Thoughts for the Day

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me....

‘Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

We have looked at Jesus and his relationship to children before but always from the perspective of Mark or Luke's Gospels, and Matthew looks at things differently. John in his Gospel does does mention children but only when they were healed by Jesus.

We should remember that children had a different place in Jewish and Roman culture. To the Romans a child was unimportant until they came of age, and they had no status or rights. A slave was more valuable since they could be sold, while the heir could be supplanted by a father adopting another child or adult. A father had total control over his children and could inflict any punishment, although not usually murder. This control continued into adulthood, and grandparents could still have control over their children for years. Up to 28% of all children died in infancy, so this might explain many attitudes.

In the Hebrew Scriptures sons are mentioned more than daughters, probably because of the latter's marriage from 12 years upwards when girls would move to live with their in-laws, whereas a son would be expected to support their parents in old-age. So a barren woman was a real liability.

Matthew's Gospel doesn't say the disciples should "receive the Kingdom of God" like a child, rather they are to "change and become like children". He is talking about us giving up the power, the status, and all that we have to become totally dependent on God as our Heavenly Father - in the way a small child is completely dependent on a parent for everything to keep them alive.

Lord God,
teach us to become humble;
to be totally reliant on You;
and show us how to put on one side
all that we think is important in the world.
Help us to realise that it is our responsibility
to teach children about You,
and to recognise that they also have
much to teach us about You.
Amen.