What does Mark 10:15 mean?

1213 said:

I think it means sincerely and whole-heartedly.

Click to expand...

So what is the person receiving that this is necessary to do such receiving?

thecolorsblend said:

I'm not sure what children you've been hanging out with but I've never met a child that isn't slightly sexist or slightly racist. It seems to come naturally to them.

Click to expand...

These are learned traits. Yes there are some who were taught well.

Douglas Hendrickson said:

They are extremely biased, especially in favor of their mothers.

edit:
You say you are married, but "just me"?

Seemeth rather a contradiction.

Click to expand...

"Im just me" just means that I would rather not be defined by a tag.

Shempster said:

These are learned traits. Yes there are some who were taught well.

Click to expand...

Those are not "learned traits". They come out of the birth canal with a natural preference for their own racial group.

Racial bias may begin in babies at six months, U of T research reveals

I realize people get warm fuzzies from patting themselves on the backs and saying this behavior is learned rather than natural. But the above study shows otherwise (not to mention my own personal observations). Babies exhibit racial preferences until they're taught otherwise. I don't know why that's troubling for you but it remains true nevertheless.

Nathan98 said:

15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

What did Jesus mean by receiving the kingdom of God like a little child, and how does one do so?

Click to expand...

I believe that humility......
is a lot more important than we tend to imagine.


Isaiah 57:15

"For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."

God will not dwell with proud people.....
because they could turn heaven into a hell in
no time at all.

I think that our Father wants us to be related to him as his children rather than worshipers or servants. good children are honest and innocent. even when they break a rule such as their mother telling them not to talk to their grandmother, they do it in innocence and don't sin because their superior nature reigns over the sins of their human parents.

John 3:3-6 (YLT)
Jesus answered and said to him, `Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born from above, he is not able to see the reign of God;' Nicodemus saith unto him, `How is a man able to be born, being old? is he able into the womb of his mother a second time to enter, and to be born?' Jesus answered, `Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born of water, and the Spirit, he is not able to enter into the reign of God; that which hath been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which hath been born of the Spirit is spirit.

Mark 10:15-16 (YLT)
verily I say to you, whoever may not receive the reign of God, as a child--he may not enter into it;' and having taken them in his arms, having put his hands upon them, he was blessing them.

Matthew 18:1-4 (YLT)
At that hour came the disciples near to Jesus, saying, `Who, now, is greater in the reign of the heavens?' And Jesus having called near a child, did set him in the midst of them, and said, `Verily I say to you, if ye may not be turned and become as the children, ye may not enter into the reign of the heavens; whoever then may humble himself as this child, he is the greater in the reign of the heavens.

Looking back at my first experiences as a child, I would say that receiving the kingdom as a child would mean receiving the kingdom with a sense of wonder and awe, and with a sense of trusting comfort that this is someplace safe and protective.

We are talking about a child that is from 1-4 years old , maybe younger....at that point this child trusts in everything, BUT not necessarily God , it depends on His parents, on what they believe. Also the first thing a child learns is love , they know when they are not getting love so they start looking for love in other places. I will ask this question, if a child receives lots of love from his parents or grand parents will he grow up to love God, that was the case in my family, I got lots of love from my grandparents, they never went to church and neither did my mother , yet later in life I chose to go to church, was this because I was baptized as a baby, or was it because my grandparents showed me lots of love? Or was I simply chosen by God ?

Some of you have seen my writings, I will be pulling all of the old writings as they are wrong, but my recent writing that is 40 pages I am debating on pulling. The questions are good, the scriptures are good, but there are just not enough scriptures to support my questions and some of my conclusions are wrong. But that is how you learn, is through your mistakes, and re-attempts to correct what you have written.

Russ Campbell

Let me correct myself, when I say that a child does not necessarily trust God, I am only talking about some children, and only after the age of or 2. Lets face it do all children love God, the answer is a resounding NO , there are children that don't because of their upbringing. And if I may be so BOLD I must speak about Muslim children. They are taught right from an early age to HATE, as their faith says to HATE and KILL the infidels. Although they will not admit it the infidels are us Christians. Look all around the South Sudan where Christian children are being MURDERED for their faith. I have a friend who has seen it first hand. But the good news is they can be reached , by simply showing them love, this I will back up with scripture:

Matthew 5:43-48 King James Version (KJV)
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

This is what we MUST do for those that despise us Christians, but before we can do this we MUST love God first as a little child, you guys have already posted scriptures on this, I will post a scripture that tells us all why a lot of people don't believe in this: it is simply John 3:16-21, most of you know John 3:16 but how many of you know the rest? I will post it all.

John 3:16-21King James Version (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

SolomonVII said:

Looking back at my first experiences as a child, I would say that receiving the kingdom as a child would mean receiving the kingdom with a sense of wonder and awe, and with a sense of trusting comfort that this is someplace safe and protective.

Click to expand...

"This" ?
Does "this" mean "the kingdom of God" is the earth as we know it?

That the verse means, "receive the kingdom of God when a little child ..."?

Is it to simply, "come unto him," as the verse before might suggest?

SolomonVII said:

Looking back at my first experiences as a child, I would say that receiving the kingdom as a child would mean receiving the kingdom with a sense of wonder and awe, and with a sense of trusting comfort that this is someplace safe and protective.

Click to expand...

In my opinion this man .....
who wasted 22 years of his life as a drug addict......
is one of the best examples of receiving the Kingdom of God as a child
that I know of.

After listening to many of his sermons I also began to ask for wisdom daily......
(or much more often than I had been doing anyway)...... because he sets a good example of this.

Noxot said:

I think that our Father wants us to be related to him as his children rather than worshipers or servants. good children are honest and innocent. even when they break a rule such as their mother telling them not to talk to their grandmother, they do it in innocence and don't sin because their superior nature reigns over the sins of their human parents.

John 3:3-6 (YLT)
Jesus answered and said to him, `Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born from above, he is not able to see the reign of God;' Nicodemus saith unto him, `How is a man able to be born, being old? is he able into the womb of his mother a second time to enter, and to be born?' Jesus answered, `Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born of water, and the Spirit, he is not able to enter into the reign of God; that which hath been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which hath been born of the Spirit is spirit.

Mark 10:15-16 (YLT)
verily I say to you, whoever may not receive the reign of God, as a child--he may not enter into it;' and having taken them in his arms, having put his hands upon them, he was blessing them.

Matthew 18:1-4 (YLT)
At that hour came the disciples near to Jesus, saying, `Who, now, is greater in the reign of the heavens?' And Jesus having called near a child, did set him in the midst of them, and said, `Verily I say to you, if ye may not be turned and become as the children, ye may not enter into the reign of the heavens; whoever then may humble himself as this child, he is the greater in the reign of the heavens.

Click to expand...

The first quote (John 3) raises the question of whether a young child could be born again.
Is Mark 10 about being "born again," and not some kingdom not (yet) of this world?

btw, does not the Greek of Mark 10:15 mean, "young child (infant), so your YLT translation is just plain wrong?

Nathan98 said:

15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

What did Jesus mean by receiving the kingdom of God like a little child, and how does one do so?

Click to expand...

This was asked by Nicodemus and answered by Jesus in the gospel of John, one does not enter the womb a second time, but one must be born again of the spirit.
.
Part of being like a little child is like many of the parables, but part of it may indicate that having fun, being curious, and making mistakes is part of the life we were given.

Douglas Hendrickson said:

"This" ?
Does "this" mean "the kingdom of God" is the earth as we know it?

That the verse means, "receive the kingdom of God when a little child ..."?

Is it to simply, "come unto him," as the verse before might suggest?

Click to expand...

When I said "this", what I meant is the kingdom of God.

"As we know it" negates any understanding of the definitions of awe and wonder, for wrapped up in the very definition of awe and wonder is the idea that this goes beyond any experience of earth that we have had.

The verse suggest to me that Jesus was inviting us to recall something that is already in our experience. We all were a little child at one time. We can all recall what that was like. The verse suggests to me that we remember what that was like.

And yes, when I said "this" what I meant is the Kingdom of God. If that was not clear in the original context, I hope that it is clear enough now.

Mar. 10:15
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

There is no other way of receiving the Kingdom of God as a little child, other than in Blind Faith Believing.

Mat. 21:22
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Rom. 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

1Pe. 1:8
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Joh 3:5,6
5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Rom. 6:4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

To receive as a little child also means no one shall either See, or Enter the Kingdom of God, unless they become Born Again of Water and of the Spirit.

The New Birth, in Newness of Life.

Douglas Hendrickson said:

So what is the person receiving that this is necessary to do such receiving?

Click to expand...

I think the Kingdom of God is state where Jesus is King. And it is not earthly kingdom, but spiritual. And I believe it is in all people who keeps Jesus as their King.

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn't be delivered to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here."
John 18:36

"The Kingdom of God doesn't come with observation; neither will they say, 'Look, here!' or, 'Look, there!' for behold, the Kingdom of God is within you."
Luke 17:20-21


Jesus answered him, "Most assuredly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can't see the Kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" Jesus answered, "Most assuredly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into the Kingdom of God! That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Don't marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born anew.'
John 3:3-7

It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.
John 6:63


"Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:31-33

thecolorsblend said:

Those are not "learned traits". They come out of the birth canal with a natural preference for their own racial group.

Racial bias may begin in babies at six months, U of T research reveals

I realize people get warm fuzzies from patting themselves on the backs and saying this behavior is learned rather than natural. But the above study shows otherwise (not to mention my own personal observations). Babies exhibit racial preferences until they're taught otherwise. I don't know why that's troubling for you but it remains true nevertheless.

Click to expand...

Nuh, I am okeedokee with it :]

thecolorsblend said:

I'm not sure what children you've been hanging out with but I've never met a child that isn't slightly sexist or slightly racist. It seems to come naturally to them.

Click to expand...

Children may be innocent in their very being, but their intentions and methods would correctly be considered sinful in an adult world.
Our very survival depends upon children being demanding and self-centred in getting people to give into their desires.
A lot of that is hardwired too, and it is more true that goodness is a learned trait, to the extent that a society is still right with God and able to teach goodness, that is.
We moderns tend to romanticize childhood. I myself probably have done that in my own response.
Take for example 'sexism' and 'racism' in children. Rather than an attitude of trust, babies 'making strange' are as suspicious and paranoid as possible when it comes to trusting the unfamiliar.

It is worthwhile to consider that Jesus understood this about children too when it came to his comment here on considering children.

. .... .
It is not always intuitive what Jesus speaks of when he asks us to consider what Heaven is. There is another parable I recall about a plaintiff nattering to a judge until he finally relents just to get her out of his hair.
Children are relentless like that too, when it comes to getting what they want. They won't quit disturbing the peace until their needs are met.

Douglas Hendrickson said:

The first quote (John 3) raises the question of whether a young child could be born again.
Is Mark 10 about being "born again," and not some kingdom not (yet) of this world?

btw, does not the Greek of Mark 10:15 mean, "young child (infant), so your YLT translation is just plain wrong?

Click to expand...

if I had to pick one I would say that chiefly the bible preserves the more fundamental spiritual meaning as more meaningful and so it would be talking about a spiritual condition first and only literal children secondly but such children could posses those mentioned spiritual qualities.



the KJV seems more confusing to me but I would need a greek expert to tell me which is better.

I am not certain about the YLT (youngs literal translation) because I don't know ancient greek but it is one of my favorite translations because I like literal translations. it seems there are several different words for child. in the KJV 1 john 2:1 they translated teknion as "little children" as did YLT.

G5040 τεκνίον teknion (tek-nee'-on) n.
1. an infant
2. (plural figuratively) darlings (Christian converts)
[diminutive of G5043]
KJV: little children
Root(s): G5043


1 John 2:1 (KJV)
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

1 John 2:1 (YLT)
My little children, these things I write to you, that ye may not sin: and if any one may sin, an advocate we have with the Father, Jesus Christ, a righteous one,


then in the KJV in mark 10:15 they translated paidion as "little child" as well but YLT just translated it as "child"

G3813 παιδίον paidion (pai-dee'-on) n.
1. a young child (of either sex)
2. (properly) an infant
3. (by extension) a half-grown boy or girl
4. (figuratively) an immature Christian
[neuter diminutive of G3816]
KJV: (little, young) child, damsel
Root(s): G3816


Mark 10:15 (KJV)
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

Mark 10:15 (YLT)
verily I say to you, whoever may not receive the reign of God, as a child--he may not enter into it;'

1213 said:

I think the Kingdom of God is state where Jesus is King. And it is not earthly kingdom, but spiritual. And I believe it is in all people who keeps Jesus as their King.

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn't be delivered to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here."
John 18:36

"The Kingdom of God doesn't come with observation; neither will they say, 'Look, here!' or, 'Look, there!' for behold, the Kingdom of God is within you."
Luke 17:20-21


Jesus answered him, "Most assuredly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can't see the Kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" Jesus answered, "Most assuredly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into the Kingdom of God! That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Don't marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born anew.'
John 3:3-7

It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.
John 6:63


"Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:31-33

Click to expand...

Luke 17:20.21
The kingdom of God is not to be seen anywhere about,
It is within you ...
Could that possibly mean, "You will have to figure it out - it does not yet exist anywhere"?