Young Children Are Welcomed By Jesus (18:15-17).
A special example of the humble who will be exalted, and of those who will be ready for the coming of the Son of Man, is now given in the little children who because of their humility and innocence as children are welcomed into the presence of the King, at which He points out that all who would enter under the Kingly Rule of God must come in the same way as little children, in humble and accepting trust.
These children are described as ‘infants', and then as ‘little children'. The description ‘from infancy' was used elsewhere as showing the point from which Timothy learned the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15), and thus ‘infancy' included the first years of understanding. And as here the little children are used as an example of how to receive the Kingly Rule of God they were clearly not babes in arms. They were infants such as go to infant school.
In those days children were very much to be seen and not heard. Few teachers would have welcomed such children. But Jesus saw their readiness to receive truth and welcomed them. He did not feel they were a waste of His time. Rather He saw them as ripe for receiving the truth about God, and that the opportunity should be taken while it was there. And besides He loved them and knew that they loved Him.
The analysis is simple:
a They were bringing to him also their infants, that he should touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them (Luke 18:15).
b Jesus called them to him, saying, “Allow the little children to come to me, and forbid them not, for to such belongs the Kingly Rule of God” (Luke 18:16).
a “Truly I say to you, Whoever shall not receive the Kingly Rule of God in the same way as a little child, he shall in no way enter into it” (Luke 18:17).
Note that in ‘a' the infants are brought to Him for Him to touch, thus being brought under His sway, and in the parallel this is how all must enter the Kingly Rule of God, by coming simply and humbly to the King. Central is the principle that the way into the Kingly Rule of God is to respond openly and honestly like a small child does.