“But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”
My Notes
What Does Mark 10:14 Mean?
The disciples are blocking children from reaching Jesus. Jesus sees it and is "much displeased" — the Greek (aganakteō) means indignant, deeply angered. This is one of the few times in the Gospels where Jesus is angry at His own disciples. He tells them: let the children come. Don't stop them. The kingdom belongs to people like them.
The disciples' rationale was probably practical: Jesus was busy, children were interruptions, important conversations were happening. They were gatekeeping — deciding who deserved access. And Jesus was furious about it.
"Of such is the kingdom of God" doesn't mean children are inherently virtuous. It means the kingdom belongs to people with childlike qualities: dependence, trust, lack of self-importance, inability to earn their way in. Children don't qualify themselves. They're simply brought. And Jesus says: that's who the kingdom is for.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Who might you be unintentionally blocking from access to Jesus — through gatekeeping, judgment, or prioritization?
- 2.Why does Jesus respond with indignation (not gentle correction) to the disciples blocking children?
- 3.What childlike qualities — dependence, trust, inability to self-qualify — do you need to recover?
- 4.How does your church or community function as a barrier rather than a bridge for the people Jesus wants to reach?
Devotional
The disciples built a wall between children and Jesus. And Jesus was furious.
Not mildly annoyed. Not gently corrective. Indignant. The strongest negative emotion directed at His own disciples in the Gospels — and it was triggered by them blocking children from reaching Him.
The disciples thought they were helping. Managing access. Protecting Jesus' time. Prioritizing important conversations over interruptions. And Jesus looked at their helpful gatekeeping and burned with anger. Because the people they were blocking were exactly the people the kingdom was built for.
"Of such is the kingdom of God" — not of such are the theologians, the successful, the impressive. The kingdom belongs to the ones who can't qualify themselves. Who have nothing to offer. Who are brought rather than arriving on their own merits. Who are small, dependent, and completely unaware of their unworthiness.
The disciples' instinct was to filter access by importance. Jesus' command was to remove the filter entirely. Suffer the children — permit them, allow them, endure whatever inconvenience they bring — and let them come.
Who are you blocking from Jesus? Not intentionally — maybe practically. Who have you decided doesn't deserve access? Who is too small, too inconvenient, too unimportant for your version of the kingdom? Jesus is indignant about that. Right now.
Get out of the way. The children are trying to get through.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Verily I say, unto you,.... A form of speech used when our Lord was about to asseverate a thing, and assert something of…
See the notes at Mat 19:13-15. Mar 10:13 Should touch them - That is, should lay his hands on them, and pray for them,…
It is looked upon as the indication of a kind and tender disposition to take notice of little children, and this was…
he was much displeased This feature is peculiar to St Mark. Only lately the Lord had expressed His love towards little…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture