For Theirs Is the Kingdom

Images of Jesus blessing children adorn Sunday schools across the globe. Nevertheless, interpreters typically flatten Jesus’ interaction with children into a handful of scenes, suggesting that children were the exception rather than the rule in Jesus’ ministry. In contrast, historical evidence suggests that Jesus’ first-century world was teeming with children. Re-reading Luke’s gospel in this light, For Theirs Is the Kingdom interrogates the role and presence of children among Jesus’ early followers. Demonstrating a rich presence parallel to the gospel’s surrounding cultures, it offers a new perspective not only on Luke’s child-centered narratives, but on the account as a whole. By drawing out the acceptance and participation of children in the Kingdom of God, Lindeman Allen places interdependence across generations at the core of Lukan discipleship.