Luke 18:9-26 gives us the story of the disciples keeping the children away from Jesus.  The story is sandwiched between the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax-collector and the story of the Rich Young Ruler.  In both these two stories we have themes that recur throughout Jesus ministry regarding who is in with God and who is out.  The Pharisee is sure that he is right with God and the tax collector is not.  The disciples are sure that if anyone can enter God’s Kingdom, a rich man will more likely be found there than anyone else.

Thus, both stories belong to the controversies we find throughout the gospels over who Jesus eats with and who he sides with.  Jesus ate with people whom others were not allow at their tables nor deign to be their guests at a meal.

It seems that Jesus’ challenge regarding children is part of that same ethic.  Societies regard children somewhat similarly to the way they regard other kinds of outcasts.  Jesus wants them included.