13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.
-Matthew 19:13-15

In the previous chapter Jesus says that one must be as a little child to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:1-4). To illustrate His point , He put a child in front of the Apostles and pointed to the lad as an example of childlike dependence and faith. People saw this, and so now they begin to bring their children to Him for a blessing.

Why would these parents do that? Wasn't Christ's message enough? Certainly! Anyone who would be saved must rely on our Heavenly Father, believe what He says, and entrust themselves to Him for salvation while trying to obey. But to a parent hearing this, there must have been a terrible realization about one's child when hearing this.

The parents bring their children to Christ and ask Him to *pray* for them. Certainly they knew the proverb: "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). Surely they knew that Solomon referred to the Law here and following God's righteous commands. Under the Old Covenant, if they were afraid for their child's life outcome, they could have just emphasized the Law some more. But then they heard that the Kingdom belongs to those with childlike faith.

So they ask Jesus to pray for their offspring. They know that, as a child grows up, his sinful nature grows with him. No amount of instruction in the Law can guarantee their salvation. Perhaps they can get the kid to behave *outwardly* when he grows up, but that does not reach his heart nor save his soul! The parents bring them to Jesus so as to ask Him, "Please Lord, let them trust. Give them a faith that remains as a child, so they belong to the Kingdom."

See how our Savior grants their request, even rebuffing the Apostles when they try to turn the parents away. By bringing their kids to Him, they show a great deal of childlike faith themselves, and it is this very faith which He rewards. We have heard "Jesus loves the little children," but now we see His compassion for parents as well, especially those parents who care for their offspring. Lord grant us parents today to have the same faith as these parents did back then, trusting that Jesus will do for our children as He has done for us.