
The Bible says that all our own righteousness is as filthy rags before
God, because we do our good deeds to be seen of men. We do them with wrong motives. Selfish motives.
But the tax collector was so ashamed of his sinfulness, of his
unworthiness that he would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his
breast and called upon God to be merciful to him, a sinner. That attitude of humility was what
precipitated his repentance. And
that is what God accepted. David
said in Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a
contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” Humility then is the prerequisite for the repentant heart
that God will accept, that God will justifiy. The principle God resists the
proud, but gives grace to the humble is so important God repeats it three times
in the Scriptures (Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5).
So now to further illustrate this characteristic of humility
that is so essential to salvation, Luke includes this incident where mothers
and fathers are bringing their babies to Jesus to bless them. Now first of all, please note that the
Greek word translated as babies is “brephos”, which means a new born child, an
infant. Now that distinction is
important.
What is happening here is typical of parents even today who
wish to dedicate their new born babies to the Lord, to ask God’s blessing upon
the child and to present the baby to the Lord. We see that happening throughout Biblical history as
well. There was the time honored
tradition of the father laying his hands upon his sons and blessing them such
as in the case of Isaac and Jacob.
There is a prescription in the law that required bringing a new baby boy
to the priest. And there was the
tradition of bringing a child to the synagogue to receive a blessing, to
dedicate them to the Lord.
But the disciples see this as an unnecessary intrusion. They think that it’s not going to be a
good thing if people start lining up to see Jesus and present their babies to
Him. It was going to trouble Him
unnecessarily and even hinder His work.
And so the disciples start turning them away. And Jesus sees this and becomes indignant with the disciples. He says to them, ““Permit the children
to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such
as these.”
Now as I said, we are going to look first at the literal, historical
context of what Jesus said. He is
literally saying let the children come to Me, do not hinder them, for to such
belongs the kingdom of God. If we
are going to take that at face value, which I think is clearly the primary
interpretation of this statement, then that means that children, these babies
belong to the kingdom of heaven.
God has a special place for babies, for children who have not yet
reached the age of accountability.
Babies and young children who have not reached the age of
accountability are not able to make moral, spiritually responsible
choices. Are they sinful? Yes, there is an innate sinful nature
that is born into every man. David
said in Psalm 51:5 “Behold, I was
brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.” Rom. 5:12, Paul
makes it clear that the sin nature is inherited through Adam. “Therefore, just as through one man sin
entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men,
because all sinned.” And Ephesians 2:3 makes it clear that we were born with
the sin nature, which destined us for wrath, the judgment of God upon
sinners.
So it’s important to realize that children, babies are born
with a sinful nature that they have inherited from their parents, traceable all
the way back to Adam. But there is
a time during which they have not reached the age of accountability, that they
really don’t know the difference between right and wrong, when they are
considered innocent before God.
They receive a special grace before God.
Now this principle is proven in this very teaching of
Jesus. He is saying in the
previous parable that humility is the necessary ingredient of the man whom God
will justify. The man was not justified
by what he did or did not do. The
man was justified by grace, given to Him by God who accepted the humility and
repentance of his heart. Now then
if a man who was a self confessed sinner, who had willfully acted in rebellion
against the law of God, had willfully committed sin against his neighbor, if
this man was justified on the basis of his humility and repentance as an act of
God’s grace, then how much more then would an innocent child, who did not know
his right hand from his left, who does not know good from evil, and is the
perfect picture of humility and total dependence upon grace, not be justified
before God? That is how salvation is qualified by Paul in Eph. 2:8 “For by
grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the
gift of God.” It is not something
that you do, it is a gift of God.
And Jesus is making it clear here that babies are accepted in the
kingdom of God by grace. They
haven’t done anything to deserve it, but God extends it to them on the basis of
grace until the age of accountability. Now the Bible doesn’t establish a set age at which a child is
considered accountable. I think it
differs according to each child.
But we can be sure that there is an age where they are not considered
accountable, and that is the very early years following birth.
This principle is illustrated for us in 2 Samuel 12. There we find the familiar story of
David and his sin with Bathsheba.
And as you recall, David sinned by taking Bathsheba who was another
man’s wife and committing adultery with her and she became pregnant. And to cover up his sin, David arranged
to have Uriah her husband sent into battle and then abandoned there in order to
have him killed. This was a
terrible sin which Nathan the prophet confronted David about. And when David repented, God forgave
him, but Nathan said, “"However, because of this deed you have given
occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child that is born to you
shall surely die." So when
Nathan went back to his house the baby became ill. And if you recall the story then you will remember
that David fasted and prayed on his face for 7 days for the health of the
baby. But the baby died. And his servants were afraid to tell
David that the baby had died, because of the grief that he had shown while he
was sick. But when David saw them
whispering among themselves he knew that the baby had died and made them
confirm it. After they told him,
David arose from the ground,
washed, anointed himself, changed his clothes, came into the house of the Lord
and worshiped.
He goes to his house, they set food before him and he ate.
And his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done?
While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, when the child died you rose
and ate food?" And he said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted
and wept for I said...Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me that the child
may live. Now he's died, why should I fast, can I bring him back again?"
And then this confident statement, "I shall go to him, but he will not
return to me." David knew that
one day he too would die and go to heaven, and that he would see this child who
had gone on before him. That was
David’s confidence. That was one
of many Old Testament examples.
And now in the New Testament, Jesus Christ the Son of David confirms that
hope. That unto these babies is
given the kingdom of heaven. If
they die before the age of accountability, God in His grace will accept them
into the kingdom.
Now in Mark’s account in Mark 10:16, he adds that after this
Jesus “took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.” Jesus blesses them because they are
considered part of the kingdom of God.
He is praying over them.
That’s what it means to bless someone. To ask God’s blessing upon them. It’s not saying some special incantation that imparts some
mystical power upon a person. We
say the blessing upon our food, don’t we?
But just because we bless our Big Mac, it isn’t going to make it a prime
rib. We bless it, we thank God for
it, we ask God to use it for His purposes, but we don’t change it’s
nature. It’s still a Big Mac.
These babies in our care we should bring to the Lord to
dedicate, to consecrate, to bless, to use for His purposes, but there will
still come a day when they will reach the age of accountability where they will
be able to determine right from wrong, to make moral decisions, to deliberately
rebel against God. And at that
time they need to confess their sins, repent of their sins, and in faith and
humility surrender their hearts and wills to God to serve him as Lord of their
lives. There must be a day when
they personally take responsibility for their response to the gospel and be
saved.
But this principle certainly should be of great assurance
for those of us that have small children.
There is a special dispensation of grace that God affords babies and
small children if they should die prematurely. We can trust, like David, that we will go to them and join
them one day in heaven if we are saved ourselves.
But that should also serve as a reminder of the tremendous
responsibility that we have as parents.
There is only a few short years where there is that innocent spirit in
the life of our children where we have this tremendous opportunity to reach
them. They will reach a point
where they will begin to make their own decisions, and go their own way. That is why Proverbs 22:6 says that we
should “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will
not depart from it.”
When our children are young that is the optimum time to
instruct them in the way of the Lord.
That is the optimal time to bring your children to faith in Christ. I just want to emphasize that the
training and instruction of a child is the parent’s responsibility. It’s augmented by the church, it may be
supplemented by a Christian school, but it is primarily the parent’s
responsibility to live out a godly example of faith to your children, and to
teach your children the Word of God and ultimately lead them to Christ. This is not a responsibility that you
want to delegate to someone else. God
has given you a stewardship of your children.
Paul recognized that in the life of a young godly man named
Timothy. Timothy had been raised
by his mother and grandmother. And
he says in 2Tim. 3:15 “that from childhood you have known the sacred writings
which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith
which is in Christ Jesus.” That’s the same word, “breathos”, from infancy his
mother and grandmother taught him the word of God which was able to give him
the wisdom that leads to salvation by faith. How important it is to teach your children the Word of God
from the time that they are babies.
That’s your first responsibility as parents.
The second responsibility is to model that kind of
faith. You know, it does no good
to tell them that they need to surrender their hearts to God and then you live
as though you are enslaved to your career. Our kids are going to emulate what they see lived out in our
lives, not necessarily what they hear.
I can’t help but be reminded of the song by Harry Chapin, “Cat’s in the
Cradle.” He starts by singing of
his child being born. “My child
arrived just the other day, He came to the world in the usual way, But there
were planes to catch, and bills to pay, He learned to walk while I was away.
And he was talking before I knew it and as he grew He said, "I’m gonna be
like you, Dad, You know I’m gonna be like you" But then the child grows up, and the things the dad meant to
do never really got done. He was
too busy. And so at the conclusion
of the song the young man is now grown and has a family of his own, and he too is
too busy to do the things he should do.
And so the last verse says, “I’ve long since retired, my son's moved
away, I called him up just the other day. I said "I'd like to see you if
you don’t mind", He said ‘I'd love to Dad, if I could find the time. You
see my new jobs a hassle, and the kids have the flu. But It's sure nice talking
to you, Dad, it's been sure nice talking to you.’ And as I hung up the phone it
occurred to me, He'd grown up just like me, My boy was just like me.” We have a responsibility to raise our
children, and our children are going to follow our example.
Thirdly, let me suggest that you love your children. What do
I mean by that? Let them know your heart is for them. Be affectionate, tender,
compassionate, sensitive, sacrificial, generous. Like Jesus did with the babies
they brought to Him, take them in your lap. Touch them. I
think the majority of psychological problems that children have today is that
they don’t feel loved. They feel
abandoned, isolated. They warm up
their own dinners. Let themselves
into an empty house. They isolate
themselves behind headphones and behind laptops. We need to do as Jesus did and touch our children. Lavish love on them. Sacrifice for them. That may mean sacrificing that extra
income that you could have got by working late or taking that extra job, or
moving up the corporate ladder.
They don’t need an iphone so they can keep in touch with you. They need to feel your touch. Show them they matter. Especially you Dads. Take your little daughters on your lap
and tell them how beautiful they are to you. Kiss them everyday.
Real men kiss their daughters.
Ephesians 6:4 says Dad’s don't provoke your children. Don't exasperate
them. Be utterly unselfish. Serve your children. Reward them when they do well.
Make your home a joyful place. Do fun things with them. Love them. Make them want to become the type of
Christian that you model for them.
Model to them the sort of love God has for sinners. Sacrificial love. Model that kind of love.
Now then the Lord moves from this principle of children’s
acceptance into the kingdom to the metaphorical application. He says in vs. 17, "Truly I say to
you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child shall not enter
it at all." Notice He does not say one must enter as a child. But like a child. Child likeness. There is a quality that
children have that is essential to salvation. These little babies provide an
illustration of how a person is saved. You are saved by an act of divine sovereign grace. You are saved as a result of your
humility, your total dependence upon God for His grace, and His provision. Not because of any good works that you
have done. You have achieved
nothing morally. You have achieved nothing spiritually. You have achieved
nothing that can merit your salvation.
And like a child, humble, trusting, unpretentious, dependent, weak, lacking any
achievement, you come to the Kingdom. Jesus says if you don't come to God like
an infant, you will not enter the kingdom.
Ultimately, becoming like an infant means we need to be born
again. In John 3 there is the story of Nicodemus who was a ruler of the
Pharisees, and he came to Jesus one night to ask Him about the kingdom of
God. And Jesus said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless
one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Just as a man is born in the flesh, so
a man must be born again in the spirit to enter the kingdom of heaven. We must become a new creation. Rom 8:8
says that “those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Jesus continues in John 3 to Nicodemus; "That which is
born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do
not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'” So Jesus is saying that the way into
the kingdom of God is by being born again. It is by new birth.
Becoming a new creation.
Being born again in our spirit, by the Holy Spirit.
Now how does this new birth happen? It happens by humbling yourself like a little child. Coming to God totally dependent upon His grace and mercy. Surrendering your life into His care, to do His will. It means coming like the tax collector in the previous parable, mourning over your sin, realizing that you are lost, that you are hopeless and helpless and in need of forgiveness. The tax collector prayed a very simple, childlike prayer. Any child could pray this prayer. “God, be merciful to me, the sinner.” That prayer of humility, of child like trust and faith, is the prayer that God justifies. That is the prayer that God responds to. It’s like the cry of an infant in the dark of the night. And the mother hears the cry and swoops the baby up in her arms and comforts him. God is waiting to forgive, to comfort, to give life to those who recognize that they are lost and come to Him like a child, like an infant, helpless, dependent upon his love and grace. Those that come like that God will justify, He will impart unto them the holiness and righteousness of Jesus Christ in exchange for their sins. And then having been declared holy, God will give you the Holy Spirit to give new life to your spirit, to make you a new creation. The Holy Spirit living in you gives life to your old body, so that you may do the works of Christ.
Now how does this new birth happen? It happens by humbling yourself like a little child. Coming to God totally dependent upon His grace and mercy. Surrendering your life into His care, to do His will. It means coming like the tax collector in the previous parable, mourning over your sin, realizing that you are lost, that you are hopeless and helpless and in need of forgiveness. The tax collector prayed a very simple, childlike prayer. Any child could pray this prayer. “God, be merciful to me, the sinner.” That prayer of humility, of child like trust and faith, is the prayer that God justifies. That is the prayer that God responds to. It’s like the cry of an infant in the dark of the night. And the mother hears the cry and swoops the baby up in her arms and comforts him. God is waiting to forgive, to comfort, to give life to those who recognize that they are lost and come to Him like a child, like an infant, helpless, dependent upon his love and grace. Those that come like that God will justify, He will impart unto them the holiness and righteousness of Jesus Christ in exchange for their sins. And then having been declared holy, God will give you the Holy Spirit to give new life to your spirit, to make you a new creation. The Holy Spirit living in you gives life to your old body, so that you may do the works of Christ.
We are going to close out our service today by singing the
old hymn “Rock of Ages.” And I
would just point out that third verse which I think exemplifies the type of
child like faith which God accepts as we come to Him. It says, “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the
cross I cling; naked, come to thee for dress; helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly; wash me, Savior, or I die.” Jesus said, Permit the
little children to come to Me.
Will you humble yourselves today as a child and come? Simply pray, “God,
be merciful to me a sinner.”
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