God's Heart for Children

Introduction:

My wife and I recently took the whole Herd to Macon to get Andrew’s glasses fixed and as we were leaving Len’s Crafters and walking down the sidewalk to join up with the rest of the crew, we had to pass a woman carrying a baby.

She had this cute little lump on her shoulder with its chubby little cheeks all scrunched up as it was sleeping. My wife almost knocked me down to get me to walk by this woman awkwardly and stare at her baby.

She assured me that she didn’t want to add another one to the Herd we already have, but she did love to look at them cheeks and sometimes just wants to hold someone else’s baby and then give it back to them to take home.

She has a mother’s heart and mother’s generally love their children. They want what is best for them and they want the best opportunities for them to thrive and succeed. If you mess with their baby, you mess with Mamma and you better watch out!

Did you know though that God feels the same way about His children? God is protective of children and loves them. He has given them to parents as a stewardship. Being a parent is the most important responsibility that God could give you and we should take very seriously what He says about them in His Word.

We are going to see another similar event in our text this morning to one that happened previously with Jesus and the Disciples in the region of Galilee. Because it is a repeated event, we should pay close attention and learn what God wants us to learn.

Let’s take a look at our text this morning together.

Matthew 19:13–15 ESV

13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.

Pray

1. Who Was Brought to Jesus (v.13)

Matthew 19:13 ESV

13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people,

Children

Greek word can be small child or infant

Luke 18:15 ESV

15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

Were brought - they were passive in this exercise

We must not wait for our kids to get ready for us to bring them to Christ

They need to know early and often about Jesus

Start as young as you can

Never too early

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

Why not start now?

2. Who Was Bringing Them to Jesus (v.13)

Matthew 19:13 ESV

13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people,

Most likely it was the parents

God wants us to bring our children to Him

God wants parents to take the lead in discipling them

Deuteronomy 6:6–9 ESV

6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

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3. What the Results Were (v. 14-15)

Matthew 19:14–15 ESV

14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.

Jesus rebuked the Disciples

Jesus blessed the children

What might the results be of us bringing our children to Jesus?

Conclusion:

You won’t bring your children to someone you don’t know.

You must believe Jesus is the only one who can save them and deliver them.

You have to become like a child to enter the Kingdom Yourself