In this incident, Jesus shows us in another way how we can come to his in our prayers, not on account of our merit, but as simple children with all trust and joy, keeping in mind that the children did not come personally to Jesus, but their mothers carried them, for little children were not yet able to walk. Therefore the children had no merit in the blessing given to them, but it was only a grace and gift.
The disciples desired that the hearers should not be annoyed by the cries of little children, thinking that the infants were unable to understand anything. If the old could hardly understand the most exalted teachings, then how could the little do? The disciples drove out the mothers who were careful to bring blessing, power, and lightening to their children through a gracious touch of Christ’s.
But Jesus pierced the proud, ignorant hearts of his disciples, and showed them that their humility as incompetent children, and not their advancement in years or in mind made them qualified for the kingdom of God. Jesus preached his self-conceited disciples through blessing, kissing, and embracing the children.
The kingdom of heaven and of God is something great. It is the summary of God’s thoughts. Neither the principles nor the motives of this kingdom can be understood by a natural man, except through the lightening of the Holy Spirit in the forgiveness of our sins, which qualifies us to enter the eternal expanses. God does not choose first the great, the strong, and the godly, but whomever he wishes. He prefers the weak children and those who trust in him with tears, for they are prepared to accept his grace. They wish to win it, and do not hinder the way of God into their hearts, for they are broken and not proud.
Do you stop God from coming to you? This story is not intended to refer to or to support the baptism of little children, but it directs us how to pray and how to come to Christ. It also reminds us that we must teach our children according to their understanding of the meanings of the gospel, and that we must represent to them this gospel through our good example. In the wonderful experience, we see that the Holy Spirit had many times touched the hearts of little children and infants, creating in them a deep recognition of God, and a trustful faith in his fatherhood, which sometimes surpassed the faith of adults. Jesus guides us to the conditions of admittance into the kingdom of God: to become childlike in faith, in trust, and in coming to our heavenly Father.