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The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

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( FaithOfJesus thread begun by RandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Matthew:19:13-15

kjv@Matthew:19:13 @ Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

kjv@Matthew:19:14 @ But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

kjv@Matthew:19:15 @ And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

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Today's notes: Suffer the Little Children, Come

Quoted index: FAITHOFJESUSAUDIO - Matthew:19:13-15 :

Context:

• Before - Because of the hardness
  
• After - Who then can be saved?
  

What is man believing/doing?:

• bringing children to a prophet or extremely famous person
  
• rebuking those who are attempting to do this
  

What is making man to believe/do as he is doing?:

• the opportunity for a blessing, a form of respect or reverence
  
• (implied) that Jesus would be disturbed, that there was something duplicitous/insincere about the gesture, that there wasn't time or bigger matters at hand
  

Man's patience:

• the dynamics of the disciples providing security and control over the unpredictable nature of these crowds
  

Jesus keeping of commandment:

• To be amongst the people and accessible even to the smallest.
  

Jesus keeping of faith:

• breaking down the complex into the simplest of illustrations
  
• using every occurance as a teachable moment
  

Jesus' patience:

• The disciples are not merely observers and reporters to the daily events, they are participants. He is allowing them to feel a part of certain decisions even to the point of making mistakes or misjudgments. Jesus seeks opportunity in all things to teach and instruct. Often that means giving them an allowance to be themselves freely, but not leaving a particular matter unexamined.
  
• the same might be also said true of the parents in the crowd seeking Him to do this for them at this time.
  

Notes:

Crowd control surrounding Jesus? There are signs of a much more organic/informal flow and procession to these events. While people are being brought to the disciples to be in turn brought to Jesus, Jesus is is always aware of what is taking place around Him. Never is it recorded that anyone was ever refused (except perhaps His own siblings once) even if it took three or four days waiting among the the multitudes for the opportunity.

It was likely common practice for parents to bring their children to the foot of a prophet/ruler/dignitary/celebrity etc... for a blessing. That this practice is not self absorbed, superstitious or unbiblical or presumptuous on the parent's part is not discussed. That this drew the rebuke of the disciples though seems curiously close. Luke has these little children as infants in his account if that makes any difference, if this is the same incidence.

This is the second reporting of a similar "such as these" kingdom message, the first kjv@Matthew:18:1-7 dealing with humility and offence, the second open acceptance. The compound lesson may be that the disciples saw something happening that just didn't seem right to them, but instead of placing it in a greater kingdom perspective and accepting the notion so as to not offend, they were instead forbidding the opportunity of the parents learning a valuable "such as these" kingdom moment Jesus willing.

Key Messages:

What does this say about our present condition?

1. The measures parents take today to give their children every advantage often leans on the absurd. The extent is even reached where such non-spiritual absurdities are integrated into fabric of our common church life and ministry without much introspective/biblical challenge.
   
2. The flip side of such godless predicament is that we can easily shut the door on the opportunity to advance parents' understanding toward true godliness by either our cold inaccessibility or by causing outright offence. The children instead are to be held as the example, being removed from such voluntary predicament.
   

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Further Resources:

Comment Board:Matthew:19:13-15
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Matthew:19:13-15 rwp@Matthew:19:13-15 mhcc@Matthew:19:13-15
devotion:FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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