Jesus Blesses the Little Children (Matthew 19:13–15; Mark 10:13–16; Luke 18:15–17)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 62 (on Matthew 19:13–15) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 10. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110.iii.LIX.html

On the disciples turning the children away, and the Lord receiving them into His arms:

And wherefore did the disciples repel the little children? For dignity. What then doth He? Teaching them to be lowly, and to trample under foot worldly pride, He doth receive them, and takes them in His arms, and to such as them promises the kingdom; which kind of thing He said before also.

On the childlike soul as the measure of true wisdom:

For this is the limit of true wisdom; to be simple with understanding; this is angelic life; yes, for the soul of a little child is pure from all the passions.

St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, Sermon 121 (on Luke 18:15–17) Source: trans. R. Payne Smith, Library of Fathers, 1859. Public domain. Full text: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_luke_11_sermons_110_123.htm

On the mothers who brought their babes, and why the disciples held them back:

It was their mothers who brought the babes, desiring His blessing, and begging for their infants the touch of His holy hand. But the blessed disciples rebuked them for so doing, not because they envied the babes, but rather as paying to Him as their teacher a due respect, and preventing, so to speak, unnecessary fatigues, and as setting much value upon order.

On what likeness to babes requires of us:

A babe then, as knowing either very little, or nothing at all, is justly acquitted of the charge of depravity and wickedness: and so it is also our duty to endeavour to be like them in the very same way, by putting entirely away from us habits of wickedness ... For such we affirm are the qualities found in those who are still babes.

Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

Explanation of the Gospel of Mark (on Mark 10:13–16) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Mark. Public domain. Full text: https://ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena2.iii.x.html

On why the Lord said "of such," and not "of these":

Wherefore He says not, "for of" these, but "of such is the kingdom of God," that is, of persons who have both in their intention and their work the harmlessness and simplicity which children have by nature.

Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–254)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 19:13–15) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xix.html

On the spiritual sense of the children brought to the Saviour:

Mystically; We call them children who are yet carnal in Christ, having need of milk. They who bring the babes to the Saviour, are they who profess to have knowledge of the word, but are still simple, and have for their food children's lessons, being yet novices.

On the teachers who must become babes to gain babes:

But the Lord exhorting His disciples now become men to condescend to the needs of babes, to be babes to babes, that they may gain babes, says, "For of such is the kingdom of heaven."

St. Jerome (c. 347–420)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 19:13–15) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xix.html

On why the disciples thought to spare the Lord:

Not because they liked not that they should have benediction of the Saviour's hand and mouth; but forasmuch as their faith was not yet perfect, they thought that He like other men would be wearied by the applications of those that brought them.

On "of such," which points to disposition and not to years:

And He said distinctly, "Of such is the kingdom of heaven," not Of these, to shew that it was not years, but disposition that determined His judgment, and that the reward was promised to such as had like innocence and simplicity.

St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735)

Commentary on Mark (on Mark 10:13–16) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Mark. Public domain. Full text: https://ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena2.iii.x.html

On receiving the kingdom of God as a little child:

if ye have not innocence and purity of mind like that of children, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. Or else, we are ordered to receive the kingdom of God, that is, the doctrine of the Gospel, as a little child, because as a child, when he is taught, does not contradict his teachers ... but receives with faith what they teach, and obeys them with awe, so we also are to receive the word of the Lord with simple obedience, and without any gainsaying.

On the blessing laid upon the children:

Having embraced the children, He also blessed them, implying that the lowly in spirit are worthy of His blessing, grace and love.