The main focus of Mark 10:15 is on emphasizing the way in which God’s kingdom is to be received. The kingdom of God must be received like a little child.
By referring to children, Jesus is not drawing our attention to any kind of characteristic or attitude found in children. He is not saying that our humility is the key to being received in the kingdom. He is not saying that if we come to God with a submissive attitude we will be accepted. If that was the case he would be denying the gospel because our salvation would depend not on what Christ has done for us, but on something we do in order to merit God’s grace.
Jesus is drawing our attention to the status of little children. They are helpless nobodies. They are not important or significant in society. Everything they have is something given to them. They are completely dependent on others to care and provide for them, particularly when they are babies, such as the ones who were brought to Jesus.
For us therefore to receive the kingdom of God like a child means we must receive it as a free gift. We don’t bring our humility, our godliness, our riches, or our repentance to God. We have nothing to give him, we simply come to receive.
15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”