Luke 18:16-17

18:16 But Jesus called for the children, ¹  saying, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God ²  belongs to such as these. ³  18:17 I tell you the truth, ⁴  whoever does not receive ⁵  the kingdom of God like a child ⁶  will never ⁷  enter it.”

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¹ tn Grk “summoned them”; the referent (the children) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

² sn The kingdom of God is a major theme of Jesus. It is a realm in which Jesus rules and to which those who trust him belong. See Luke 6:20; 11:20; 17:20-21.

³ sn The kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Children are a picture of those whose simple trust illustrates what faith is all about. The remark illustrates how everyone is important to God, even those whom others regard as insignificant.

⁴ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

⁵ sn On receive see John 1:12.

⁶ sn The point of the comparison receive the kingdom of God like a child has more to do with a child’s trusting spirit and willingness to be dependent and receive from others than any inherent humility the child might possess.

⁷ tn The negation in Greek used here (οὐ μή, ou mh) is very strong.