How does Jesus view kids? What does it mean when Jesus said that the Kingdom of God belongs to children?
Why the Kingdom of God belongs to children
When Jesus was on earth, He loved children. “Now they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. But Jesus called for the little ones, saying, ‘Allow the children to come to Me, and do not forbid 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.'” (Luke 18:15-17)
Even though God says that no one is righteous (Romans 3:10), He has a special mercy for children. Jesus says, “the kingdom of God belongs to such as these”. This means that when children die, they go to heaven. Jesus also states, “whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all”. So children are our role models for entering heaven!
Why is this? In a way, children seek something like the kingdom of heaven even though many of them don’t know it. We can see this in the way many kids behave — not cynical, but full of imagination, hopeful, humble, curious, trusting, and greatly dependent on parents or guardians for security, protection and provisions. If children are introduced to heaven, many of them would love it and the God whom they can call Abba Father!
So God wants us to trust Him like children trust their parents, and seek the kingdom of heaven like children, in humility and hope.
Children are more in tune with the Kingdom of God
Children tend to accept the kingdom of God easier than grownups. They have more capacity to believe. This is why Jesus said adults should receive the Kingdom of God like a child. And stop being cynical and doubtful.
God spoke through kids when Jesus came to earth:
“But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple area, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they became indignant, and they said to Him, ‘Do You hear what these children are saying?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Yes. Have you never read, “From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself”? ‘” (Matthew 21:15-16)
We all need to be like children in our trust and dependence on God. Just as children look to their parents, we need to look to God for everything. Salvation is just the start of dependency on God. In everything we do, we can call on our Abba Father for help.
Children are also washed in His blood
Someone might say: not all kids are like angels. But God is able to overlook their sins. Yes, children receive a special mercy from God and they get to go to heaven. Jesus paid the penalty of sin for everyone, including those of children. God in His righteousness also cleanses them with Jesus’s blood, because He says: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion” (Romans 9:15).
There is a good analogy to the Kingdom of Heaven in the Bible when a man named Joshua brought the Israelites to the Promised Land. The Promised Land was the land promised to the Jewish people (the Israelites). It also served as an analogy for heaven. Children and those who believed got to enter it.
God told the people of Israel to fight against their enemies on their way to the Promised Land, but the people were afraid of their enemies and did not trust God. They grumbled against Him and rebelled.
So the Lord said to the Israelites:
“Not one of these men, this evil generation, shall see the good land which I swore to give your fathers, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him and to his sons I will give the land on which he has set foot, because he has followed the Lord fully. Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter there; encourage him, for he will cause Israel to inherit it.
Moreover, your little ones who you said would become a prey, and your sons, who this day have no knowledge of good or evil, shall enter there, and I will give it to them and they shall possess it. But as for you, turn around and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.” (Deuteronomy 1:35-36, 38-40)
The adults who did not trust God did not enter the Promised Land. They died in the wilderness. But the children received mercy. And two adults Joshua and Caleb, who trusted God, entered the Promised Land.
This event is a good analogy for entering the Kingdom of Heaven today. Those who believe in Jesus will enter, as well as all the children.
Teaching kids about the Kingdom of God
Someone might ask, “Should we teach kids about Jesus or save our resources for teaching adults, since the kingdom of God belongs to children anyway?” Of course we should teach kids as well! Even though children are not fully responsible for their actions as kids, they will be when they grow up. If we teach our kids when they are young, they will remember the teachings when they get older.
The Bible says in Proverbs: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
“Fix these words of Mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 11:18-19)
If you want the best for kids, you would tell them about their almighty, invisible Friend.
For resources to help kids know God, see Creation for Kids.
Read Proverbs 3 in the Bible.