But Jesus said, “Let the children be, and do not hinder them from coming to Me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
In this verse Jesus corrects the disciples’ behavior, defending the children—both in the literal sense, little ones, and also those souls who are like children in their gentleness, trust, and simplicity. He clearly shows that the kingdom of God belongs not to proud and self-sufficient people, but precisely to such individuals who, like a child, are pure in heart and open to receive God’s presence. Jesus not only does not reject their presence, but also makes them a model of the kingdom of heaven, because such a spiritual condition is the key to entering God’s kingdom.