Matthew the apostle wrote how, “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, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse fifteen of his book, Matthew shares what happened, “when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did” where we read:
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,
The verse reads, “And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, ...”. Matthew began with the words, “and when” or “and at the time and moment” “the chief priests” which refers to “the high priests which comprise in addition to one holding the high priestly office, both those who had previously discharged it and although disposed, continued to have great power in the State, as well as the members of the families from which high priest were created, provided that they had much influence in public affairs” “and scribes” or “and men who learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings, an interpreter and teacher. Scribes examined the more difficult and subtle questions of the law, added to the Mosaic law decisions of various kinds thought to elucidate its meaning and scope, and did this to the detriment of religion” “saw” which means “perceived, noticed, discerned and discovered” “the wonderful things” or “the marvelous wonders and deeds” “that he did” which means “that Jesus performed”, “and the children” or “young boys and girls” “crying” which means “shrieking, exclaiming and entreating” “in the temple” or “within the sacred place of worship at Jerusalem”. Matthew shared how the religious leaders observed what Jesus did and the proclamation of the “young children” within the “temple” at “Jerusalem”.
The verse continues, “... and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,” Matthew added the words, “and saying” or “and uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “Hosanna” which is “an exclamation of adoration” that means “be propitious and save now” “to the Son of David” or “Jesus who is King David's offspring”; “they were sore displeased” which means “the chief priests and scribes were indignant, moved with indignation and greatly afflicted”. Matthew wrote how children were crying aloud “Save Now” which recognized Jesus as the Messiah, and this caused the “chief priests and scribes” to be “indignant and greatly afflicted”.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how the ire of the religious leaders was manifest when they considered all Jesus did and the response of the “children” within Jerusalem to Him. These “chief priests and scribes” were already poised to strike down Jesus at any opportunity extended to them, but now they were even more indignant. God desires to have a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, but this does not mean that everyone will come to Him. Some, in fact many, will oppose Jesus and be angry with Him, but His hand is extended still. Those who are wise will learn from these “children” and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah and “Savior” of all.
Next time Matthew shares how the “chief priest and scribes” asked Jesus, “do you hear what these say?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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