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Daily Devotions

Matthew

Matthew 
Day 
Day 266

Things As They Should Be!

Text: Matthew 21 : 1 - 17

The thieves scrambled for safety as Jesus approached them with righteous anger in His eyes. His bearing, full of divine authority, frightened the merchants. If God Himself were to come into their midst to judge them, they couldn’t be more worried! They fled the temple scene, leaving behind all their merchandise!

“Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple,
and He healed them.”
MATTHEW 21:14

The temple was meant for all – including the blind and the lame! These people often made up the poor section of society. They could never afford to give worship at the temple because they would not be able to afford to purchase the items used for worship. But now the sick flocked to Jesus in the temple! With great compassion and love, Jesus healed all who came to Him. Surely this new scene at the temple reflected the glorious Name of God correctly!

INDIGNATION NEVERTHELESS

The chief priests had recovered themselves, and they came to Jesus with great indignation.

“But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things
that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying,
‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ they were indignant
and said to Him, ‘Do you hear what these are saying?’
And Jesus said to them, ‘Yes. Have you never read,
“Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have perfected praise”? ‘ ”
MATTHEW 21:15-16

“The wonderful things that He did…”

The chief priests and scribes could not fault what Jesus did for the blind and the lame! How could they find fault when the blind had their sight restored, and the lame walking on strong limbs once again?

“The children crying out in the temple…”Hosanna to the Son of David…”

What were the children actually doing? Two things may be suggested.

1. They were re-enacting the Triumphal ride of Jesus in the temple

It was exciting to see the triumphal ride into Jerusalem. The hubbub might have died down after Jesus alighted from the foal of the donkey and strode into the temple of Jerusalem. However, with children, such a stirring event would not just die away so quickly. They would replay this scene in their child-like ways again and again, never tiring of it.

2. They were continuing where the adults had left off

Children were uninhibited that way. Adults would be more subdued in their expressions, especially if they knew what the chief priests and scribes were like. Children didn’t care for things like that and they would be their natural irrepressible selves – even under the nose of the stuffy chief priests and scribes.

“Do you hear what they are saying?”

The chief priests and scribes were obviously annoyed when they remonstrated with Jesus at this juncture! They could not fault Jesus for healing the blind and the lame. But surely they could find fault with Him for allowing the children to say such things. What did they have in mind when they brought this matter up to Jesus?

1. What do children know?

They were protesting that children knew very little. They should therefore not be encouraged to speak what they do not know. Why had Jesus not stopped the children from making such shouts of acclamation?

2. “Hosanna to the Son of David”

These words could only be said to the Messiah! He was the true heir of David. But as far as the chief priests were concerned, Jesus was not the Messiah and therefore He had no right to receive such words of praise and adoration! Why, that would be tantamount to blasphemy! Why hadn’t Jesus stopped the children? (We may also ask why the chief priests and scribes had not shut the children up themselves)!

THE STARTLING AFFIRMATION OF JESUS!

The quiet answer Jesus gave astonished the chief priests and scribes. They had expected Jesus to comply. They expected Him to stop the children from shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David.” However, Jesus refused to comply.

“Yes!”

Had Jesus heard the shouting of the children? YES! Would He stop them? NO! That was as straightforward as Jesus could be with the chief priests and scribes!

“Have you not read…”

Once again, the chief priests and scribes were embarrassed! They did not seem to know the Scriptures very well at all! Jesus went on to cite a text from the Book of Psalms (The LXX text was used rather than the Hebrew Scriptures). Can children understand enough to offer praise meaningfully? To Jesus, the answer was an assured “Yes!” But if that is true, then the children would be seen as having more spiritual understanding than the chief priests and scribes! Jesus did not elaborate on what He said. The religious leaders would have much to ponder over that evening!