Matthew chapter 19 verse 14 says, “𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲.”

This one sentence from Jesus holds more than just a welcome for children. It carries a whole kingdom lesson—for you and for me.

In the verses leading up to this, people were bringing children to Jesus for Him to lay His hands on them and bless them. The disciples, perhaps with good intentions, thought they were protecting Jesus’ time, preserving His energy. So, they rebuked the parents.

But Jesus corrected them: “Let the little children come to me… do not hinder them…”

𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣? Because children come with open arms, with trust, without pretension. They don’t perform. They don’t posture. They simply come.

Jesus was not merely giving a parenting tip here. He was giving a kingdom key.

"𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙙𝙤𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚."

He was saying—this is what heaven values. Humility, dependence, openness. Not accomplishments, not titles, not polished behavior—but the heart of a child that reaches out for the Father.

Now, here’s where this hits home:

• Are we still coming to Jesus like that?

• Or have we started hiding, pretending, complicating the simple act of faith?

Sometimes we think we need to "grow out" of childlike faith. But Jesus says: Grow into it.

And there’s another side to this verse too—

“Do not hinder them.”

Are we doing anything—through our lives, our attitudes, or even our religious patterns—that might hinder someone from coming to Jesus?

Especially children. Especially the young in faith.

That’s a question worth sitting with today.

Before we close, here’s something you can reflect on: 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙅𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠? 𝙉𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙨. 𝙉𝙤 𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙨. 𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩.

And is there someone in your life—maybe a younger believer—who needs your encouragement to come closer to Jesus, not your permission?

Thank you for joining me on Quick Biblical Thoughts. If this encouraged you, consider sharing it with someone who may need to hear it today.

Until next time, remember: In Jesus’ arms, you’re never too small, never too late, and never turned away. Let the little ones come. Let your heart come too.

God bless you!