Paintings of Jesus with children: 'Suffer the children to come unto me', from the New Testament

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Paintings by

Carl Bloch

Lucas Cranach the Elder

Charles Lock Eastlake

Benjamin Robert Haydon

Jacob Jordeans

Nicolas Maes

James Tissot

Fritz von Uhde

Vogel von Vogelstein

Van Dyck

James Wills

Stained glass window

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Things to know about paintings of Jesus and children

  • Jesus was a rabbi, a respected teacher, and was treated with great deference and respect by his followers. If Jesus was acting playfully with children, the disciples may have felt this showed a want of suitable dignity.

  • The characterists of small children were openness, low status and a lack of high achievement.They were more likely than adults to be receptive to any new idea, because their characters were not fully formed.

 

Jesus and the Little Children, Vogel von Vogelstein

Jesus and the Little Children, Vogel von Vogelstein

 

Christ Blessing the Children, Nicolas Maes, 1652-3

Christ Blessing the Children, Nicolas Maes, 1652-3

 

Christ Blessing the Children, Benjamin Robert Haydon

Christ Blessing the Children, Benjamin Robert Haydon

 

Suffer the Little Children, Fritz von Uhde, 1884

Suffer the Little Children, Fritz von Uhde, 1884

 

Jesus with the children, stained glass, painter unknown

esus with the children, stained glass, painter unknown

 

Jesus and the Children, artist unknown
Jesus and the Children, artist unknown

 

Suffer the little children to come to me, Lucas Cranach the elder
Suffer the little children to come to me, Lucas Cranach the elder

 

Christ with the Children, Carl Bloch

Christ with the Children, Carl Bloch

 

Suffer the little children to come unto me, James Tissot
Suffer the little children to come unto me, James Tissot

 

Christ blessing the children, Van Dyck

Christ blessing the children, Van Dyck

 

Suffer the little children to come unto me, Jacob Jordeans
Suffer the little children to come unto me, Jacob Jordeans

 

Christ Blessing Children, Charles Lock Eastlake

Christ Blessing Children, Charles Lock Eastlake

 

Suffer the little children to come to me, James Wills, 1746

Suffer the little children to come to me, James Wills, 1746

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The Bible text - Jesus and the little children

Luke 18:15-17

15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."

Matthew 19:13-15

13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people; 14 but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.

Mark 10:13-16

13 And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.

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Bible Art: Paintings and Artworks from the Old and New Testament:  Suffer the little children to come to me... Jesus and the children

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