Luke 18:16 — ExegesisTAB

The transitional particle de {δὲ | de} links this saying to the preceding scene, while ho Iesous {ὁ Ἰησοῦς | ho Iēsoûs} forms the nominative subject of the main clause. The aorist middle verb prosekalesato {προσεκαλέσατο | prosekalésato} ‘called to Himself’ presents a decisive, completed action in which Jesus initiates contact, taking auta {αὐτὰ | autà} ‘them’ as its direct object. The circumstantial participle legon {λέγων | légōn} ‘saying’ introduces the direct discourse that follows. Within the quotation, the aorist imperative Aphete {Ἄφετε | Áphete} ‘allow’ issues a strong, one-time command, governing the object ta paidia {τὰ παιδία | tà paidía} ‘the children’ and the complementary infinitive erchesthai {ἔρχεσθαι | érchesthai} ‘to come,’ which expresses the action being permitted toward the goal marked by pros me {πρός με | prós me} ‘to Me.’ The coordinated clause with kai me kolyete auta {καὶ μὴ κωλύετε αὐτά | kaì mḕ kōlýete autá} uses a present imperative with negation to forbid an ongoing or repeated action: they are not to keep on hindering them. The causal clause introduced by gar {γὰρ | gàr} explains the rationale for the commands. In ton toiouton estin he basileia tou theou {τῶν τοιούτων ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ | tôn toioútōn estín hē basileía toû theoû}, the genitive ton toiouton ‘of such as these’ is a genitive of possession or relation, indicating the kind of persons to whom the kingdom belongs. The fronting of this genitive phrase before the verb estin {ἐστὶν | estín} gives it emphasis, highlighting that the divine reign, he basileia tou theou {ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ | hē basileía toû theoû}, is especially characterized by and oriented toward those who are like these children. The syntax as a whole moves from narrative description to direct command and then to theological explanation, reinforcing both Jesus’ welcome of children and the paradigm they represent for participation in God’s rule.