Mark 10 - In Depth Bible Commentaries

1626(...continued)Sahidic Coptic and the Bohairic Coptic. It is changed to read evpeti,mwn toi/jprosfe,rousin, epetimon tois prospherousin, “they were rebuking the ones bringing,” byAlexandrinus, Bezae, W, Theta (see), Families 1 and 13 of Minuscules (see), the “MajorityText,” the Latin Vulgate, a few of the Old Latin witnesses, the Syriac tradition and Basil ofCaesarea (who died 379 A.D.). The variant reading does not change the meaning ofMark, but says the same thing in a slightly different way, substituting the imperfect tensefor the aorist, and specifying the ones rebuked by the disciples of Jesus.We may well ask ourselves, "Why did the disciples of Jesus rebuke those parentsfor bringing their children to Jesus for his touch?" The disciples of Jesus had seen theopenness of Jesus to all people; they themselves had experienced his acceptance, hisforgiveness, and his welcome to so many different people of all ages and conditions. Whyshould they, of all people, rebuke those parents for bringing their children to Jesus? Canyou give a valid reason?France comments that “We cannot know whether any particular circumstancesprompted the disciples’ unwelcoming attitude, or whether they felt that in principle childrenshouldn’t be allowed to bother the teacher. They have already forgotten the lesson of9:37.” (P. 396)No, Mark doesn't tell its readers why they felt the necessity to rebuke those parents,but it is easy to imagine what the disciples of Jesus would have said in defense of theiraction because of the children:“Just look at them--they're too noisy! They're too boisterous! They're too young--notold enough yet to be able to understand his teaching! If we allow them to come, they'llcause many adults to get disgusted, and turn away from listening to his teaching!"Far too often the disciples of Jesus, down through the ages, have repeated thatsame negative attitude toward children. "Don't let the children come to public worship! Putthem somewhere else, where they can’t bother us! Let them wait until they are older!They're not mature enough! Don't let them take communion! Tell them to 'sit down andshut up!' Religion is for adults, not for children. Let them choose for themselves whenthey become adults! Until then, the less seen and heard of them, the better!"Have we not heard every bit of this in our own churches? That kind of thinking didn'tend with those first disciples of Jesus, did it? Beyond this, there was real concern for thewelfare of Jesus himself."He's much too busy for unimportant things such as this! His time must be spentmore wisely, in dealing with things that really matter. And, especially, he's got to spend histime with important people, with people who have money, with people of influence!"That too would have caused the early disciples of Jesus to rebuke those parents.And there is some truth behind that kind of reasoning, isn't there? Whenever a churchopens itself up to people--to all people, especially to little children, whose parents are(continued...)919