Texts in Conversation
Mark describes Jesus welcoming children despite his disciples’ protests, teaching that the kingdom of God belongs to those who receive it like a child. Rabbinic tradition in tractate Soferim preserves a similar depiction of the pious Hanan, who was hospitable to children when other teachers were not.
Share:
Mark 10:13
New Testament
13 Now people were bringing little children to him for him to touch, but the disciples scolded those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” 16 After he took the children in his arms, he placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Date: 60-75 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Soferim 18
Minor Tractate
Rabbinic
On the day when R. Eleazar b. ‘Azariah was appointed head of the academy, he began his discourse by saying: Ye are standing this day all of you … your little ones, your wives, the men came to listen, the women came to receive a reward for their journey, but why did the little ones come? That a reward may be given to those who bring them. From this the young daughters of Israel learnt the practice of coming to the Synagogue so that a reward may be granted to those who bring them while they would [in due course] also receive their reward. In childhood one is subject neither to reward nor punishment.
Date: 750 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Search:
Notes and References
"... The story about Hanan has some points of contact with Jesus' activity ... The most important contact, however, between the two is in Jesus teaching about little children (Luke 18:15; Mark 10:13-16). Hanan is the only ancient pious man about whom we are certain that children had easier access to than the rabbis did. When the children were brought for Jesus to touch them, he said that "the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you that whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it." ... this was also the essence of Hanan's prayer ..."
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.