Suffer little children ...................

[michel]

The three verses below refer to Jesus' reiteration of the "Suffer little Children....." Quote.............​

Luke 18:16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.​

Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.​

Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.​

The defender's notes on the verse in Matthew explain the verse this way:-​

"Little children" is one word in the Greek, referring to very small children, even infants. If the kingdom of heaven is "of such," then evidently there are many children in the kingdom who are safe in Christ. Such children were too young to be conscious sinners, perhaps reaching heaven through death before the age of accountability.​

I would like to see what you would all make of a different interpretation;​

Could these verses actually not mean "Children" as in young people, or could it mean "Children" as in anyone (of any age), who has the simple, unadulterated, innocent and pure mind of a Child ?​

 

[FFH]

I think the scriptures you have posted, Michel, are literally about little children. The Lord also refers to his true followers as "little children".

I agree that children cannot and are incapable of sinning. At the age of 8, LDS children are allowed to be baptized, but no sooner.

Moroni 8: 12

"But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world, if not so, God is partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons, for how many little children have died without baptism!"

Little children are "alive in Christ"

Matthew 18: 3

"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

We must become "as little children", in order to enter His kingdom.

 

[jeffrey]

Good question, michel. In the New American Bible, it says infants in Luke, and his disciples where rebuking them. My belief is that if we do not accept heaven as an infant does, which is without question, is the goal we need to strive for. "Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter in." Luke 18:17 New American.

 

[James the Persian]

I think that this refers both literally to children and figuratively to our accepting faith as a little child might. There are many verses in the Bible that have multiple meanings like this. From a practical point of view, this has lead the Orthodox to believe that we must not forbid sacraments to children (which is why we baptise, chrismate and commune infants) and theologically it has lead to the belief that unbaptised infants go to heaven if they die. We have never had anything similar to the RC idea of limbo or the belief (more common in certain protestant groups) that infants are born into sin.

James