Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God

 

 Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan.  And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.  The Pharisees came and asked Him, is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" testing Him.  And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?"  They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her."  And Jesus answered and said to them, "Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.  But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.'  'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."  

In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter.  So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.  And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.  But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.  Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."  And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

 

- Mark 10:1-16 

 

In yesterday's reading, Jesus warned the disciples about "scandalizing" the little ones in the Church:  "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.  If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.  It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched -- where 'Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off.  It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched -- where 'Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. "And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.  It is better for you to enter  the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire -- where 'Their worm does not die,  and the fire is not quenched.'  For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.  Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it?  Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."

 

 Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan.  And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.  The Pharisees came and asked Him, is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" testing Him.  Jesus has come into the region of Judea, closer to the center of the religious authorities.  Here the Pharisees come to test Him about an issue that was hotly debated in Christ's own time between the ruling parties and factions of the Council, that of divorce.  This extended even to detailed issues that involved money and property, such as what happened with a dowry if a couple divorced and then remarried.  Abuse of marriage and divorce was common enough for such purposes that these became issues for regulation in the ruling Council.

And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?"  They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her."  And Jesus answered and said to them, "Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.  But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.'  'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."   In Jesus' response, He careful to go to the command of Moses.  The Pharisees approached many issues through the traditions they had developed subsequent to the Law, while the Sadducees (the other main ruling party) viewed strictly the Law of Moses as their Scriptures.   As is frequently the case in the Gospels, Jesus not only bases His answer on Moses' command, but also on the intent of the Law, rather than the minutiae of legalism.  So, my study Bible says, in contrast to the easy access to divorce under the Mosaic Law, and because of the misuse of divorce of that day, Jesus repeatedly condemns divorce -- and emphasizes the eternal nature of marriage.  Jesus quotes from Genesis 1:27, 5:2 and Genesis 2:25.   The basis of the Pharisees' test and response is Deuteronomy 24:1-4.  My study Bible comments that God's condescension, or allowance for human weakness, does not override the original principle of permanent monogamous marriage as revealed in Genesis 1 and 2.  Christ here adds His own clear prohibition: "Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

 

 In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter.  So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.  And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."   Again, we see this in context of the easy divorce and abuse of such in Christ's time.  In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus suggests the possibility of divorce on the grounds of sexual immorality (Matthew 5:31-32), which my study Bible says indicates that marriage can be destroyed by sin.  This is the case for all relationships, however.  My study Bible adds that the permissible reasons for divorce were expanded in the ancient Church to include threat to a spouse's or child's life and desertion, in all cases acknowledging the spiritual tragedy of such a situation.

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.  But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.  Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."  And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.  My study Bible cites Theophylact, who comments that the disciples rebuked the mothers for bringing little children to Christ both because their manner was "unruly" and also because they thought children "diminished His dignity as Teacher and Master."  Jesus rejects this thinking, and sets little children as an example of those who inherit the kingdom of heaven.  So, therefore, children are invited (even as an example to adults) to participate in the Kingdom through prayer, worship, baptism, chrismation, and Communion.  In a comment on a similar passage, Theophylact writes regarding the qualities of little children, "A little child is not arrogant, he does not despise anyone, he is innocent and guileless.  He does not inflate himself in the presence of important people, nor withdraw from those in sorrows.  Instead, he lives in complete simplicity."

 

It's quite interesting to think about the simple qualities of children which may be associated with holiness, or participation in the kingdom of of heaven.  One thing that comes to mind is how children -- especially very little children -- view presents or toys.  One can put almost any object in the hands of a little child or infant and it instantly becomes a beloved toy.  It doesn't matter if it's a toy on sale in stores.  I have seen a very young child play with a small box its mother handed to it while waiting in line at the store.  This unopened box served as a teething ring on its corners, an object to hold, something to shake up and down, and when taken away, it was a dear toy to be cried over.  Little children do not care how much a toy costs, in fact they have no idea about prices and do not measure their delight by comparing monetary value.  They just know whether or not they like something, and can play with just about anything in their grasp, taking delight in it.  Perhaps if we see with the eyes of a little child, we also will find much more to delight us, we might perceive much goodness we ordinarily miss, as well as beauty and even the truth of things.  For without all the things we learn that serve as distraction, as measurement, as calculation, and even competition, we might have much clearer lenses through which to see what is there, and possibilities all around us.  We might be able to take delight in the smallest things, and be charmed by a flower, a sunset, a butterfly.  It is this sort of simplicity that it seems is worthy of praise.  We can see something a little similar in Christ's praise of Nathanael, in the opening chapter of John's Gospel (John 1:43-51).   When Philip speaks to Nathanael of Jesus, Nathanael's first response is actually negative:  "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  But Jesus praises him, saying, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"  In other words, Nathanael's straightforward thinking is being praised.  Nathanael is what we might call a straight-shooter, asking direct questions from what he knows (Nazareth was not known as a place prophesied to produce a holy man or prophet, let alone the Messiah).  It is in this kind of simplicity that we find the quality of a little child cited by Theophylact, and praised by Christ.  There is no guile, no complicated seeking to climb a ladder of social competition, no need to flatter falsely or practice hypocrisy, no attempt to manipulate.  Of course, we're not asked to be exactly like little children, in the sense that we're also expected to grow in the capacity for discernment, for knowing the things of God, even gaining in the wisdom we're taught.  But if we look closely, Jesus tells us, "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."  We are asked to be like little children in our receiving of this Kingdom; taking in simplicity with delight, what is good, what is beautiful, what is true, and responding to what is above all love and care.  Without those simple and straightforward qualities of children cited above, how will we be capable of doing any of that?  What will we know of God and see in Christ? How can we truly discern the beauty of faithfulness, or purity, or the splendid beauty in God's creation?  From a particularly selfish standpoint, none of these things will point us to God, but only to ourselves as owners or deserving recipients.   But to see life, and the goodness of life, and its beauty, good qualities, and even wisdom as a gift takes a different set of eyes to see, a different heart to know.  It is that quality of the heart Christ emphasizes for that is how we receive the kingdom of God.  Perhaps also it is that quality of the heart that sustains a good marriage between two people, as well as the capacity to know and love Christ, and for this reason marriage is a spiritual institution ordained by God.