Section 123
Example of little children in relation to the kingdom
Perea
| Matthew 19:13-15 | Mark 10:13-16 | Luke 18:15-17 |
|---|---|---|
| 13Then little children were brought to Jesus so that he might lay his hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14Yet Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” | 13Now people were bringing children to Jesus so that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who were bringing them. 14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me0x3B do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will certainly not enter it.” | 15Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus so that he might touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who were bringing them, 16but Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will certainly not enter it.” |
| 15And after laying his hands on them, he departed from there. | 16And taking the children in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them. |
Notes
Perea
Perea was the term used by the historian Flavius Josephus, and others, for a section of the territory east of The Jordan River, opposite Judea and Samaria. Although the word Perea is not found in the Scriptures, the area was mentioned frequently in the Gospels as the “land beyond the Jordan”. John the Baptist baptized in Perea, and was also martyred there at Herod’s fortress of Machaerus. Jesus Christ often visited Perea during His ministry, and had many followers from there, which at the time had a large Jewish population.
Jesus spent most of his final 3 months before Passion Week traveling around Perea, teaching in its towns and villages. Jesus had been in Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22-39), and the Jews tried to stone him again. He escaped their grasp and went back across the Jordan into Perea for the final months before his crucifixion. During these months he taught his disciples about the cost of following him and he tried to prepare them for his coming death.
Today, most of Perea is in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.