GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 10:14
Permit the Children to Come
Driving by a daycare center recently, I saw several children playing on the equipment—swings, slides, see-saws, monkey bars, and so on. There were boys and girls of all races including Black and White. No one was ignored because of gender, color, or culture. One writer described the children in such an environment as humble; they had not yet learned to think of themselves in terms of place, pride, or prestige. They were obedient, not yet having learned the nuances of duplicity. They were trustful, accepting authority and having confidence in other people. He also noted they had short memories, not yet having learned to bear grudges and nourish bitterness. It is little wonder that Jesus enjoyed having children present.
Mark recounts that, following a tense discussion with critical Pharisees, Jesus entered a house and engaged in a follow-up conversation with his disciples regarding divorce and remarriage. After this lesson, parents began bringing their little children to Jesus for him to touch—a practice familiar to the disciples. For some reason, perhaps to protect Jesus’ quiet time, the disciples rebuked the parents for bringing their children to him. “But seeing, Jesus was indignant and said to them, ‘Permit the little children to come to me; stop preventing them! For the Kingdom of God is of such as these.’” (Mark 10:14)
One noticeable aspect of this passage is Jesus’ indignation toward the disciples. The word “indignation” (ἀγανακτέω, aganakteó, to be greatly afflicted) appears seven times in the New Testament, and only here is it used to refer to Jesus. Writers draw various interpretations from this reaction: he was indignant because the disciples presumed to know his intention, because they took his power upon themselves, because they did not understand his teaching about the Kingdom of God, or because they had not yet come to understand his mission.
Translating this passage troubles interpreters, especially the final phrase: “For the Kingdom of God is of such as these.” Some render the verb as “belongs to,” while others render it as “is.” Whatever the translation, the message remains the same: one must come to Jesus with the humility, obedience, trust, and openheartedness of a child. Preventing such an approach should provoke indignation, as Jesus himself displayed.
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