“And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them,” Mark 10:13-16.

There are three things we should note in these verses. 

(1). The youngest child may be brought to the Lord Jesus. 

(2). Christ’s disciples can act foolishly and be rebuked by Him because of it. 

(3). The smallest child may teach us how to get saved.

We will start with the first lesson taught here.

THE YOUNGEST CHILD MAY BE BROUGHT TO THE LORD JESUS.

They are called ‘infants’ in Luke 18:15. They were very young children, carried in their parents arms, see verse 16 of our text!

1. This is the duty of every parent. It is the duty of parents to care for, feed, clothe, guard and watch over the bodies their children. BUT most important is the caring for the ETERNAL AND SPIRITUAL needs of their children. We all have souls to be saved from sin and brought to heaven. First mention of soul — “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul,” Genesis 2:7. So each one of us consist of more than a body. Most people forget this! “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it,” Ecclesiastes 12:7.

2. Parents ‘bring’ their children to Christ by praying for them and teaching them the gospel. “And, ye fathers, . . . . bring them up in the nurture and admonition (instruction and exhortation) of the Lord,” Ephesians 6:4. Timothy had good parents. “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus,” 2 Timothy 3:15.

3. Boys and girls it is something to be very thankful for if we have parents who seek to bring us to Christ. Not all boys and girls are thankful for such parents! Many a boy and girl have resented the efforts of parents to bring them to Christ. Like the ‘Prodigal’ they can’t wait until they are away from such urgings. Unlike the ‘Prodigal’, most who turn their back in godly parental instruction learn their folly too late and are lost eternally! Like the children of Bethel, 2 Kings 2:23, who mocked God’s servant Elisha, they perished under God’s judgment! “And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them,” verse 24. O! Take heed girls and boys.