Luke 18:15-17

“And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 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. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.”

-- Jubilee Bible

I have but 205 cynical bones in my body.

I fight cynicism every day. How can I not. Not only have I seen too much in my past which turns me away from my fellow man, but he continues to teach me daily that he is worthy of my spite.

This may be the hardest battle to win. We live in a world where billions of dollars are spent on frivolity in the never ending quest for power, fame and fortune. The basic tenets of communism are from the teachings of Christ.

I know that is a statement worthy of choking on, but communism only fails because of the failure of the men behind it. Satan will never let the true values of Christ take over, because if that were to happen, there would be no place for him.

I believe God watches as man abuses the time that was His gift. For Him, there is no constraint of time. For me, there most certainly is.

For you, too.

Version Study & Takeaway

Touched or place His hands
Shall in no wise enter therein or will never enter it.

One of these approaches suggests more passivity than the other. In context, "touched" has a connotation that I can't find in place his hands on. Think of the song Touched by the Hands of God by New Order. "I was touched by the hands of God." The words take on a deeper spiritual effect.

"Shall in no wise". Wisdom is a tenet of the Bible-- Proverbs is wisdom wrapped in a book. But with wisdom comes knowledge, and with knowledge comes arrogance. Therefore, one can deduce that with a lack of knowledge, there comes a naivety of malice.

The Takeaway:

The deeper meaning of the Scripture is that a child's path to Christ is paved in the innocence that is the lack of knowledge of evil.

Children are closer to God, because they expect nothing from Him in exchange for their wonderment and they have no cynical bones in their bodies other than those created in them by adults.

Luke 18:15-17

The Little Children and Jesus

People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place His hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.

But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”