Church Fathers Commentary Matthew 19:13-15

"Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should lay his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence." — Matthew 19:13-15 (ASV)

Pseudo-Chrysostom: The Lord had been speaking about chastity, and some of His hearers now brought infants to Him, who are the purest regarding chastity. They supposed that He had approved only those who were pure in body, and this is what is meant by the words, "Then were brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray."

Origen of Alexandria: For they now understood from His previous mighty works that evils were averted by the laying on of His hands and by prayer. Therefore, they bring children to Him, judging it impossible that any harm or demon could come near them after the Lord had conveyed divine virtue into them by His touch.

Remigius of Auxerre: For it was a custom among the ancients that little children should be brought to aged persons to receive a blessing by their hand or tongue; and according to this custom, little children are now brought to the Lord.

Pseudo-Chrysostom: The flesh, since it does not delight in what is good, readily forgets any good it hears, but it always retains the evil it has. Only a little while before, Christ had taken a little child and said, Except ye become as this child, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3). Yet His disciples, immediately forgetting this innocence of children, now forbid them, as if they were unworthy to come to Christ.

St. Jerome: This was not because they disliked them receiving a blessing from the Savior's hand and mouth, but because their faith was not yet perfect, they thought that He, like other men, would be wearied by the requests of those who brought them.

St. John Chrysostom: Or, the disciples would have pushed them away out of respect for Christ's dignityⁱ. But the Lord, teaching them to have holy thoughts and to subdue the pride of this world, took the children into His arms and promised the kingdom of heaven to such as these. "But Jesus said to them, Suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

Pseudo-Chrysostom: For who would be worthy to come to Christ, if simple infancy were pushed away? Therefore, He said, "Forbid them not." For if they turn out to be saints, why do you hinder the sons from coming to their Father? And if they turn out to be sinners, why do you pronounce a sentence of condemnation before you see any fault in them?

St. Jerome: And He said distinctly, Of such is the kingdom of heaven, not "of these," to show that it was not age but disposition that He judged, and that the reward was promised to those who had similar innocence and simplicity.

Pseudo-Chrysostom: The present passage instructs all parents to bring their children to the priests, for it is not the priest who lays his hands on them, but Christ, in whose name hands are laid. For if the one who offers his food to God in prayer eats it sanctified—as it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer, as the Apostle says (1 Timothy 4:5)—how much more should children be offered to God and sanctified?

This is also the reason for the blessing of food: Because the whole world lieth in wickedness (1 John 5:19). This means that all things that have a body, which are a great part of the world, lie in wickedness. Consequently, infants, when they are born, are lying in wickedness with respect to their flesh.

Origen of Alexandria: Mystically, we call those who are still carnal in Christ and in need of milk "children." Those who bring the infants to the Savior represent teachers who profess knowledge of the word but are still simple, feeding on basic lessons, as they are yet novices. In contrast, those who seem more perfect, and are therefore disciples of Jesus, rebuke these teachers. Before they have learned the way of righteousness that is suited for children, they rebuke those who use simple doctrine to bring "children"—that is, the less learned—to Christ.

But the Lord, exhorting His disciples (who have now become mature) to condescend to the needs of infants—to be infants to infants, that they may gain infants—says, For of such is the kingdom of heaven. For He Himself, when He was in the form of God, was made an infant. We should pay attention to these things, lest, in esteeming our own more excellent wisdom and spiritual advancement, we become proud and despise the little ones of the Church, forbidding children to be brought to Jesus.

But since children cannot follow all the things that are commanded, Jesus laid His hands on them. Leaving virtue in them by His touch, He went away from them, seeing they were not able to follow Him like the other, more perfect disciples.

Remigius of Auxerre: Also, by laying His hands on them, He blessed them, to signify that the lowly in spirit are worthy of His grace and blessing.

Glossa Ordinaria: He laid His hands on them while people held them, to signify that the grace of His help was necessary. ¹

St. Hilary of Poitiers: The infants are a type of the Gentiles, to whom salvation is given through faith and hearing. But the disciples, in their initial zeal for the salvation of Israel, forbid them to approach. The Lord, however, declares that they are not to be forbidden. For the gift of the Holy Spirit was to be conferred on the Gentiles by the laying on of hands, as soon as the Law had ceased.

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