What Did Jesus Say Regarding the Abuse of Children in the Old Testament?
The Heartbreaking Truth About Child Abuse
The tragedy and incidence of violence against children confront us on a daily basis.
Children make up over half of all victims of sexual abuse. 29 percent of sexual assault victims are aged twelve to seventeen, with 15% being under the age of twelve.
-According to studies, roughly half of the 10 million youngsters who witness domestic abuse in the United States each year also experience it themselves.
-Sex trafficking also affects children at shockingly high rates; in the United States, prostitution often begins when a girl is between the ages of 12 and 14. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, over 300,000 American children are at danger of being sexually exploited, and there are an estimated 199,000 incidences of kids being sexually exploited annually in the country.
Over 1.2 million children are victims of child trafficking, which has an annual market value of over $12 billion. One of the crimes with the greatest global growth is child trafficking.
Every year, between 600,000 and 800,000 people are purchased and sold across international boundaries; 50% of them are children and mostly women. Most of these victims are coerced into the commercial sex industry.
Up to 300,000 kids, some as young as eight years old, are already serving in armed government or rebel groups around the globe.
The severe emotional, psychological, and spiritual harm done to the children who encounter this violence is the only thing more shocking than its ubiquity.
Given all of this, it is imperative to examine the Bible in order to determine how God thinks about children and how he would want them to be treated.
Jesus with the kids
To the amazement of His followers, Jesus often included children in His teaching throughout His mission, demonstrating a great love and attention for them: “Then children were brought to him so he might lay his hands on them and pray. Jesus responded to the disciples’ criticism of the crowd by saying, “Let the young ones come to me; do not prevent them; because such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 19:13–14). Jesus responded, “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:2) when the disciples came to Him inquiring which of them would be the greatest in Christ’s kingdom (Matt 18:4). Jesus continued by informing his people that one of their responsibilities is to show kindness to young children, saying, “Whoever accepts one such kid in my name receives me” (Matt. 18:5).
“Truly, I say to you, anyone who does not accept the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it,” says Jesus in Mark chapter 10 (NIV). (See Luke 18:17 and Mark 10:15.)
Jesus calls on his disciples to provide respect, care, and protection to the weak and young, particularly children. Jesus’ work on earth included treating children as part of his mission. In Mark 5:39, Jesus entered the home of a synagogue leader whose daughter had just passed away. Jesus said that she was simply asleep and not quite dead. After they had scoffed at him (Mark 5:41; cf. Luke 8:54), Jesus addressed the little girl, “Little daughter, I say to you, arise.” Then, as Mark describes, “the girl jumped up and started walking (since she was twelve years old), and everyone was instantly filled with awe” (Mark 5:42). Similar meetings between Jesus and a young child experiencing demonic assaults may be found in Mark 9. When Jesus ordered the evil spirit to leave him (Mark 9:25), the kid collapsed as if he had passed away. He was cured when Jesus grabbed him by the hand (Mark 9:27). Kids are given life and healing by Jesus, who identifies himself as “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).
God’s Concern for Kids
Jesus’ compassion and sympathy for children is a reflection of God’s attitude toward the weak, the little, and the vulnerable, which is seen throughout the Old Testament.
God’s rules, which were delivered at Mount Sinai, included the prohibition against “mistreating any widow or fatherless child” (Ex. 22:22). Indeed, according to Deuteronomy 10:18, God is the one who “executes justice for the fatherless” and “curses everyone who perverts the justice due to orphans” (Deut. 27:19). According to the Lord, no one should do wrongdoing or use violence against helpless children and orphans (Jer. 22:3). God commands his people to not only love and care for children, but also to stop anybody from harming, abusing, or oppressing them: “Learn to do good; seek justice; right injustice; bring justice to the fatherless; plead the widow’s case” (Isaiah 1:17). Children should be cherished, disciplined, and taken care of since they are a blessing and a gift from God (Ps. 127:3).
Our Reaction
We should reflect on Jesus’ compassion and love for children as we respond to the shock and horror of violence against children. However, God’s love ought to do more than simply make us feel better; it ought to inspire us to emulate his concern for children, act to stop wickedness like this, and pray for the spread of God’s peace and salvation across the world.
God is our strength and sanctuary, a very near-by aid in times of need. Therefore, even if the earth gives way, the mountains are pushed into the sea, the sea roars and froths, and the mountains shake under the weight of the rising sea, we won’t be afraid. Selah There is a river whose flowing waters cheer the holy home of the Most High, the city of God. (Psalm 46:1-4)
God the Almighty, who made us in your image: Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, give us the grace to confront evil fearlessly and to refuse to make peace with oppression. Additionally, help us to reverently use our freedom by using it to uphold justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy name. 21 in the Book of Common Prayer
4 Trackbacks / Pingbacks