Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 18:17

"Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein." — Luke 18:17 (ASV)

Jesus’ words about little children provide Luke’s second example of the attitude essential for receiving God’s grace. It is not age per se that is in view but childlike qualities such as trust, openness, and the absence of holier-than-thou attitudes. Jesus had compassion even on infants too young to understand the difference between right and wrong. In recent years we have begun to understand formally the importance of communication through touching.