One mother with her child had left her home to find Jesus. On the way she told a neighbor her errand, and the neighbor wanted to have Jesus bless her children. Thus several mothers came together, with their little ones. Some of the children had passed beyond the years of 512 infancy to childhood and youth. When the mothers made known their desire, Jesus heard with sympathy the timid, tearful request. But He waited to see how the disciples would treat them. When He saw them send the mothers away, thinking to do Him a favor, He showed them their error, saying, "Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." He took the children in His arms, He laid His hands upon them, and gave them the blessing for which they came.

En af mødrene havde sammen med sit barn forladt hjemmet for at opsøge Jesus. På vejen fortalte hun en naboerske om sin hensigt, og naboersken ville gerne have, at Jesus skulle velsigne hendes børn. På denne måde samledes adskillige mødre med deres små børn. Nogle af børnene var ude over den spæde alder og var nået til at være større børn eller ganske unge mennesker. Da mødrene udtalte deres ønske, hørte Jesus med venlighed på deres frygtsomme, bævende bøn. Men han ventede for at se, hvordan disciplene ville modtage dem. Da han så, at de ville sende mødrene bort, fordi de mente at gøre ham en tjeneste hermed, viste han dem deres vildfarelse ved at sige: "Lad de små børn komme til mig; dem må I ikke hindre; thi Guds rige hører sådanne til." Og han tog børnene i sin favn, lagde hænderne på dem og gav dem den velsignelse, som de var kommet for at få.