Jesus Blesses the Little Children^(A)

¹³ Some people^[a] were bringing little children to Jesus^[b] to have him touch them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought^[c] them. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw this, he became furious and told them, “Let the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom of God belongs to people like these. ¹⁵ I tell all of you^[d] with certainty, whoever doesn’t receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” ¹⁶ Then after he had hugged the children,^[e] he tenderly blessed them as he laid his hands on them.