but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
Christ receiving and blessing children shows His grace extends to them no less than to adults, for all humanity lies under death's sentence and needs redemption. Since baptism signifies forgiveness of sins and adoption by God, to withhold it from infants would be cruelty; the Spirit renews them according to their capacity until that hidden power unfolds in time.
AI summary
Jesus rebukes the disciples to teach them humility and show that the weakest believers deserve regard. The kingdom belongs to those who become like these children: humble, harmless, free from malice and pride. His silence about infant baptism when he had full opportunity to command it speaks loudly against that practice.
AI summary
The kingdom of heaven is composed not of infants themselves, but of persons who resemble them in temper: humble, teachable, and unambitious. Children should be brought to Christ because such dispositions are lovely and uncorrupted, fitting ornaments for His followers anywhere. This speaks to character, not to whether all infants will be saved.
AI summary