Luke 18:15

The antecedent of "they" (NASB) is the "people" generally (NIV). People brought their infants (Gr. brephe) to Jesus so He would pray for God to bless them (cf. Matthew 19:13). Luke alone used brephe probably to stress the dependent condition of these children. It was customary for the Jews to bring their small children to rabbis for blessings. [Note: Carson, p. 420.] The disciples probably discouraged the parents from doing this because they thought Jesus had more important things to do.