Luke 18:16

16 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.

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 tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

15 Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who brought them.

16 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.

17 Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

18 Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”