New Living Translation
Luke 18:16
16Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.
Luke 18:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
- New International Version (NIV)But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But Jesus called them to him, saying, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
Context of Luke 18:16
14I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 15One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him. Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 17I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” 18Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
Read all of Luke 18Luke 18:16 word by word
ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς προσεκαλέσατο αὐτὰ λέγων· ἄφετε τὰ παιδία ἔρχεσθαι πρός με καὶ μὴ κωλύετε αὐτά· τῶν γὰρ τοιούτων ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- calledπροσκαλέωproskaleomai · to call to/summonG4341
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- and saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Sufferἀφίημιaphiēmi · to release: permitG863
- little childrenπαιδίονpaidion · childG3813
- to comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- forbidκωλύωkōluō · to preventG2967
- notμήmē · notG3361
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- of suchτοιοῦτοςtoioutos · such as thisG5108
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- the kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
Cross-references for Luke 18:16
- Genesis 47:10Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh again before leaving his court.
- Genesis 21:4Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded.
- Deuteronomy 29:11Your little ones and your wives are with you, as well as the foreigners living among you who chop your wood and carry your water.
- Deuteronomy 31:12Call them all together—men, women, children, and the foreigners living in your towns—so they may hear this Book of Instruction and learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully obey all the terms of these instructions.
- 2 Chronicles 20:13As all the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, wives, and children,
- Jeremiah 32:39And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants.
- Acts 2:39This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”
- 1 Corinthians 7:14For the believing wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the believing husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy.
- Matthew 18:3Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.
- 1 Corinthians 14:20Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.
- 1 Peter 2:2Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,
Commentaries on Luke 18:16
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15-30Verses 15-30 See the notes at Matthew 19:13-30.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-17Verses 15-17 None are too little, too young, to be brought to Christ, who knows how to show kindness to those not capable of doing service to him. It is the mind of Christ, that little children should be brought to him. The promise is to us, and to our seed; therefore He will bid them welcome to him with us. And we must receive his kingdom as children, not by purchase, and must call it our Father's gift.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-17This incident illustrates 18:14. they rebuked those who brought them: In this cultural setting, children had little social importance (see study note on 9:48). Because of this, the disciples saw them as interrupting the important ministry of Jesus.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. But Jesus--"much displeased," says Mark (Mr 10:14); and invaluable addition. said--"Suffer the little children to come unto Me"--"AND FORBID THEM NOT," is the important addition of Matthew (Mt 19:14) and Mark (Mr 10:14). What words are these from the lips of Christ! The price of them is above rubies. But the reason assigned, "For of such is the Kingdom of God," or "of heaven," as in Mt 19:14, completes the previous information here conveyed…Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 18:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Luke 18
- 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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
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