Demonstrating God's Love and Care for Children in Teaching

God's love and care for children are demonstrated throughout Scripture, emphasizing their value, their capacity for spiritual understanding, and the divine expectation for their upbringing. Children are considered a gift from God ^{[4, 5]}, and their well-being and instruction are central to biblical teaching.

The Bible highlights children's ability to glorify God, even from a young age ^[4]. Psalm 8:2 and Matthew 21:15-16 indicate that children can offer praise that is pleasing to God. They are also capable of knowing the Scriptures, as seen in 2 Timothy 3:15, and are encouraged to observe God's law and remember their Creator in their youth ^{[1, 4]}. This capacity for spiritual engagement underscores God's direct interest in their lives and their potential for a relationship with Him.

Jesus himself served as an example for children, demonstrating obedience to his parents (Luke 2:51) and showing love and care for them (John 19:26-27) ^[4]. He welcomed children, stating that they should be brought to him (Mark 10:13-16) ^[4]. This act of bringing children to Christ is seen as an encouragement for both young children to approach him and for adults who feel weak or childlike in their faith ^[12]. The love shown to Christ is also exhibited by God (Matthew 17:5) and by saints (1 Peter 1:8) ^[7].

Parents play a crucial role in demonstrating God's love and care for children. They receive their children from God and have a duty to love them (Titus 2:4), bring them to Christ (Matthew 19:13-14), and train them in God's ways (Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4) ^[5]. This training includes instructing them in God's word (Deuteronomy 4:9; 11:19) and teaching them about God's works and judgments (Exodus 10:2; Joel 1:3) ^[5]. The goal is for children to obey God (Deuteronomy 30:2), fear Him (Proverbs 24:21), and remember Him (Ecclesiastes 12:1) ^[4]. Parents are also to provide for their children (2 Corinthians 12:14; 1 Timothy 5:8) and pity them (Psalm 103:13) ^[5].

The concept of love for children extends beyond the family unit. The Apostle John emphasizes that love for God's children is a proof of love for God himself, and keeping God's commandments demonstrates this love (1 John 5:2) ^{[2, 9]}. This love is not merely in word but in action and truth (1 John 3:18) ^[3]. The apostle Paul also expressed deep affection for those he ministered to, referring to them as "little children" and travailing in birth for them, signifying a spiritual parentage and tender care (Galatians 4:18) ^[10]. Calvin notes that Paul's affection for the church was dear in God's sight, as it contributed to the edification of the Church ^[11].

God's care is also evident in His willingness to reprove His children, which is seen as an act of love (Hebrews 12:6-7; Revelation 3:19) ^[8]. This divine discipline is for their benefit, aiming to correct and guide them. The instruction of children is a significant theme, with figures like David, despite his responsibilities, taking time to teach young people from his own experience (Psalm 34:11) ^[15]. This highlights that teaching children is not a minor task but a vital aspect of spiritual formation. God himself is the ultimate teacher, and there is none who teaches like Him (Job 36:22) ^[6]. one tradition teaches men to know themselves and draws them by His love, rather than by fear ^[13]. Christians are called to imitate God in their love and actions, as God has forgiven them for Christ's sake (Ephesians 5:1) ^[14].

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Children, Good — The Lord is with -- 1Sa 3:19. Know the Scriptures -- 2Ti 3:15. Observe the law of God -- Pr 28:7. Their obedience to parents is well pleasing to God -- Col 3:20. Partake of the promises of God -- Ac 2:39. Shall be blessed -- Pr 3:1-4; Eph 6:2,3. Show love to parents -- Ge 46:29. Obey parents -- Ge 28:7; 47:30. Attend to parental teaching -- Pr 13:1. Take care of parents -- Ge 45:9,11; 47:12. Make their parents' hearts glad -- Pr 10:1; 29:17. Honour the aged -- Job 32:6,7. Adduced as a motive for submission to God -- Heb 12:9. Spirit of, a requisite f”
I John “I John 5:2 (BBE) — In this way, we are certain that we have love for the children of God, when we have love for God and keep his laws.”
I John “I John 3:18 (BSB) — Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Children — Christ was an example to -- Lu 2:51; Joh 19:26,27. Are a gift from God -- Ge 33:5; Ps 127:3. Are capable of glorifying God -- Ps 8:2; 148:12,13; Mt 21:15,16. Should be Brought to Christ. -- Mr 10:13-16. Brought early to the house of God. -- 1Sa 1:24. Instructed in the ways of God. -- De 31:12,13; Pr 22:6. Judiciously trained. -- Pr 22:15; 29:17; Eph 6:4. Should Obey God. -- De 30:2. Fear God. -- Pr 24:21. Remember God. -- Ec 12:1. Attend to parental teaching. -- Pr 1:8,9. Honour parents. -- Ex 20:12; Heb 12:9. Fear parents. -- Le 19:3. Obey parents. -- Pr ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Parents — Receive their children from God -- Ge 33:5; 1Sa 1:27; Ps 127:3. Their duty to their children is To love them. -- Tit 2:4. To bring them to Christ. -- Mt 19:13,14. To train them up for God. -- Pr 22:6; Eph 6:4. To instruct them in God's word. -- De 4:9; 11:19; Isa 38:19. To tell them of God's judgments. -- Joe 1:3. To tell them of the miraculous works of God. -- Ex 10:2; Ps 78:4. To command them to obey God. -- De 32:46; 1Ch 28:9. To bless them. -- Ge 48:15; Heb 11:20. To pity them. -- Ps 103:13. To provide for them. -- Job 42:15; 2Co 12:14; 1Ti 5:8. To rule”
King James Version “[KJV] Job 36:22 — Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love to Christ — Exhibited by God -- Mt 17:5; Joh 5:20. Exhibited by saints -- 1Pe 1:8. His personal excellence is deserving of -- Song 5:9-16. His love to us a motive to -- 2Co 5:14. Manifested in Seeking him. -- Song 3:2. Obeying him. -- Joh 14:15,21,23. Ministering to him. -- Mt 27:55; 25:40. Preferring him to all others. -- Mt 10:37. Taking up the cross for Him. -- Mt 10:38. A characteristic of saints -- Song 1:4. An evidence of adoption -- Joh 8:42. Should be Sincere. -- Eph 6:24. With the soul. -- Song 1:7. In proportion to our mercies. -- Lu 7:47. Supreme. -- ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Reproof — God gives reproof to his own children -- 2Sa 7:14; Job 5:17; Ps 94:12; 119:67,71,75; Heb 12:6,7. God gives, to the wicked -- Ps 50:21; Isa 51:20. Christ sent to give -- Isa 2:4; 11:3. The Holy Spirit gives -- Joh 16:7,8. Christ gives, in love -- Re 3:19. On account of Impenitence. -- Mt 11:20-24. Not understanding. -- Mt 16:9,11; Mr 7:18; Lu 24:25; Joh 8:43; 13:7,8. Hardness of heart. -- Mr 8:17; 16:14. Fearfulness. -- Mr 4:40; Lu 24:37,38. Unbelief. -- Mt 17:17,20; Mr 16:14. Vain boasting. -- Lu 22:34. Hypocrisy. -- Mt 15:7; 23:13. Reviling Christ. -- Lu 2”
1 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 John 5:2: By this we know that we love the children of God - Our love of God's followers is a proof that we love God. Our love to God is the cause why we love his children, and our keeping the commandments of God is the proof that we love him.”
Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 4:18: My little children,.... A soft and tender way of speaking, used by Christ to his disciples, and frequently by that affectionate and beloved disciple, John. It is expressive of the apostle's strong love and affection for them, and points out their tenderness in the faith, and that small degree of spiritual light and knowledge they had, as well as signifies that he had been, as he hoped, and in a judgment of charity believed, an instrument of their conversion, and was their spiritual parent: hence it follows, of whom I travail in birth again; he compares himself to”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 5.4: That it might be as a testimony rendered to its God, Will in the Church of God serve as seed From which children shall come forth, filled with understanding.’“ 8. For God is my witness. He now declares more explicitly his affection for them, and, with the view of giving proof of it, he makes use of an oath, and that on good grounds, because we know how dear in the sight of God is the edification of his Church. It was, too, more especially of advantage, that Paul’s affection should be thoroughly made known to the Phi”
Mark (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Mark 10:13: It is looked upon as the indication of a kind and tender disposition to take notice of little children, and this was remarkable in our Lord Jesus, which is an encouragement not only to little children to apply themselves to Christ when they are very young, but to grown people, who are conscious to themselves of weakness and childishness, and of being, through manifold infirmities, helpless and useless, like little children. Here we have, I. Little children brought to Christ, Mar 10:13. Their parents, or whoever they were that had the nursing of them, brought them t”
John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 6:45: It is written in the prophets - Isa 54:13; Jer 31:34. They shall be all taught of God - This explains the preceding verse. God teaches a man to know himself, that, finding his need of salvation, he may flee to lay hold on the hope which his heavenly Father has set before him in the Gospel. God draws men by his love, and by showing them what his love has done for them. Fear repels, but love attracts. He who is ever preaching the terrors of the law, and representing God as a vindictive judge, will never bring sinners to him. They are afraid of this terrible God: but the”
Ephesians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ephesians 5:1: Here we have the exhortation to mutual love, or to Christian charity. The apostle had been insisting on this in the former chapter, and particularly in the last verses of it, to which the particle therefore refers, and connects what he had said there with what is contained in these verses, thus: "Because God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you, therefore be you followers of God, or imitators of him;" for so the word signifies. Pious persons should imitate the God whom they worship, as far as he has revealed himself as imitable by them. They must conform themsel”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 34:11: David, in this latter part of the psalm, undertakes to teach children. Though a man of war, and anointed to be king, he did not think it below him; though now he had his head so full of cares and his hands of business, yet he could find heart and time to give good counsel to young people, from his own experience. It does not appear that he had now any children of his own, at least any that were grown up to a capacity of being taught; but, by divine inspiration, he instructs the children of his people. Those that were in years would not be taught by him, though he”

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