Matthew 21:14-17
14 And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant 16 and said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF’?” 17 And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.
Why would the chief priests and scribes become indignant (displeased) with the children? Or maybe they were displeased with Jesus healing the blind and lame. The children were praising Jesus for being the Messiah. The religious elite were scoffing at the children as if they were blaspheming. To the priests and scribes, it was blasphemy because they didn’t believe Jesus is the Messiah. It was even more ridiculous because the way these children were shouting gave the indication of a victory shout. We learned that “hosanna” means “save us” but when it is used in this way (and the way we normally sing it), it is a victory song! When Jesus is addressing His disciples in John 16, He comforts them with this knowledge:
32 “Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
This is our story. This is our song. The quote in verse 16 comes from Psalm 8:
1 O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! 2 From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease. 3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; 4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! 6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field, 8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!
These children recognized who Jesus was and the folks who supposedly knew about all these things laughed at the truth. We have victory in Christ. But when we are confronted with it, do we laugh as the priests did or do we celebrate as the children did? Remember, Jesus said we are to be in our relationship with Him as children. Too often we look down upon children as immature, unknowing, and without reason. Yet God has a special place in His heart for children and as a result, they have a special place in their hearts for Him. We should strive to be more like them.
