There are two possible interpretations of Jesus's welcoming of children in Matthew 18, both are profound and important for followers of Jesus. The first is to actually recapture the characteristics and values of the young, not to be childish, but to regain the wonder, awe, and enlivened sense of wonder that is found in children. The second, according to cultural backdrops, is to eliminate any status that may hinder anyone from full validation and welcome into the Kingdom of God.