Matthew 21:16

New King James Version

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’?”

For Meditation

They were angry, and why not? The Carpenter from Nazareth they had trailed for so long and sought to trap had come into Jerusalem as a King, and the city was abuzz with delight. Nothing they did could stop the crowd from singing His praises. Now He had entered the temple and driven out the merchants and moneychangers. It was Passover, and business was brisk. How dare Jesus do that? With what authority?

Look, chief priests and scribes! The blind and lame receive their healing from Him. He has brought His miracles to your doorstep, so what do you say about that? Is He the Messiah or not?

Around Jesus, the children raised rapturous praise to serenade Him.

“Hosanna to the son of David.” (Matthew 21:15).

The children could not allow the stones to take their place (Luke 19:39-40), for they have voices to sing the Master’s praise. No need for Jesus to command stones to sing His praises.

The chief priests and scribes have had it. This sacrilege must stop now.

Will somebody stop those children from making that noise? He is not the son of David. May heaven rid this sacred place of this deceiver from Nazareth where nothing good comes!

“What do you say about that, Jesus? Why don’t you do something good for once and stop those children from making that noise?” (Matthew 21:16).

No one can stop those who love Jesus from singing His praises. Children love Him because they know He loves them. God has perfected praise out of the mouths of babes and nursing infants, so how could the children stop doing what comes naturally to them (16)?

Children cannot wait for everything to fall into place before singing. The melody is in their hearts and flows naturally. The key does not matter. Off-key or not, Jesus must hear their praise. Pity us adults who get wrapped up in the diction and tone of our singing. It is as if we are singing to ourselves, so everything must be perfect. We care too much about finesse that we sometimes miss the joy of praise and the strength it releases to the one worshipping in Spirit.

And so it went on the day Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem. The chief priests and scribes could not have their way. They filed out to compare notes and review their murderous plans for Jesus — a lost opportunity to receive their Messiah.

It is your turn today. Where do you stand with Jesus? Are you with the children or with the chief priests and scribes?