The Historical Context of Mark 10:13-16
In Mark 10:13-16 we read of an interesting story of Jesus. While he was teaching, some people brought some children to him in order that he might touch them. His disciples, however, did not feel this to be an appropriate action and rebuked those who were bringing the children. Jesus did not agree with this response by his disciples, telling the people to bring the children to him, and he then took them into his arms and blessed them, saying that “to belongs the kingdom of God.” He then added to this by saying, “whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” In order to understand this passage more fully, it is necessary for us to look at the historical context in which it occurred, rather than assuming a modern picture of the scene. First, it would be useful to look at the place of children in society during the early to mid first century A.D., focusing especially on children in a Jewish context. Next, it would add to our understanding to look at the reasons why parents would bring their children to Jesus in order for him to lay his hands on them. While understanding the historical context may not give us a complete understanding of what Jesus means, it will provide for us a better picture of the context and possibly provide some deeper insight into what the passage is attempting to convey.
In the broad Hellenistic context of the first century children were seen alternately as a blessing or a burden. Many during this time firmly believed in what is now can be called family planning. The typical family was kept small, and those children who were burdens for their family, for a variety of reasons, were often aborted before birth, sold into slavery, and sadly literally sometimes left on the side of the road. This was not, however, considered murder by the broader society, rather children were not seen as possessing an inherent value, but rather were given value once they were accepted by the father into society. A message sent from a husband to his wife in 1 B.C. illustrates this contrast:
I beg and entreat you, take care of the little one, and as soon as we receive our pay I will send it up to you. If by chance you bear a child, if it is a boy let it be, if it is a girl, expose it.
Yet, there is a notable difference in the specific Jewish context which we are dealing with. Jewish law prohibited both abortion and exposure. One can say that in Jewish tradition, “God’s greatest gift and guarantee of the covenant with Israel was that of children.” In addition, Jewish communities of this era may have had a developed religious training for children from the time they were very young. Certainly, children were exposed to the variety of religious life in the community, with the purity laws and Sabbath rules shaping their lives from the beginning. Also, there may have been a set standard of what children, especially males, should know at each age, the idea being a gradual entrance into the religious community, in both thought and practice.
Thus, in Jewish society we find an interest in the lives of children, not just for the practical sake of enriching the family, but also in understanding the spiritual aspects of children. The responsibilities of raising one’s children in line with Jewish law was very important for the whole community. With this responsibility, however, came a very strict relationship between adults and children, with the children being almost powerless under their parents absolute authority. Children were expected to follow the commands and dictates of their elders in every area of life.
In the Mark passage we are dealing with we read of the children being brought so that Jesus could touch them. While we cannot be sure exactly why these children were brought we can surmise some possibilities. The first is related somehow to the healing power of Jesus. Certainly this is the explicit reason in 5:35-43 and 9:17-29. But in examining10:13-16 we can only assume what we have been given and examine what Jesus actually did. We are told that he took them into his arms and blessed the children. The act of blessing children in Jewish history goes back to its very beginnings. In Genesis 48 we read of Jacob taking the sons of Joseph into his arms, kissing and embracing them, then giving them a blessing of what they shall become. The manner in which he blesses them conveys not only a nice religious blessing, but an act which signifies something more. In blessing the children, Jesus accepts the children into his community and indeed adopting them into his family, blessing them with the inheritance of his kingdom. They are lifted out of their low, although valued, roles and acknowledged as being heirs of the kingdom which the disciples are striving after.
The passage ends with Jesus proclaiming that the children are to be models for those who are seeking the kingdom. Although the disciples sought to keep them away, Jesus called them to him and treated them as family, worthy of respect and even emulation. The children are important both for their own inherent value that Jesus acknowledges, as well as their value as models for how the Disciples should hear and respond to his message. The kingdom which the Disciples continued to expect was different than what Jesus taught. The powerless and uninfluential have power and influence, while those in who are rich and have authority find themselves without a place. In keeping with a theme throughout the Bible, Jesus gives prominence to the weak and young, showing his power through them and using them to rebuke those who trust in themselves.
