Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 19:14

"But Jesus said, Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven." — Matthew 19:14 (ASV)

But Jesus said, Suffer little children. Mark adds that he was much displeased at what the disciples said. It was something that greatly pleased him, and he earnestly desired that children should be brought to him; indeed, it was very improper for the disciples to interfere in such a case.

Of such is the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven evidently means the church here. (See Barnes on Mark 3:2).

In Mark and Luke, it is said he immediately added, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall not enter therein. Whoever is not humble, unambitious, and docile will not be a true follower of Christ or a member of his kingdom. Of such as these—that is, of persons with such dispositions as these—the church is to be composed.

He does not say of those infants, but that the kingdom of heaven was made up of such persons as resembled them, or were like them in disposition. It was proper, therefore, that he should pray for them; it was proper that those who possessed such a disposition should be brought to him.

The disposition itself—the humility, the teachableness, the lack of ambition—was an adornment anywhere, and little children should therefore be brought to him. It is probable—it is greatly to be hoped—that all infants will be saved. No contrary doctrine is taught in the sacred Scriptures. However, it does not appear to be the design of this passage to teach that all infants will be saved. It means simply that they should be allowed to be brought to him as amiable, lovely, and uncorrupted by the world, and as having traits of mind resembling those among real Christians.