Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 21:15-16

"But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children that were crying in the temple and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were moved with indignation, and said unto him, Hearest thou what these are saying? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea: did ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou has perfected praise?" — Matthew 21:15-16 (ASV)

Chief priests and scribes are always on the watch. Nothing that glorifies the Lord Jesus will escape their eyes. Expect no less in these times. If the Gospel prevails, formalists will be enraged.

Praise rendered to Jesus was gall and wormwood to the ecclesiastics whose abuses He rebuked. His actions in the temple, which were self-evidently right, they did not dare to attack, but they were nonetheless full of wrath because of the wonderful things that He did. More and more they nursed their indignation.

At last, the enthusiastic shouts of the children crying in the temple, and saying, “Hosanna to the son of David,” gave them an occasion to vent their contempt. How could a real prophet allow boys and girls to be shouting at His heels like that?

Yet their contempt was only assumed. In truth, they feared Jesus and dreaded the effect of the popular enthusiasm, and so they were greatly displeased. As soon as they could find an opportunity, they would spit their venom upon the Lord.

They boldly spoke to Jesus about this unruly group of children. They said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying? They salute You as if You were a king. These silly children cry to You, ‘Hosanna.’ Why do You allow them to say it? Tell the youngsters to stop their boisterous noise. How can You, as a man, put up with such childish cries?”

Our Savior’s answer to their question, “Do You hear what these are saying?” was complete.

Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read? You chief priests and scribes, have you not read your own Psalter, of which you profess to be such diligent students? If you have read it, remember the words of David in Psalm 8:2, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise.”

Our Lord gives the sense of the passage rather than the exact words. God’s praise is perfected out of children’s mouths. In them His glory is seen and frequently by them it is declared.

When others are silent, these will speak out, and in their simple truthfulness they will give forth the praise of the Lord more fully than grown-up men and women will.