Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 10:13

"And they were bringing unto him little children, that he should touch them: and the disciples rebuked them." — Mark 10:13 (ASV)

This story has lost all details of time and place. Mark may have placed it at this point because a story about children is a fitting sequel to Jesus’ teaching about marriage.

Mark does not identify those who were bringing the children to Jesus. In the Greek the subject of the verb is indefinite—“they.” NIV translates it “people”— probably mothers, fathers, and even brothers and sisters. Among Jews, it was customary to bring children to great men to have them blessed (cf. Genesis 48:13– 20). The children referred to here were small children (Jesus took them into his arms; cf. Lk 18:15). Why the disciples wanted to prevent the children from coming to Jesus is not stated. Perhaps they wanted to protect his privacy and shield him from needless interruptions. Though their motives may have been commendable, they again showed lack of spiritual sensitivity.