Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Mark 10:14

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

What then does Christ do? Teaching the disciples to be humble-minded and to reject worldly pride, He receives and embraces the children. By this He shows that He accepts the innocent; therefore He also says: "for of such is the Kingdom of God." Note, He did not say "of these children is the Kingdom," but "of such," that is, of those who have acquired the same innocence that children possess by nature. …

Commentary on Mark ↗

Cyprian

For which reason we think that no one is to be hindered from obtaining grace by that law which was already ordained, and that spiritual circumcision ought not to be hindered by carnal circumcision, but that absolutely every man is to be admitted to the grace of Christ, since Peter also in the Acts of the Apostles speaks, and says, "The Lord hath said to me that I should call no man common or unclean."8 But if anything could hinder men from obtaining grace, their more heinous sins might rather hinder those who are mature and grown up …

Epistle LVIII.5 ↗

Western Saints

Bede

When Jesus saw them, He was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." He said significantly, "to such as these," not "to these," to show that it is not age that reigns, but character; and that the reward is promised to those who have similar innocence and simplicity. The Apostle also agrees with this sentiment: "Brothers, do not be children in understanding, but in malice be children, and in understanding be perfect."

On the Gospel of Mark ↗