Luke 18 15

Luke 18:15 kjv

And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

Luke 18:15 nkjv

Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

Luke 18:15 niv

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

Luke 18:15 esv

Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

Luke 18:15 nlt

One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.

Luke 18 verses

Luke 18 15 Meaning

This verse describes a scene where people brought their very young children to Jesus, desiring His physical touch or blessing upon them. However, when Jesus' disciples witnessed this, they intervened and sternly told the people to stop, presumably believing Jesus was too important or busy for such interaction with mere infants.

Luke 18 15 Context

Luke 18:15 stands immediately after Jesus' Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Lk 18:9-14), which strongly emphasizes the virtue of humility and self-abasement as the path to God's acceptance. It also precedes Jesus' direct teaching that "whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it" (Lk 18:17). Thus, this incident serves as a living illustration of the parable's principle and a poignant prelude to Jesus' explicit instruction. Historically, children in ancient Jewish and Roman societies generally held little social standing or legal recognition until they reached adulthood. They were not viewed as independent moral agents and their religious participation often came secondary to adults. This cultural perception informed the disciples' actions, as they likely saw the children as trivial distractions from more important adult matters for Jesus.

Luke 18 15 Word analysis

• And: A conjunction linking this narrative incident directly to the preceding teachings, suggesting continuity in Jesus' demonstrations of God's Kingdom principles.

• they brought: Implies an active effort by guardians or parents. It signifies a desire for direct interaction with Jesus, acknowledging His unique authority and ability to impart blessing.

• unto him: Highlights Jesus as the specific focus and recipient of their seeking. It indicates the people's faith and the understanding that blessing comes from Him.

• also infants: Greek: brephē (βρέφη). This term typically refers to very young children, from newborns up to toddlers. It emphasizes their complete helplessness and dependence. The inclusion of "also" suggests these children, despite their young age and low social standing, were equally worthy of Jesus' attention, contrasting with conventional societal views.

• that he would touch them: Greek: haptesthai (ἅπτεσθαι), meaning "to touch, grasp, or lay hold of." In this context, it implies more than mere physical contact; it conveys the desire for a blessing, a healing, an impartation of divine grace or favor, a common practice in that culture. The touch was perceived as a channel of spiritual power.

• but when: Marks a sharp transition and introduces a contrasting action to the people's desire.

• his disciples: Greek: mathētai (μαθηταὶ), referring to Jesus' close followers. Their action represents a perspective common even among those closest to Jesus—a misunderstanding of God's inclusive nature and the true value placed on humility.

• saw it: Indicates their direct observation of the children being brought to Jesus, leading immediately to their reaction.

• they rebuked them: Greek: epetimōn (ἐπετίμων), meaning "to scold, admonish, forbid sternly." This strong verb shows the disciples' firm disapproval and authoritative attempt to deter those bringing the children. Their rebuke suggests they perceived the children as an annoyance or distraction, unfit for Jesus' attention or presence.

• "And they brought unto him also infants": This phrase captures the initiative of the parents/guardians and their deep desire for Jesus to interact with their most vulnerable ones. The "also" underscores that these least-esteemed members of society were seen as equally deserving of His attention.

• "that he would touch them": This specifies the intent behind bringing the children. It reveals a profound belief in Jesus' power and willingness to impart spiritual favor through physical contact, mirroring an Old Testament practice of blessing (e.g., Jacob blessing Ephraim and Manasseh).

• "but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them": This clearly contrasts the faith and perception of the people with the mistaken judgment of the disciples. It highlights the disciples' attempt to protect Jesus' perceived "dignity" or time, missing the very essence of the Kingdom that Jesus was revealing – that it embraces the humble and the marginalized, including young children. This reflects their ongoing struggle to grasp the counter-cultural nature of Jesus' ministry.

Luke 18 15 Bonus section

The choice of brephē (infants) is significant, contrasting with paidia (older children) sometimes used in parallel accounts, emphasizing the extreme youth and dependency of those brought. This highlights Jesus' willingness to engage with the truly helpless and dependent. The incident serves as a living parable, showcasing that humility and complete reliance on God—characteristics inherently present in a baby—are fundamental attitudes for receiving God's Kingdom. It subtly corrects not only the disciples' view but also any notion that one must attain a certain age, understanding, or status before becoming spiritually significant in God's eyes. This act of "rebuking" by the disciples underscores a recurrent theme in the Gospels: the disciples' struggle to comprehend Jesus' radical kingdom values, particularly concerning humility, servanthood, and inclusion of the marginalized.

Luke 18 15 Commentary

Luke 18:15 vividly portrays the clash between conventional human perspectives and divine priorities. The desire of the parents to bring brephē (helpless infants) to Jesus for His blessing signifies a faith that recognized Jesus' unique authority and power to impart grace. Their actions reflect a common human instinct to seek blessing for their children, a practice deeply rooted in the history of God's people. Conversely, the disciples' reaction—rebuking the parents—reveals their misunderstanding. They, influenced by societal norms valuing status and self-importance, likely deemed children insignificant or disruptive to Jesus' more "important" work, mirroring the self-righteousness implicitly critiqued in the preceding parable. This episode powerfully sets the stage for Jesus' subsequent declaration about welcoming children as emblematic of entry into the Kingdom, emphasizing humility and receptiveness over human greatness or merit. It underlines that access to God's presence and blessing is not limited by age, status, or perceived worth, but is freely offered to those who approach Him in simple, dependent faith, as children would.