Church Fathers Commentary Mark 10:13-16

"And they were bringing unto him little children, that he should touch them: and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me; forbid them not: for to such belongeth the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein. And he took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands upon them." — Mark 10:13-16 (ASV)

Theophylact of Ohrid: The wickedness of the Pharisees in tempting Christ was related previously, and now the great faith of the multitude is shown. They believed that Christ conferred a blessing on the children they brought to Him by the mere laying on of His hands.

Therefore, it is said, And they brought young children to Him, that He might touch them.

St. John Chrysostom: But the disciples, out of respect for Christ's dignity, forbade those who brought the children. This is why the text adds, And His disciples rebuked those who brought them. But our Savior, in order to teach His disciples to be humble in their thinking and to trample worldly pride, takes the children to Himself and assigns the kingdom of God to them.

Therefore, it continues, And He said to them, Suffer the little children to come to Me, and forbid them not.

Origen of Alexandria: If any of those who claim to be teachers in the Church should see someone bringing them the foolish, the humble, and the weak of this world—who for this reason are called children and infants—they should not forbid that person from offering them to the Savior, as if they were acting without judgment.

After this, He exhorts His disciples who are already mature to humbly serve children, so that they may become like children to children in order to win them over (compare 1 Corinthians 9:22). For Christ Himself, when He was in the form of God, humbled Himself and became a child.¹

He also adds, For of such is the kingdom of heaven.

St. John Chrysostom: Indeed, the mind of a child is pure from all passions. For this reason, we ought, by our own free choice, to practice those virtues which children have by nature.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Therefore, He does not say "of these," but of such is the kingdom of God. This means it belongs to people who, in both their intentions and their actions, have the same harmlessness and simplicity that children have by nature.

A child does not hate, does nothing with evil intent, and even if beaten, does not leave his mother. Though she may dress him in plain clothing, he prefers it to a king's attire. Similarly, the one who lives according to the good ways of his mother, the Church, honors nothing above her—not even pleasure, which rules over so many.

For this reason, the Lord also adds, Verily I say to you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

The Venerable Bede: That is, if you do not have an innocence and purity of mind like that of children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.

Alternatively, we are commanded to receive the kingdom of God—that is, the teaching of the Gospel—as a little child. A child, when taught, does not contradict his teachers or argue against them. Instead, he receives what they teach with faith and obeys them with reverence. In the same way, we are to receive the word of the Lord with simple obedience and without any contradiction.

The passage continues, And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them.

Pseudo-Chrysostom: He fittingly takes them up in His arms to bless them, as if lifting His creation—which in the beginning fell and was separated from Him—into His own heart and reconciling it to Himself.

Again, He lays His hands on the children to teach us the working of His divine power. He does this as others are accustomed to do, although His work is not like that of others. For even though He was God, He adhered to human ways of acting, since He was truly man.²

The Venerable Bede: By embracing and blessing the children, He implied that the lowly in spirit are worthy of His blessing, grace, and love.

1. Matt., XV, 7
2. Vict. Ant, e Cat. in Marc.