“Whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Anyone who has raised a child will testify that children are not always commendable. Jesus holds up children today as a model for a particular way they operate — they know how to receive a gift. No child ever thinks when they look under the tree at Christmas “what did I do to deserve this?” No child opening a birthday present thinks “now I’ll have to give her a nice present.” Children receive gifts with simply joy. Jesus wants us to understand that’s how God’s love operates with us. We don’t need to ask for it or to do anything to earn it. God’s love for us is pure gift.
