The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 21 Part 3 Children Praising Jesus Upset Scribes & Priests

Matthew 21:12-13  And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13  And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. 

In our last lesson, we saw Jesus give strong condemnation of money changers and profiteering sellers of animals, who operated in the House of God.

The zeal of Christ for His Father's house led Him to cast them all out of the temple precinct.

We found the foundation for Christ's words and actions rooted in the law of God and in the prophets Messianic words. 

We also noted that this was the second time Jesus cleansed the temple of money changers and sellers of sacrificial animals.

Buying and selling inside the temple of God desecrated this holy place and Jesus restored its holiness with His actions.

The Father's temple is a house of prayer not to be polluted by a den of thieves seeking to profit from faithful Jews who came to worship God rightly.

Mark 11:17  And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. 

Mark's gospel provides some important context for us.

He tells us that Jesus said the Father's house "shall be called of all nations the house of prayer" which connects to King Solomon's prayer when this temple was dedicated.

1 Kings 8:41-43  Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name's sake; 42  (For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house; 43  Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name. 

The first temple was built during King Solomon's reign and for its dedication, the king prayed a passionate and powerful prayer.

This section of Solomon's prayer, outlines Israel's duty to spread the gospel and God's Word to all the nations.

Solomon prayed on behalf of non Jewish people, the Gentiles or nations.

He said that these people will come from many places to the temple of God in Jerusalem.

They will come because of Jehovah's name, His mighty works and His care for all Israel.

How would other people and nations hear of Jehovah's name and His mighty works and lovingkindness?

The Jewish people were to bear witness of God to all the nations, just as the church today is called to preach the gospel of Christ to all nations.

Some Jews were faithful witnesses for Jehovah, but all too often, the nation as a whole, plunged into idolatry and became just like the world.

Deuteronomy 4:6-8  Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. 7  For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? 8  And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? 

Led by the Spirit of God, Moses repeatedly urged the Hebrews to hear and heed the commandments of God, because He blesses those who obey and will not bless those who disobey.

Moses said that Israel must evangelize other nations by being living examples of a faithful, obedient, Godly people.

A faithful testimony of a life that is lived for God's glory, cannot be underestimated.

This is the same calling for all Christians today. 

We are called to live as God's peculiar, special people, obeying His Word, worshiping Him in Spirit and in truth so that our light shines to draw people to Christ.

Yet, like Israel, many churches have become worldly instead of holy unto the Lord. 

Nations and people are not drawn to a testimony of worldly Christians. 

Why would someone want to become a Christian when professing Christians are living like lost people live?

God tells us not to love the world because if we love the world, then the Father's love is not in us (See 1 John 2:15-17).

Isaiah 43:10-12  Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11  I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. 12  I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. 

Here is another clear command from God to Israel that was given about 800 years before Christ was born.

A good king named Hezekiah ruled at that time, and he sought God fervently. 

He had the temple of God cleansed and repaired while he instituted many reforms to put down idolatry.

Jewish people were commanded to be a witness to the nations that they must put away their idols, repent of their sins and trust in the mercy of Jehovah (See Isaiah 44:8; 49:6).

Psalm 67:1-4  To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song. God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. 2  That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. 3  Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. 4  O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. 

The Psalmist prayed for God's mercy to be granted to Israel, such that the name of God and the ways of God would be known by all nations, so that they turn from dead idols to serve the living God.

God's will in the Old Testament is the same as it is in the New Testament. 

He wants all people everywhere to repent of sin and call upon Him for salvation, and He will save them! (See 1 Timothy 2:1-5; 2 Peter 3:9).

Jehovah planned for the Hebrew nation to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (See Exodus 19:5-6).

Mark 11:18-19  And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. 19  And when even was come, he went out of the city. 

Thus, Jesus literally fulfilled the law of God with His call for holiness from Israel.

When Jesus cleansed His Father's house, it made an immediate impact upon the people.

First, scribes and Pharisees became very angry and began plotting how to kill Jesus.

The very people who were to teach the holy standards of God to the nation, were planning to murder Christ, in violation of the sixth commandment (See Exodus 20:13).

Mark's gospel also tells us that both scribes and Pharisees feared Jesus and were filled with panic and utter astonishment.

Why so? Because of the doctrine to Jesus. 

He was bringing back the law of God as the only standard for His people.

His holy teachings were ripping the fabric of traditions of men that the religious leaders imposed on all people.

The clear truth of God spoken by Jesus sharply contradicted and exposed Judaism as spiritually bankrupt and morally wrong.

Matthew 21:14-17  14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. 15 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, 16  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? 17  And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there. 

Returning to Matthew's gospel, we see that the chief priests and scribes witnessed the wonderful things Jesus did.

Blind and lame people came to Jesus because "Hosanna" means "save now" or "help now."

These people were most marginalized by society and had no hope of a better life until Jesus came to them.

He healed them all and this utterly perplexed the scribes and priests.

They heard all the praise the Jewish people shouted because of Jesus' presence and they were extremely displeased

Matthew 21:16-17  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? 17  And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there. 

Filled with indignant hearts and haughty attitudes, the scribes and priests asked Jesus if He heard what the children were saying to Him.

They wanted Jesus to turn and rebuke the children for ascribing worship and honor to Him.

Jesus did indeed hear their cries of children shouting "Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the LORD." 

He would not rebuke them because what they shouted about Jesus was true.

Then, Jesus cited Psalm 8:2 to support children praising God in response to the scribes, Pharisees and chief priests who were angry.

Luke 19:39-40  And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40  And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. 

Luke's gospel adds one more detail concerning what Jesus said to His detractors.

Jesus said that if He were to tell the children to stop praising Him, then the massive stones of the Temple would immediately cry out with the same praise for Christ, the Creator.

Often, created things are personified as a way to show us the glory of God and the worship we should readily give to Him.

Joshua 24:26-27  And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. 27  And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.

Joshua wrote down all the words from the law of God and erected a large stone to place under an oak tree.

Notice that Joshua said this stone is a witness that the people heard God's commands and committed themselves to obey Him.

Thus, Joshua said "This stone shall be a witness unto us, for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which He spake to us."

The stones stood as a testimony to God and His holy law and it would stand as a rebuke of the people if they ever departed from God and His law.

Habakkuk 2:11  For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it. 

Again, the prophet Habakkuk tells us that the stones in the wall will cry out and the massive timber beams answer in reply. 

Psalm 19:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 

King David, the sweet Psalmist of Israel, tells us that all the heavens, all created things, show the glory of God in His mighty creation works.

Psalm 96:11-13  Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. 12  Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice 13  Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth. 

The Psalmist speaks of heaven rejoicing and the earth being glad.

The sea will roar and the fields and trees of the earth will be joyful.

What is the occasion of such joy?

It is when created things are in the presence of the LORD when He comes to judge the earth in righteousness and truth.

Thus, Christ entering Jerusalem received praise from adults and children and no doubt, created things would have cried out had Jesus told the children to be silent.

Psalm 98:6-9  With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. 7  Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 8  Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together 9  Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. 

Again, the Psalmist tells us to make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.

Who is the LORD and King? It is Jesus, whose name means "Jehovah saves" and Christ, which means "Messiah, the king of Israel."

Thus, the seas will roar, the floods clap their hands and the hills be filled with joy when the LORD the King comes to established His kingdom on earth with truth and righteousness.

At this point, Jesus and His disciples left Jerusalem and returned to Bethany for the evening.

What does Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem teach us about God?

First, we see that God is holy and worthy to be praised.

Second, we see that God calls His children to be holy because He is holy.

Third, we see that in both the nation Israel and in Christ's church, there is an ongoing tendency to become spiritually slack and permit worldliness to enter into the Temple of God.

Fourth, we see that there are always people trying to profit from religion, as Peter says, making merchandise of the people by using false words of men (See 2 Peter 2:3).

Fifth, we see Jesus upholding and restoring the scriptures as God's standard for us to know and obey. 

Let us allow these truths to sink into our hearts, such that we can respond to Jesus Christ like the small children who gave all their energy in praising Him.

All created things are depicted as having joy in the presence of God, personified to show us that we of all creatures, should be a joyful, happy people before the Lord.

Palm Sunday and Easter are not too far away and this is a good time to reflect what God did to save sinners from certain eternal condemnation.

Bob