The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:13
The folk who are interested in the children. It is difficult for us to conceive of the good man who does not love flowers, song, spring time, and children. We might be quite sure that the "best of men who e'er wore earth about him" loved the children. But in the East all children are kept in the background; female children are despised by their fathers, and even male children are in the women's hands until quite big. So our Lord's interest in children seemed new and strange to his disciples.... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 19:13
Christ, having laid his blessing on marriage, now blesses its fruit. Then . This happened directly after the preceding conversation. Mothers were won to his side by his elevation of woman to her true position, and his marked tenderness to children. Little children ( παιδι ì α ). St. Luke calls them τα Ì βρε ì φη , "their infants." These were babes whom the mothers carried in their arms, and who were too young to understand the meaning and importance of the act of Christ in... read more