Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.” The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did, and heard the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became angry and said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise for yourself’?” Matthew 21:12-16 (NRS)
The King of Kings has rode into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey amid the shouts of praise from the people. Now he comes to the Temple, his house, and discovers that merchants and thieves are defiling it. So he began smashing their tables and chasing them away.
The people gasp as they watch this scene unfold. The Pharisees glare indignantly. The escaping vendors are enraged. But a hush settles over the scene as Jesus says, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you have made it a den of robbers.’
As he continues to block the path of merchandisers, some people with physical handicaps come to him and he heals them. While this stream of supplicants continues, Temple rulers having been told of his actions, rush into the Temple and see what is happening. They are amazed at the scene and cannot believe their ears. The children are singing, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David.’ This makes the Temple rulers angry and they challenge Jesus, ‘Don’t you hear what they are singing?’ Jesus calmly replied, ‘I certainly do. Haven’t you read where God said ‘Out of the mouth of infants and babies you have prepared praise for yourself’?
Israel was given the evidence they needed to clearly identify their King. The donkey ride, cleaning out the Temple, miracles, and the Word of God. Despite such evidence, they rejected their King and Savior. What will we do with him?
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. We lift our voices in song unto your name. Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna! Praises be unto our King. Holy, Holy, Holy is our God and worthy to be praised. Glory to Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his plan and live for his purpose,