SUPER YOUTH DAY SUBJECT: “BLESSED ARE THE CHILDREN” TEXT: MATTHEW 19:13-15 THOUGHT: “FOR SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN...”

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.”

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.”

MATTHEW 19:15 “And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.”

BLESSED ARE THE CHILDREN The word children is mentioned in the Bible 1,727 times

THE CHILDREN ARE (“…SUCH IS THE KINGDOM…”). FOR THIS REASON THEY ARE WELCOME TO CHRIST, WHO IS READY TO ENTERTAIN THOSE WHO, WHEN THEY CANNOT COME THEMSELVES, ARE BROUGHT TO HIM.

1. IN RESPECT TO THE LITTLE CHILDREN THEMSELVES, WHOM HE HAD UPON ALL OCCASIONS EXPRESSED A CONCERN FOR.

2. WITH AN EYE TO THE FAITH OF THE PARENTS WHO BROUGHT THEM. PARENTS ARE TRUSTEES OF THEIR CHILDREN’S WILL. THEREFORE CHRIST ACCEPTS THEIR DEDICATION OF THEM AS THEIR ACT AND DEED.

3. THEREFORE HE TAKES IT ILL OF THOSE WHO FORBID THEM, AND EXCLUDE THOSE WHOM HE HAS RECEIVED.