Matthew 19:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he laid his hands on them and went away.

NIV: When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

NASB: After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.

CSB: After placing his hands on them, he went on from there.

NLT: And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.

KJV: And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

NKJV: And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.

The disciples are not often pictured as challenging anyone who would come to Jesus for any reason. This time, though, they did. They rebuked some people who were bringing children to Jesus to lay His hands on and pray for. We're not told the reason for the rebuke. It may be that the disciples simply did not see the children as significant or they may have been attempting to protect Jesus' time and energy.

Whatever their reason may have been, Jesus quickly overruled them. He insisted that they not stand in the way. Instead they were to let the little children come to Him. He once again used children as an example of the humility and faith required for the kingdom of heaven to belong to His followers. Jesus wasn't holding up children as naturally pure, good, and innocent. Instead, Jesus seemed to be praising their ability to believe and to live in humility because they understood that they had no real power among a world of adults. This was the lesson He gave recently to the disciples, in fact (Matthew 18:3–4).

Now Jesus does exactly as those who brought the children to Him have asked. He lays His hands on the children and likely prays for them. Then Jesus leaves the area.

Matthew 19:13–15 describes Jesus overruling the disciples when they rebuke people bringing children to Jesus. They want Jesus to lay hands on the children and pray for them. Jesus tells the disciples not to stand in the way of the little children because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like them.

Pharisees ask Jesus if it is lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause. Jesus reminds them marriage was designed by God at creation. Divorce, then, is lawful only in the case of sexual immorality. A rich young man asks Jesus what good thing he must do to have eternal life. Jesus insists only God is good. He challenges the man's sincerity by asking him to give all his wealth to the poor and follow Him. The man's refusal demonstrates how easy it is to prefer wealth to dependence on God. In response to the disciples' question, Jesus says salvation is impossible with men but not with God.

Matthew 19 follows Jesus' teachings about temptation and forgiveness in chapter 18. This passage begins with Jesus leaving behind Galilee and heading toward Jerusalem the long way around. Jesus tells the Pharisees that divorce is legal only in cases of sexual immorality. Jesus blesses little children and then answers a rich young man who asks how to have eternal life. The man leaves sad after Jesus challenges him to give his money to the poor and follow Him. Jesus says salvation is impossible with men, but not with God. Chapter 20 contains additional parables and examples, and is the last before Jesus arrives in Jerusalem in the days just prior to His crucifixion.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.