Luke 18:15

¶ And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when [his] disciples saw [it], they rebuked them.

And {G1161} they brought {G4374} unto him {G846} also {G2532} infants {G1025}, that {G2443} he would touch {G680} them {G846}: but {G1161} when his disciples {G3101} saw {G1492} it, they rebuked {G2008} them {G846}.

People brought him babies to touch; but when the talmidim saw the people doing this, they rebuked them.

Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who brought them.

And they were bringing unto him also their babes, that he should touch them: but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

Luke 18:15 sets the stage for one of Jesus' most tender and significant teachings regarding children and the Kingdom of God. It describes a scene where concerned individuals bring very young children to Jesus, seeking His blessing, but are met with an unexpected reaction from His disciples.

Context

This verse immediately precedes Jesus' profound statement about how one must receive the Kingdom of God like a little child (Luke 18:17). In ancient Jewish culture, children, especially infants, held a lower social status and were often not considered significant. They were not seen as contributors to society in the way adults were. The disciples' reaction reflects this cultural perspective, as they likely saw the children as a distraction or an interruption to Jesus' more "important" work of teaching adults.

Key Themes

  • Jesus' Approachability: The fact that people brought infants to Jesus highlights His reputation for compassion and accessibility. They believed He would not turn anyone away, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.
  • Disciples' Misunderstanding: The disciples' "rebuked them" (Greek: epitimao) shows a common pattern of their misunderstanding Jesus' mission. They often focused on worldly status or practical efficiency, failing to grasp the radical inclusivity and humility central to the Kingdom of God. This echoes other instances of their misguided attempts to control access to Jesus or His teachings, such as when they forbade someone from casting out demons (Mark 9:38-40).
  • The Value of Children: This verse, leading into Jesus' response, underscores the immense value Jesus placed on children. Contrary to societal norms, Jesus consistently elevated the status of the vulnerable and marginalized.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses the word "infants," which comes from the Greek word brephos (βρέφος). This term specifically refers to a very young child, a baby, or even a fetus (as in Luke 1:41, where John the Baptist "leaped in her womb"). The use of brephos emphasizes the utter helplessness and dependence of those being brought to Jesus, making the disciples' rebuke all the more striking as they dismissed those who could offer nothing in return.

Practical Application

Luke 18:15 offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Welcome All to Christ: We are called to remove barriers, not create them, for those seeking Jesus. No one is too young, too old, too insignificant, or too flawed to come to Him. The church should be a place of welcome for everyone.
  • Value the Vulnerable: This passage reminds us to cherish and protect the most vulnerable among us, particularly children, seeing them as precious in God's sight and integral members of the community of faith.
  • Embrace Childlike Faith: As Jesus explains in the subsequent verses, the humility, trust, and dependence characteristic of a child are essential qualities for entering the Kingdom of God. We are encouraged to cultivate a faith that is simple and trusting, much like an infant's complete reliance on its parent.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 19:13

    ¶ Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put [his] hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

  • Matthew 19:15

    And he laid [his] hands on them, and departed thence.

  • Mark 10:13

    ¶ And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and [his] disciples rebuked those that brought [them].

  • Mark 10:16

    And he took them up in his arms, put [his] hands upon them, and blessed them.

  • 1 Samuel 1:24

    And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child [was] young.

  • Luke 9:49

    And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.

  • Luke 9:50

    And Jesus said unto him, Forbid [him] not: for he that is not against us is for us.

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