Matthew 21:15-16

Mat 21:15-16 The King Acknowledges tub Children's Acclamations

15, 16. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased, And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

Chief priests and scribes are ever on the watch: nothing that glorifies the Lord Jesus will escape their eyes. Expect no less in these days: if the gospel prevails, formalists will be enraged. Praise rendered to Jesus was gall and wormwood to the ecclesiastics whose abuses he rebuked. His doings in the temple, which were self-evidently right, they dared not attack; but they were none the less full of wrath because of the wonderful things that he did. More and more they nursed their indignation. At last the enthusiastic shouts of the children crying in the temple, and saying, "Hosanna to the son of David" gave them an occasion to vent their contempt. How could a real prophet allow boys and girls to be shouting at his heels at that rate? Yet their contempt was only assumed: in truth they feared Jesus, and dreaded the effect of the popular enthusiasm, and so they were sore displeased. As soon as they can find an opportunity, they will spit their venom upon the Lord.

They boldly speak to Jesus about this rabblement of juveniles. They said unto him, "Hearest thou what these say?" "They salute thee as if thou wert a king. These silly children cry to thee,' Hosanna.' Why dost thou allow them to say it? Bid the youngsters cease their boisterous noise. How canst thou as a man bear with such childish cries?" Our Saviour's answer was complete. In answer to their question, "Hearest thou what these say?" Jesus saith unto them, "Yea; have ye never read? " Ye chief priests and scribes, have ye not read your own Psalter, of which ye profess to be such diligent students? If ye have read it, remember the words of David in Psa 8:2, "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise." Our Lord gives the sense of the passage rather than the exact words. God's praise is perfected out of children's mouths. In them his glory is seen, and frequently by them it is declared. When others are silent, these shall speak out, and in their simple truthfulness they shall give forth the praise of the Lord more fully than grown-up men and women will.