What does Matthew 19:14 mean?

Jesus both cares for children and recognizes their value as an example to His disciples. Some have brought children to Jesus so that He can lay hands on them and pray for them. The disciples have rebuked these people, perhaps to protect His time and energy from a request that is not urgent.

Jesus, though, steps in and insists on allowing the little children to come to Him. He tells the disciples not to hinder them because the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like children. It is a tender picture, and Jesus clearly cares for the children. However, He is not saying that the kingdom of heaven belongs to actual little children. Instead, He is reminding the disciples of their need for childlike faith and humility.

This, in fact, is an echo of a teaching Jesus gave to His disciples in the previous chapter: "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3–4).