Luke 18:17 meaning
In this passage, Jesus emphasizes the necessity of childlike humility to receive the kingdom of God. The context shows that when people bring infants to Jesus for a blessing, the disciples attempt to hinder them, believing Jesus’ time is too precious for such matters. Jesus firmly rebukes the disciples, affirming that the kingdom of God belongs to those who receive it as a child would, showcasing a theme that widely resonates with His teachings throughout the Gospels.
This verse, highlighted in Luke 18:17, asserts that unless one approaches the kingdom with the same humility and openness characteristic of a child, they will not enter it. The emphasis here is on a position of dependency and vulnerability—qualities exemplified by children, who do not claim entitlement but receive with trust. This teaching challenges societal norms that equate power and status with worthiness in the kingdom, reiterating that true greatness is found in humility.
This quick synopsis was AI autogenerated utilizing existing TheBibleSays commentaries as the primary source material. To read a related commentary that has been fully developed, see the list below. If there is an issue with this summary please let us know by emailing:[email protected]
Other Relevant Commentaries:
- Matthew 18:15-17 meaning. Jesus teaches His disciples a practical way to help and confront a brother who has become ensnared by sin. It seeks to keep his reputation intact while offering him a chance for repentance.
- Luke 16:16-17 meaning. Jesus affirms the endurability of God’s Law. He says that even though the Age of the Law and Prophets have passed, and the Age of the Gospel of the Kingdom has come, it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one part of the Law to fail. In the middle of saying these things, Jesus offers an enigmatic line that everyone is forcing his way into the kingdom of God.
- Luke 23:17 meaning. "The Passover Pardon": Pilate’s Second Attempt to Release Jesus: Luke interrupts his narrative of the third phase of Jesus’s civil trial to mention an obligation the Roman governor had to the people of Judea. Each year the governor of Judea would release one prisoner during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Pilate will soon make use of this obligation in an attempt to release Jesus.This interjection occurs within Luke’s account of the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment."