Luke 18:16

16 But Jesus sent for them, saying, Let the children come to me, and do not keep them away, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 18:16 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 18:16

But Jesus called them unto him
Not the disciples, as the Ethiopic version reads, nor the persons that brought the children, but the children themselves; for the antecedent to the relative (auta) , "them", can be no other; which shows, that these infants were not new born babes, or children at the breast, but such as were more grown up, since they were capable of being called to, and of coming to Christ:

and said;
that is, to the disciples; so the Persic version expresses it:

suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not;
(See Gill on Matthew 19:14)

for of such is the kingdom of God;
or "of heaven", as the Syriac version reads, and as in ( Matthew 19:14 ) that is, the kingdom of God belongs to such, "who are as these"; or, "like to these": as the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions render the words; ((See Gill on Matthew 19:14).)

Luke 18:16 In-Context

14 I say to you, This man went back to his house with God's approval, and not the other: for everyone who makes himself high will be made low and whoever makes himself low will be made high.

15 And they took their children to him, so that he might put his hands on them: but when the disciples saw it, they said sharp words to them

16 But Jesus sent for them, saying, Let the children come to me, and do not keep them away, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

17 Truly I say to you, Whoever does not put himself under the kingdom of God like a little child, will not come into it at all.

18 And a certain ruler put a question to him, saying, Good Master, what have I to do so that I may have eternal life?