In Matthew 18:3, while blessing the children, Jesus used an analogy to illustrate how one can enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
“Unless you turn away from your sins and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
This verse emphasizes that entering the Kingdom of Heaven requires repentance. Repentance means turning away from a life of sin and embracing a life devoted to Jesus and the teachings of the Good News.
In simple terms, repentance is a change of direction—a renewed focus on Jesus.
Jesus then teaches that after repentance, entry into the Kingdom of God is only possible by embracing a child-like nature. Here are four child-like qualities to help deepen your understanding of this analogy.
1. Be Humble
Acknowledge your limited abilities and look to God for all things that pertain to life. Submit all your efforts and ways to Him.
Humility was exemplified by the nation of Israel during their journey to the Promised Land. As they fled Egypt, they turned their backs on their past and looked forward to the promise ahead—this act powerfully illustrated repentance.
To enter the Promised Land, a symbol of the Kingdom of Heaven, the nation of Israel had to embody child-like qualities, with humility being one of the key traits.
This requires surrendering all control and recognizing that the Spirit of God dwells within us to accomplish all things. With God, all things are possible; without Him, destruction is inevitable.
Joshua and Caleb entered the Promised Land not merely because they repented and turned away from Egypt, but because they were humble. They restrained their own strength and might, allowing the divine power of God to work through them as they made their way into Canaan.
This characteristic is clearly seen in children, who derive their strength from others. You won’t see a three-year-old driving themselves to school or preparing their own meals. Yet, they attend school and enjoy meals every day.
They accomplish this by relying on the capabilities and care of their caregivers.
Humility is a childlike quality that should be evident in all believers. Everything we achieve is through the Spirit of God working powerfully in us (Zechariah 4:6). Paul expressed this beautifully in Philippians 4:13:
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
2. Trust In God
Rely on God completely, just as a child relies on a parent. Sometimes children blindly follow their parents’ instructions because, even if it doesn’t make sense to them, the parent is far more intelligent and aware. And a loving parent always does what’s best for the child.
Therefore, allow God to lead you in every area of your life by trusting Him fully. As David wrote:
“He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters.” (Psalm 23:2)
“Place your trust in the LORD wholeheartedly, like a child trusts a parent, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
The Bible clearly shows the outcome of trusting God: when challenges arise, believers rise above them like eagles. In the midst of life’s storms, they soar high, transcending every obstacle
3. Do Not Worry
Children do not fixate on concerns like what to eat or wear, so there’s no need to worry. Instead, entrust all your worries and burdens onto God. (Matthew 6:31).
When Moses sent out 12 spies to scout the land, 10 of the spies’ report was marred with fear and worry, and that prevented them from entering the promised land.
They cited that they felt like grasshoppers next to the tribes that were occupying the land.
“But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there…” (Numbers 13:28).
Whenever you begin worry or feal anxious, focus your thoughts on the nature and character of God. Contemplate His greatness and the sources of you fear and worry become insignificant. This is the key to overcoming fear and anxiety: by knowing, understanding and reflecting on the greatness of God.
But Joshua and Caleb, the other 2 of the 12 spies, understood the greatness of God. The giants they saw in the land were miniscule compared to the God of Israel whom they knew.
Numbers 14:9 recorded Joshua and Caleb’s report as follows, “They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the LORD is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”
Jesus once said to the Scribes in Matthew 22:29, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.”
This verse implies knowledge of the word of God and the power of God is our source of victory. This is also confirmed in Daniel 11:32.
“But the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits.“
The bible mentions something very interesting about Joshua in Exodus 33:11.
“Inside the Tent of Meeting God, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua, son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting”
Not only did Joshua witness the power of God parting the Red Sea, but he also heard God’s word directly as he spent time with Moses in the Tent of Meeting, remaining there faithfully.
Therefore, worry dissolves when you immerse yourself in God’s Word and spend time in His presence. Like a child with their caregiver, you feel safe because you know the love and the ability of the One who will protect and provide for you.
4. Imitate The Father
Children love to play the the Copycat Game, likewise we should live our lives imitating our Heavenly Father who is righteous and holy as we’ve been called to a life that glorifies Him.
1 Peter 1:15 reads as follows:
“But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.”
Imitating the Father is predicated on repentance, being humble, trusting in him and not worrying. 1 John 1:7 reads, but if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other…”
God has brought us out from the kingdom of darkness into his Kingdom of Light and expects us to live as children of the light. God is light (1 John 1:5), and he has called us to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).
“He who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).
Through these words, Jesus demonstrated that everything that he did and said during his earthly life was in line with the will of the Father (John 6:38).
This further underscores that our lives should be reflection of the nature and character of God.
5. Summary On How To Become Like Children To Enter The Kingdom
- Be humble: Recognize your own limitations and turn to God for everything related to life and submit all your life efforts and ways to Him.
- Trust in God: Rely on god completely, just as a child relies in a parent. Place your trust in the LORD wholeheartedly, and do not depend on your own understanding.
- Do Not Worry: Children do not fixate on concerns like what to eat, where the money is going to come from, so there is no need to worry. Instead, cast all your cares and burdens to God.
- Imitate the Father: We should live our lives imitating our Heavenly Father who is righteous and holy.
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