14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
‘From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise’?”
17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.
Exit the buyers and sellers surrounding the temple area and enter in the blind and the lame – those desirous of healing from the Healer. It is good and profitable to enter the temple where Christ is present – lovingly and humbly approaching Him. Our Lord had recently rid those who had profaned His Father’s house and here He is graciously making whole those seeking Him in humility.
“Love and humility are the highest attainments in the school of Christ.” John Newton
Christ not only offers wholeness but rest and peace. His miraculous works testifying to Him even more than the praise of the children. Scripture tells us:
3 Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; 4 say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” 5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. Isaiah 35:3-6 (NIV)
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matt 11:28-29 (NIV)
In our verses for today, the chief priests and the teachers of the law were stirred up in anger over our Lord’s miraculous healings and of the high praises He was receiving from the wee ones. Such jealous guys they were - even to the point of audaciously questioning the Master - implying they wanted Him to make the babes stop singing of His worthiness. Peace gives life to the body yet envy will rot the bones.
30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Prov 14:30 (NIV)
These religious leaders were inwardly vexed at the wonderful miracles Jesus performed and they could not bear to hear the praises He was receiving. In our Lord’s refusal to silence the “Hosannas” of these young ones He was declaring that He was indeed worthy of them. He not only allowed their sweet songs of praise but He was pleased with them as well.
“Praise is the beauty of a Christian. What wings are to a bird, what fruit is to the tree, what the rose is to the thorn, that is praise to a child of God.” Charles H. Spurgeon
“Be not afraid of saying too much in the praises of God; all the danger is of saying too little.” Matthew Henry
“God doesn’t ask me to be perfect; He asks me to praise.” Ann Voskamp
Evidently the religious leaders had not the insight of the little children as they rejected and disdained the Lord while the latter received and honored Him. Out of the mouth of babes Truth comes. Jesus spoke of this earlier in Matthew:
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” Matt 11:25-26 (NIV)
I am reminded as well of the words John penned in the Gospel bearing his name:
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:10-13 (NIV)
Human ignorance and blindness caused by sin kept these religious leaders in the dungeon of darkness and depravity. Out of envy, these chief priests and teachers of the law were resolved to oppose the Lord Jesus. Had they had any wit about them, they surely would have testified to His acts as being miracles fueled by love and mercy. Proud men detest honor coming to any but themselves and remain displeased over the just praises of deserving men. By baulking at the praises given Jesus we drive Him from us – “And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.”