bible verses about love for children

Bible Verses About Love for Children: 15 Scriptures

Bible verses about love for children: 15 Scriptures on welcoming little ones, parental care, and God's heart for kids, with plain notes and links.

Illustrated portrait of Christopher McAllister

By Christopher McAllister

Founder of theBibleand.Love

Published September 28, 20265 min readMark 10:14 (NIV)

An adult kneels to share bread with a child in a courtyard while other children play near a well.

"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.'"

— Mark 10:14 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about love for children want Scripture for welcoming kids, parenting with patience, and seeing children as gifts — not interruptions. This page is a numbered list of fifteen passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. The wider essay theme sits under Love and children. A mother's love more specifically is under Bible verses about a mother's love. Family love more broadly sits under Bible verses about family love and Love and family.

Word study (lead verse). In Mark 10:14 Jesus welcomes paidia — little children — from Greek paidion (Strong's G5043): a young child, not a vague metaphor only. He forbids hindering them and ties the kingdom to their posture. See also Bible Hub G5043.

Matthew Henry Concise notes that caregivers brought little children so Christ would touch them "in token of his blessing," believing his blessing would do their souls good — and that Jesus ordered nothing be done to hinder them (Bible Hub commentaries on Mark 10:14). In the fuller comment he adds that this shows Christ's "kind and tender disposition to take notice of little children," an encouragement both to bring children early and for adults conscious of weakness to come the same way (Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on Mark 10).

15 Bible verses about love for children

  1. Mark 10:14. "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Love for children starts with welcome — removing hindrances, not adding them.

  2. 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." Children are not small in God's eyes; despising them is forbidden.

  3. Psalm 127:3. "Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him." Love for children begins with seeing them as gift, not burden.

  4. Proverbs 22:6. "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." Early direction is an act of love that aims at their long good.

  5. Deuteronomy 6:6-7. "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road…" Love teaches — all day, not only in formal moments.

  6. Ephesians 6:4. "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Love refuses needless provocation and chooses formative care.

  7. Colossians 3:21. "Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged." Love watches the child's spirit — bitterness is not discipline.

  8. Psalm 103:13. "As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." Human parental compassion is a window into God's. See Bible verses about God's love.

  9. Isaiah 49:15. "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" Mother-love is strong; God's remembrance is stronger. See Bible verses about a mother's love.

  10. 3 John 1:4. "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." Love rejoices when children walk in truth — whether literal kids or spiritual ones.

  11. Proverbs 17:6. "Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children." Generational love runs both directions — honor and delight.

  12. Matthew 19:14. "Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'" Matthew's parallel keeps the same welcome. See Love and children.

  13. 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8. "…we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you." Apostolic care borrows mother-language — tender, not harsh.

  14. Proverbs 31:28. "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her." Love for children includes a home where blessing is spoken back. See Bible verses about kindness.

  15. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. "Love is patient, love is kind… It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Parenting love looks like this list across tired days. See 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and Bible verses about patience.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse for a baby dedication, a hard parenting day, or a note to a tired caregiver — not fifteen. Read it out loud. If you need welcome language, start with Mark 10:14. If you need gift language, start with Psalm 127:3. If you need a check on exasperation, start with Ephesians 6:4. For the wider essay, see Love and children. For mothers specifically, see Bible verses about a mother's love. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about loving children?

Mark 10:14 and Psalm 127:3 are clear starting places: welcome without hindrance, and children as a heritage from the Lord. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 names the daily shape of that love.

What does the Bible say about how parents should love children?

Ephesians 6:4 and Colossians 3:21 warn against exasperating or embittering children. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 calls parents to impress God's words on them in ordinary life. See Love and children.

Did Jesus welcome children?

Yes. Mark 10:14 and Matthew 19:14 record Jesus welcoming little children and tying the kingdom to their posture — and rebuking those who tried to stop them.

What Bible verse is good for a baby or child dedication?

Psalm 127:3 and Mark 10:14 fit well. Short lines also sit under Short Bible verses about love.

Read Love and children, Bible verses about a mother's love, and Bible verses about family love. For sibling love, see Love and siblings.

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Sources

A mother shares bread with a child while a father stands near a well.

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