Portland Biblical Community

Gospels/Acts and Children

Matthew 14,15 Jesus feeds 5,000/4,000 (without counting the women and children present)

Matthew 18:3-6 Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”

Children were considered inferior to adults
People must be converted and become like children
This results in entering the kingdom of heaven
What we can learn from children: humility
Humbling oneself (childlike) makes one greatest in the kingdom of heaven
Jesus identifies himself with children:
receive child –> receive Christ
cause child to stumble –> judgment

Matthew 19:13-15 “Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, ‘Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ After laying His hands on them…”

Mark 10:13-16 “And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, ‘Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.’ And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.”

(see also Luke 18:15-17)

Disciples rebuked people for bringing children to Jesus
Jesus was indignant (angry due to “wrongness”)
“Do not hinder children from coming to Me”
The kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these children
People must receive the kingdom of God like a child (will not enter)
Jesus blessed these children (laying on of hands/Jewish tradition)

Matthew 21:15-16 “But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He (Jesus) had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they became indignant and said to Him, ‘Do You hear what these children are saying?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Yes; have you never read, “OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF”?’”

Children praised God prophetically
Leadership was indignant (angry due to “wrongness”)
Jesus affirmed the ministry of the children

Acts 21:3-6 “(Paul and companions) landed at Tyre… After looking up the disciples… When our days there were ended, we left and started on our journey, while they all, with wives and children, escorted us until we were out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.”

Husbands, wives, and children involved in prayer…

Epistles and Children

Ephesians 6:1-4 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH. 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Responsibility of Children:
Children obey your parents (inclusive of father and mother)
“in the Lord” modifies “obey” rather than “parents”
paraphrase “Children obey your parents inasmuch as what is taught is in alignment with obedience to the Lord”
This command is in alignment with the primary commandment of concern towards children “Honor your father and mother”
This command has a promised result of “well being” and “long life”
Direct reference to Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Responsibility of Fathers:
DO NOT - provoke (unnecessarily enflame) your children to anger
DO - Bring them up in the discipline (direct/correct) of the Lord (Heb 12:1-11)
DO - Bring them up in the instruction (teaching) of the Lord (1 Th 2:11)

Discipline of the Lord

Hebrews 12:4-11 4 You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed3 in your struggle against sin. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not scorn4 the Lord’s discipline or give up when he corrects you. 6 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.” 7 Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8 But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons. 9 Besides, we have experienced discipline from our earthly fathers and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life? 10 For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness. 11 Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful.14 But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness15 for those trained by it.

Discipline = “training/correction” (v.5,15) + “pain” (v.6,7,11)
Discipline shows love and acceptance of children
Discipline results in respect toward earthly fathers
Discipline produces fruit: holiness, peace, righteousness

Proverbs 13:24 “The one who spares his rod hates his child, but the one who loves his child is diligent in disciplining him.”

Proverbs 15:5 “A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds reproof shows good sense.”

Proverbs 19:18 “Discipline your child, for there is hope, but do not set your heart on causing his death.”

Proverbs 22:6 “Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

“Train” (Heb. hanak) means to dedicate (cf. Deut. 20:5; 1 Kings 8:63; 2 Chron. 7:5; Dan. 3:2). It has the idea of narrowing and in this verse implies channeling the child’s conduct into the way of wisdom. That guidance might include dedicating him or her to God and preparing the child for future responsibilities and adulthood. “In the way he should go” is literally “according to his way.” It may mean according to his personality, temperament, responses, or stage in life. On the other hand it could mean the way in which he ought to go. The Hebrew grammar permits either interpretation. However the context favors the latter view. “Way” in Proverbs usually means the path a person takes through life, not one’s personality, disposition, or stage in life. Consequently the verse is saying the parent should train up a child in the way of wisdom to live in the fear of God.

Proverbs 22:15 “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.”

Proverbs 29:15 “A rod and reproof impart wisdom, but a child who is unrestrained brings shame to his mother.”

Proverbs 29:17 “Discipline your child, and he will give you rest; he will bring you happiness.”

Serious consequences in Israel:

Deuteronomy 21:18-21 “If a person has a stubborn, rebellious son who pays no attention to his father or mother, and they discipline him to no avail, 19 his father and mother must seize him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his city. 20 They must declare to the elders of his city, ‘Our son is stubborn and rebellious and pays no attention to what we say - he is a glutton and drunkard.’ 21 Then all the men of his city must stone him to death. In this way you will purge out wickedness from among you, and all Israel will hear about it and be afraid.”

What was the maturity level of this “stubborn, rebellious son”?

Instruction of the Lord

Deuteronomy 6:1-9 “Now these are the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that the LORD your God instructed me to teach you so that you may carry them out in the land where you are headed 2 and that you may so revere the LORD your God that you will keep all his statutes and commandments that I am giving you - you, your children, and your grandchildren - all your lives, to prolong your days. 3 Pay attention, Israel, and be careful to do this so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in number - as the LORD, God of your ancestors, said to you, you will have a land flowing with milk and honey. 4 Listen, Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! 5 You must love the LORD your God with your whole mind, your whole being, and all your strength. 6 These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, 7 and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up. 8 You should tie them as a reminder on your forearm and fasten them as symbols on your forehead. 9 Inscribe them on the doorframes of your houses and gates.”

Responsibility of Parents:
Teach the commandments of God (esp. 4-5) at all times (revere and keep)
They must be kept in mind, taught, spoken (sitting, walking, lie down, get up)
Remind yourself to do these things in various tangible ways
See also 2 Tim 3:15 for practical application of this text

Colossians 3:20-21 “Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.”

Responsibility of Children:
Be obedient to your parents (includes father/mother) in all things
This pleases the Lord

Responsibility of Fathers:
DO NOT - exasperate your children
exasperate: “cause someone to react in a way that suggests acceptance of a challenge, arouse, provoke”
Why? So that the children will not lose heart
lose heart: “become disheartened to the extent of losing motivation, be discouraged, lose heart, become dispirited”

Role of Mother

Titus 2:4 “…encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children”

1 Thessalonians 2:7 “But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.”

2 Timothy 1:5 “I recall your sincere faith that was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am sure is in you.”

Responsibility of Mothers:
Love their children
Gentle, tender care
Example of faith

The Church as a Family

Matthew 12:46-50 “While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers came and stood outside, asking to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, ‘Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside wanting to speak to you.’ 48 To the one who had said this, Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother and who are my brothers?’ 49 And pointing toward his disciples he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’”

Galatians 6:10 “So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.”

1 Peter 2:17 “Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.”

1 Corinthians 4:21 “Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline or with love and a spirit of gentleness?”