The Nature and Knowledge of a Child
by Jerry Whitlow
David, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote Psalm 51 after his sin with Bathsheba and his confrontation with Nathan the Prophet. Verses one through five say, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
Psalm 139:13-16 says, “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” God is saying He fashioned man just as one would have a blueprint for a house. Man too has a blueprint, which has been directly followed from the womb. Every part of man has been placed in detail before his birth. Therefore, God once again is showing His compassion and concern for the individual in the womb.
In Psalm 58:3 David says, “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.” Therefore, I find that all are conceived in sin, and are estranged (alienated) from the womb. This being the case for all mankind, how may a child enter into the Kingdom of God?
Leviticus 12 speaks of offerings brought by the parents of a newborn child, “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days. And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest who shall offer it before the Lord, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female. And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”
The mother of a male child was ceremonially unclean for a week after which he would be circumcised. The mother of a female child was ceremonially unclean for two weeks. After these periods of time, people could approach the mother, although she was still excluded from public worship. A burnt offering and a sin offering were given by the parents as a reminder of the original sin of Adam and that the newborn child had inherited the sinful nature of man. The offerings were to be made the day after her period of separation had ended; the forty-first day for a boy and the eighty-first day for a girl. Once again, I find the sin nature of the child began at conception.
John 3:1-7 says, “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”
Just as Nicodemus did not understand this saying, how can a child understand it? Or what about one who dies before birth? How are they to understand this most important truth? The answer is in the little word “man.” Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus a tremendous truth that pertains to an individual with maturity and understanding. After the Lord spoke with Nicodemus, he realized this most important truth. Nicodemus came to an understanding from the true Word of God. Children do not have this same type of understanding.
Isaiah 7:14-16 speaks of knowing to refuse evil and choosing the good. However, it also speaks of a time when a child does not know to refuse evil or how to make the correct choice. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.”
1 Corinthians 13:11 says, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” Therefore, there was a time when we “understood as a child.” Our understanding was not as it is today. Therefore, there were many things we did not understand as a child that we do understand today. Salvation is one of those truths.
In Deuteronomy chapter one, Moses reminds the Israelites of their journey from Horeb to Kadesh- Barnea. He shows them just how close they were to the land of Canaan, but due to their unbelief, they were not permitted to enter. However, their children would be allowed to enter. Notice verse 39 of chapter one, “Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.” These children were allowed to enter due to not understanding what was being required. God did not punish these children for their lack of understanding but granted grace to each one. Children are not innocent regarding having a sin nature, but they are innocent regarding their knowledge of the sin nature.
Children do not understand on the same level as adults and thus should not be placed on the same level of accountability as adults. (Luke 12:48, “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”)
When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, He was speaking to a man who had the capability of understanding. The difference between these children and Nicodemus is their capability. If Jesus had given the same information to these children he gave Nicodemus, they would not have been able to comprehend. If Jesus had given the same instructions to the children of Israel that He gave their parents, once again they would not have been able to comprehend. Jesus knows our capability and the capability of a child. Just as the children were admitted into the promised land, it should be assumed children will also be admitted into the Kingdom of God.