sf193 - Bring The Children To Christ (Matthew 19 13-15)
Matthew 19:13-15
Introduction
All children raised in a Christian home or who have attended Sunday school when they were young, remember singing such songs as “Jesus Loves Me” and “Jesus Loves the Little Children.” Those lovely sentiments are based on clear biblical truth. Jesus does love little children, as this text from Matthew attests. The parents of these children wanted Jesus to touch them and bless them, and He was more than willing to accommodate that desire.
Every Christian parent should take deeply to heart Paul’s admonition to bring up their children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).
Perhaps only a short while after Jesus had finished teaching the Twelve about marriage, divorce, remarriage, and singleness (Matt. 19:3-12), another group of people then came seeking His ministry.
The Greek word used here for children was paidia, a term referring to young children from infancy through perhaps toddler age. In his parallel passage, Luke tells us “they were bringing even their babies” (18:15).
We will answer three questions:
Ø Who should bring the children to Christ?
Ø Why should children be brought to Christ?
Ø How should children be brought to Christ?
1A. Who Should Bring the Children to Christ? (19:13)
1B. Their parents
Parents have the primary responsibility of bringing their children.
Jewish culture practiced it
Little children were brought to Him, doubtlessly by their parents
They knew that the Talmud taught Jewish parents to bring their children to respected rabbis for blessings and prayer. Following in that tradition, those Jewish parents in Perea, “the region of Judea beyond the Jordan” (v. 1), brought their children to Jesus to be blessed.
Mark and Luke use the imperfect tense (“they were bringing”), indicating a continuing process and likely an extended period of time (Mark 10:13; Luke 18:15).
God’s word commands it (Deuteronomy 6:1-9)
2B. The church
The disciples’ error
The disciples resented the intrusion into their private time with Jesus, and they rebuked the parents.
Rebuked, imperfect a continuous threatening
The Lord’s correction – “Let…come, do not forbid them…”
2A. Why Should Children be Brought to Christ? (19:14-15)
1B. Because of Christ’s command (19:14a)
Let…come, :Afete imperative aorist active 2nd person plural; to send away, leave alone, permit
Do not forbid, mh. kwlu,ete imperative present active 2nd person plural, of persons hinder, prevent, forbid
The Lord was therefore saying, “Let the children alone, beginning immediately and stop hindering them from coming to Me.”
2B. Because of Christ’s compassion
The Lord’s compassion is revealed by His reaction to the disciples’ sin (Mark 10:14)
This is one of only two or three occasions on which He actually became angry with them.
Ø He was angry because He loved little children.
Ø He was angry because He also loved the parents.
Ø He was angry because of the disciples’ persistent spiritual dullness and hardness.
Ø He was angry because the disciples presumed to determine who could and could not approach Him,
Ø He was angry because the kingdom of heaven belongs to, that is, it encompasses and is characterized by children such as these.
3B. Because of the child’s condition
All children are sinners by nature. (Ephesians 2:1-3)
All children need a Savior. (Titus 3:4-6)
All children need to hear the gospel and be brought to an awareness of sin. (Romans 10:17)
3A. How Should Children be Brought to Christ?
1B. Remember
All children are created by God
Psalm 139:13-14 “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”
All children are a gift from God
Psalm 127:3 “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.”
2B. Teach (Deuteronomy 6:7-9)
“Diligently,” means to sharpen
Consistently, “when you... sit… walk… lie down... rise up”
Openly (Deuteronomy 6:8-9)
Confidently
2 Timothy 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
3B. Model (Deuteronomy 6:1-6)
Ephesians 6:4 “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”
4B. Love - unconditionally
5B. Trust - completely
Trust them to the Lord’s grace.
Matthew 19:13-15
1A. ___________________ Should Bring the Children to Christ? (19:13)
1B. Their _____________________
Jewish culture practiced it
God’s word commands it (Deuteronomy 6:1-9)
2B. The _________________________
The disciples’ error
The Lord’s correction – “Let…come, do not forbid them…”
2A. _______________________ Should Children be Brought to Christ? (19:14-15)
1B. Because of Christ’s __________________ (19:14a)
2B. Because of Christ’s _________________________
The Lord’s compassion is revealed by His reaction to the disciples’ sin (Mark 10:14)
Ø He was angry because He loved little children.
Ø He was angry because He also loved the parents.
Ø He was angry because of the disciples’ persistent spiritual dullness and hardness.
Ø He was angry because the disciples presumed to determine who could and could not approach Him,
Ø He was angry because the kingdom of heaven belongs to, that is, it encompasses and is characterized by children such as these.
3B. Because of the child’s condition
All children are ______________________ by nature. (Ephesians 2:1-3)
All children need a _________________. (Titus 3:4-6)
All children need to hear the gospel and be brought to an awareness of sin. (Romans 10:17)
3A. _______________ Should Children be Brought to Christ?
1B. Remember
All children are created by God (Psalm 139:13-14)
All children are a gift from God (Psalm 127:3)
2B. ________________________ (Deuteronomy 6:7-9)
Diligently
Consistently
Openly (Deuteronomy 6:8-9)
Confidently (2 Timothy 3:15)
3B. Model
Deuteronomy 6:1-6; Ephesians 6:4; Proverbs 22:6
4B. _______________________ - unconditionally
5B. Trust - completely