What does the Bible say about children?

At World Vision, we think about kids a lot. How do we help kids thrive? How can we amplify their voices? And what does the Bible say about children?

We know that we can never care about children as much as God cares about them. Jesus is with children everywhere, in every situation, working to show them his love. Our prayer is that our work would always be guided by God’s word and his unfailing love for his children.

Here are eight Bible verses about kids that remind us how much God cares for children (all verses from the New International Version):

1. Psalm 127:3

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.

2. Psalm 8:2

Through the praise of children and infants

you have established a stronghold against your enemies,

to silence the foe and the avenger.

Baby girl with her father in Venezuela.
Yen Manuel Arriesta, 36, with his 2-month-old daughter, Sheila. Yen Manuel and Sheila are Venezuelan migrants who have received food vouchers from World Vision Colombia. (©2019 World Vision/photo by Jon Warren)

3. Mark 10:13-16

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

4. Ephesians 6:4

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Children playing in refugee camp.
Rohingya children play in the refugee camps in Bangladesh. World Vision is helping to build a protective, empowering environment in the camps for children.  (©2019 World Vision/photo by Jon Warren)

5. Matthew 18:1-5

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”

6. Matthew 18:10

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.“

Child holding a goat.
Debby, a World Vision sponsored child in Zambia. Her father Obby says, speaking in Tonga: “God answered our prayers through World Vision.” (©2019 World Vision/photo by Jon Warren)

7. James 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

8. Mark 9:36-37

He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

We hope these Bible passages about kids reminded you how much Jesus loves children — and all of us!

Next: 30 Bible verses for advocates

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Top photo: Children, many of them sponsored, sing praise songs, at a World Vision supported Bible Club at Itumbule Primary School, in Kalawa, Kenya. (©2019 World Vision/photo by Jon Warren)

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