What Does the Bible Say About Children?
"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." — Psalms 127:3
This foundational verse establishes the biblical worldview on children: they aren't accidents or afterthoughts — they're a deliberate gift from God Himself Psalms 127:3. The Hebrew word for 'heritage' (nahalah) carries the sense of a treasured inheritance, something passed down with intention and love.
Jesus reinforced this high view of children in Matthew 19:14, saying,
"Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."He didn't merely tolerate children — He held them up as a model of kingdom citizenship Matthew 19:14. And in Proverbs 17:6, the multigenerational blessing runs both ways:
"Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers."Children and grandparents are mutually glorified in one another Proverbs 17:6.
Protestant View on What the Bible Says About Children
"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." — Psalms 127:3
Protestant theology has long emphasized that children are a covenant gift from God, not merely a social or biological reality. Psalms 127:3 is frequently cited in Reformed and evangelical circles to ground a high view of human life from birth: children are the Lord's heritage, and the womb's fruit is His reward Psalms 127:3.
Protestants also stress the covenantal dimension of children's identity. Acts 3:25 reminds believers that they — and by extension their families — are 'children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed' Acts 3:25. This means children aren't outside the scope of God's redemptive purposes; they're embedded in them.
The distinction Paul draws in Romans 9:8 — that 'they which are the children of the flesh... are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed' — has shaped Protestant thinking about spiritual versus physical lineage Romans 9:8. It's not biological descent alone that matters, but participation in God's promise through faith.
Perhaps most beloved in Protestant preaching is Jesus' direct command in Matthew 19:14: don't forbid children from coming to Him Matthew 19:14. Many Protestant traditions use this verse to support infant dedication or baptism, and virtually all use it to affirm children's spiritual worth and dignity before God.
Key takeaways
- Psalms 127:3 calls children 'an heritage of the LORD' and 'his reward' — the Bible frames them as a divine gift, not a burden Psalms 127:3.
- Jesus commanded His disciples not to forbid children from coming to Him, saying the kingdom of heaven belongs to 'such' as they are (Matthew 19:14) Matthew 19:14.
- Proverbs 17:6 presents a multigenerational vision: grandchildren are the crown of the elderly, and children find glory in their fathers Proverbs 17:6.
- Acts 3:25 connects children to the Abrahamic covenant, meaning they're participants in God's promise to bless all the earth's families Acts 3:25.
- Romans 9:8 distinguishes 'children of the flesh' from 'children of the promise,' showing the Bible sees children's deepest identity as spiritual and covenantal Romans 9:8.
Discussion
No comments yet. Be the first to share an interpretation, source, or counter-argument.