Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 19:15

"And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence." — Matthew 19:15 (ASV)

Jesus did not want the little children prevented from coming to him, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to those like them. Jesus receives them because they are an excellent object lesson in the kind of humility and faith he finds acceptable . Furthermore, having just given an important lesson on the sanctity of marriage and family (vv.3–12), Jesus continues this by saying something important about children.