Bible Strands
Matthew 19:14
But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses His disciples after they rebuked those who brought little children to Him for prayer. He speaks at the moment of their obstruction, redirecting their focus to the children themselves.
The words — The imperative ἄφετε (aphete) literally commands "do permit" or "let go," while παιδία (paidia) denotes "little children" or infants. Jesus uses these terms to directly counter the disciples' restrictive action.
The thread — This command parallels Luke 18:16 and echoes the kingdom requirement in Matthew 18:3 to become like little children. Paul later contrasts childlike innocence in evil with mature thinking in 1 Corinthians 14:20.
Why it lands — The text demands immediate access to Jesus without human obstruction, declaring that kingdom membership is granted to those who approach Him with childlike dependence. It requires readers to abandon self-reliance and accept divine grace without earning it.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Cross-references
- Matthew 18:3 “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
- Luke 18:16 But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
- 1 Corinthians 14:20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
- Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
- Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
- 1 Peter 2:1 Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.
- Genesis 17:24 So Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised,
- Judges 13:7 But he said to me, ‘Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. Now, therefore, do not drink wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb until the day of his death.’”
- 1 Samuel 1:11 And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”
- 1 Samuel 1:24 Once she had weaned him, Hannah took the boy with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. Though the boy was still young, she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh.