Many people were bringing their children to Jesus so that he would bless them.
The disciples speak sternly and send them away.
Here we see another example of the disciples making decisions on Jesus’ behalf that he does not agree with. Children were not important at the time of Jesus, so the disciples presumed that Jesus would be annoyed at so many people bringing their children to Jesus.
Jesus was very angry with the disciples and said:
“Let the little children come to me and do not stop them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Jesus is saying that his followers should show the qualities that young children have - trust, dependence, faith, innocence and love.
He stresses that we must trust in and depend on God, just as children depend on their parents and other adults.