God’s Word Translation
Matthew 19:14
14Jesus said, “Don’t stop children from coming to me! Children like these are part of God’s kingdom.”
Matthew 19:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
- New International Version (NIV)Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."
- New King James Version (NKJV)But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Context of Matthew 19:14
12For example, some men are celibate because they were born that way. Others are celibate because they were castrated. Still others have decided to be celibate because of the kingdom of heaven. If anyone can do what you’ve suggested, then he should do it.” 13Then some people brought little children to Jesus to have him bless them and pray for them. But the disciples told the people not to do that. Jesus said, “Don’t stop children from coming to me! Children like these are part of God’s kingdom.” 15After Jesus blessed them, he went away from there. 16Then a man came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good deed should I do to gain eternal life?”
Read all of Matthew 19Matthew 19:14 word by word
ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν· ἄφετε τὰ παιδία καὶ μὴ κωλύετε αὐτὰ ἐλθεῖν πρός με· τῶν γὰρ τοιούτων ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Sufferἀφίημιaphiēmi · to release: permitG863
- little childrenπαιδίονpaidion · childG3813
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- forbidκωλύωkōluō · to preventG2967
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- notμήmē · notG3361
- to comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- of suchτοιοῦτοςtoioutos · such as thisG5108
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- the kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
- of heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
Cross-references for Matthew 19:14
- Genesis 17:7I will make my promise to you and your descendants for generations to come as an everlasting promise. I will be your God and the God of your descendants.
- Genesis 21:4When Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded.
- Judges 13:7He told me, ‘You’re going to become pregnant and have a son. So don’t drink any wine or liquor or eat any unclean food because the boy will be a Nazirite dedicated to God from the time he is born until he dies.’ ”
- 1 Samuel 1:11She made this vow, “Lord of Armies, if you will look at my misery, remember me, and give me a boy, then I will give him to you for as long as he lives. A razor will never be used on his head.”
- 1 Samuel 2:18Meanwhile, Samuel continued to serve in front of the Lord. As a boy he was ⌞already⌟ wearing a linen ephod.
- Mark 10:14When Jesus saw this, he became irritated. He told them, “Don’t stop the children from coming to me. Children like these are part of God’s kingdom.
- Luke 18:16But Jesus called the infants to him and said, “Don’t stop the children from coming to me! Children like these are part of God’s kingdom.
- Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from wise and intelligent people and revealing them to little children.
- Matthew 18:3Then he said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
- 1 Corinthians 14:20Brothers and sisters, don’t think like children. When it comes to evil, be like babies, but think like mature people.
- 1 Peter 2:1So get rid of every kind of evil, every kind of deception, hypocrisy, jealousy, and every kind of slander.
Commentaries on Matthew 19:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Of such is the kingdom of heaven - Or, the kingdom of heaven is composed of such. This appears to be the best sense of the passage, and utterly ruins the whole inhuman diabolic system of what is called non-elect infants' damnation; a doctrine which must have sprung from Moloch, and can only be defended by a heart in which he dwells. A great part of God's kingdom is composed of such literally; and those only who resemble little children shall be received…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14Jesus said, Suffer little children, - Mark adds, he was much displeased at what the disciples said. It was a thing highly gratifying to him, and which he earnestly sought, that children should be brought to him, and a case where it was very improper that they should interfere. Of such is the kingdom of heaven - The kingdom of heaven evidently means here the church. See the notes at Matthew 3:2. In Mark and Luke it is said he immediately added…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-15Verses 13-15 It is well when we come to Christ ourselves, and bring our children. Little children may be brought to Christ as needing, and being capable of receiving blessings from him, and having an interest in his intercession. We can but beg a blessing for them: Christ only can command the blessing. It is well for us, that Christ has more love and tenderness in him than the best of his disciples have. And let us learn of him not to discountenance any…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-30Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem (Matthew 19:1; 20:29; 21:1). This was another chance to teach the disciples what it means to be his disciples.Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 19:14
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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