They Met Jesus: Christ Welcomes the Children

Psalm 127:3-5¹NIV New International Version Translations
³ Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. ⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. ⁵ Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.

Background

Matthew Henry the theologian, entitles Psalm 127 The value of the Divine blessing²http://www.christianity.com/bible/commentary.php?com=mhc&b=19&c=127. He states the following:

We should always look to and for God’s providence. In all the affairs and business of a family we must depend upon God’s blessing.

1.  For raising a family. If God is not acknowledged, we have no reason to expect His blessing; and the best-laid plans fail, unless God crowns them with success.
2. For the safety of a family or an entire city. Except the Lord to keep the city. It’s human the watchmen, though they neither slumber nor sleep, stay awake in vain because mischief still break outs. Even their ear discoveries may not be able to prevent it.
3. For enriching a family. Some are so eager in the world, that they are continually full of caring for themselves, which makes their comforts even that much more bitter, and their lives a burden. All this is to get money; but all in vain if it is without God’s prosperity. While those who love the Lord, using due diligence in their lawful callings, and casting all their care upon the Lord, have a fruitful success, without uneasiness or guilt. Our care must be to keep ourselves in the love of God; then we may be relaxed in our world, whether we have little or much of it. But we must use the proper means very diligently. Children are God’s gifts, a heritage, and a reward; and are to be accounted blessings, and not burdens: he who sends mouths, will send meat, if we trust in him. They are a great support and defence to a family. Children who are young, may be directed aright to the mark, God’s glory, and the service of their generation; but when they  go into the world, they are like arrows leaving the bow, it is too late to direct them then. But these arrows too often prove arrows in the heart, a grief to godly parents. Yet, if trained according to God’s word, they generally prove the best defence in declining years, remembering their obligations to their parents, and taking care of them in old age. All earthly comforts are uncertain, but the Lord will assuredly comfort and bless those who serve him; and those who seek the conversion of sinners, will find that their spiritual children are their joy and crown in the day of Jesus Christ.

Biblical Truth and Theology

Children are a gift from God even though we as humans birth them. A soldier with many arrows is happy and so should a man with many children be happy. They will give him help to fight his enemies and take care of him in his old age.

Items for Discussion

• What do you think about the psalm writer’s analogy that children are like arrows?
• Why are children also just like the arrow after it leaves the bow?
• Do you think that our world threats children as a “gift from God?” Why or why not?
• What are the vulnerabilities of a child that you think God will hold us accountable for?
• How do you think the movement to remove God from schools has impacted our children?
• A parent drops their child off at church, goes and has coffee and then picks the child up – Do you think this parent is satisfying the spirit of this Psalm? Why or why not?
• Think about how an archer prepares to shoot an arrow that hits its target – What are the similarities with raising a child?

Matthew 19:13-14
¹³ Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Background

In this chapter, we have:

• Christ changing his location, leaving Galilee, and coming into the coasts of Judea (v. 1, v. 2).
• His dispute with the Pharisees about divorce, and his discourse with his disciples about Christ’s position on both marriage and divorce (v. 3-12).
• The kindness Christ extended to some little children which were brought to Him (v. 13-15).
• An account of what passed between Christ and a hopeful young gentleman that applied himself to him (v. 16-22). V. His discourse with his disciples upon that occasion, concerning the difficulty of the salvation of those that have much in the world, and the certain compensation or reward given for loss or harm suffered or effort made by God for those that leave all for Christ (v. 23-30).

Bible Truths and Theology³http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-commentary/matthew14-20-im-lbw.htm

Often in those days, people brought their children to a famous teacher. The teacher would put his hands on the children and he would bless them. The people recognised that Jesus was such a teacher. Therefore, they brought their children to him. They wanted Jesus to put his hands on the children and to pray for them. The disciples tried to stop these people. Maybe the disciples thought that Jesus was too busy or too tired. Maybe they thought that children were not important. But to Jesus the children were very important. He loved the children. He wanted them to come to him. Jesus told the *disciples not to stop them. Children are humble and they have simple trust. The *kingdom of heaven belongs to people who in these ways are like children (see Matthew 18:1-5).

Items for Discussion

• Why do you think that children are humble and have a simple trust?
• For those children who lose it, how does this happen?
• What effect on a person’s humility does early exposure to God and Jesus have?  
• How can an adult who might have no early church experiences catch up, in other words, regain the benefits of a childhood faith?
• Do you think our society does not value children as they were valued in Christ’s time? Why or why not?

Discussion Challenge

• If you believe that children are not valued by society, what must the church do to restore the idea that children are important to society?
• If you believe that children are valued, how can this be leveraged to benefit our society?