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Then Simon himself also believed -
Acts 8:13
In the last article we saw how easy it is to read Scripture and give it a 21st-century meaning because of the modern day in which we live. This usually leads us in the wrong direction. To understand God's Word, we must put it into the context and historical setting in which it was written. When people say we must return to a child-like receptiveness and trust to enter the kingdom of heaven, I believe they have lost the true meaning of what Christ was saying.
I believe this can be proven by allowing Scripture to interpret and explain itself. I mentioned the rich young ruler and the seed that fell on stony ground. They both appeared to receive the gospel with childlike receptiveness and trust, but neither was born again by the Spirit of God. Simon the sorcerer received the gospel the same way, but most people believe he was never a Christian.
When we consider the conversion of Saul (Paul), child-like receptiveness and trust did not seem to play a part whatsoever. When Jesus speaks to His disciples about receiving the kingdom of God as a little child, He had something completely different in mind. What does the Bible tell us about children that would help us to understand the text referring to little children entering the kingdom?
Galatians 4:1 tells us, "Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave." The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary has this to say on the subject: "The son was the property of his father, who was entitled to his earnings; who could transfer ownership by adoption or by true sale; who could, under certain circumstances, even put him to death."
So, what is the point of what I am saying so far? In Bible times, the children had nothing; they couldn't own property or invest money, and they had no rights like today. They did not have anything; they were destitute (in and of themselves) and dependent upon their family for their needs until they reached a certain age.
The Webster's Dictionary of 1828 gives the definition of destitute in this way: not having or possessing; wanting, as destitute of food and clothing - destitution can refer to poverty. In James 2:5 it says, "Listen my brethren: has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him."
Now when it speaks of poor, it is referring to people who are reduced to beggary or asking alms; to be destitute of wealth, influence, position, or honor, helpless, powerless to accomplish an end; to be frightened, to cower down or hide one's self in fear; the idea of roving about in wretchedness: reference, Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon.
In our study so far, there seems to be a few points to keep in mind.
1 - When Jesus spoke of entering the kingdom of God as a child, He was not focusing on the idea of child-like receptiveness and trust. We looked at several examples where people seem to have both of these but never entered the kingdom. This seems to be the modern way of explaining the Children passages (such as Mark 10). We put our 21st-century understanding and meaning into the text.
2 - To get the correct meaning, we must understand the Scripture text in the context and historical setting in which it was written. The children in the economy of Jesus’ day were destitute in and of themselves.
Contact the author at thoughtsonword@gmail.com if you have any comments or questions.
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Lyndon Stimeling, of Richfield, has been writing about faith and family for many years. He has self-published four books, Common Thoughts on The Word in 2016, Eye of a Needle in 2017, Common Thoughts on The Word II in 2019 and A Bridge Between in 2023. He has also had articles published in The Coming Home Journal and local newspapers and has written a children's book.