Matthew 21:16
and they 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 infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus doesn't just defend the children's praise; he reveals its divine purpose. By quoting Psalm 8:2, he shows that God intentionally equips even the most vulnerable—infants and nursing babies—to declare His glory, highlighting how He can use seemingly weak beginnings to accomplish His powerful purposes.
As Jesus enters Jerusalem and purifies the Temple, children in the Temple courts begin to cry out "Hosanna to the Son of David!" The chief priests and scribes, angered by this acclamation, question Jesus's awareness of it, implying he should silence them. Jesus, however, defends the children's praise by quoting Scripture, asserting that God can ordain praise even from the mouths of the very young.
The religious leaders were furious, demanding Jesus silence the adoring children. But Jesus’ response revealed something profound about who God hears and approves.
The chief priests and scribes were deeply offended by the children shouting "Hosanna to the Son of David!" They saw it as disrespectful, an uprising of the common people they wanted to suppress. Their question, "Do you hear what these are saying?" was loaded with condemnation, expecting Jesus to agree and shut it down.
But Jesus, with his characteristic wisdom, turned their outrage into a teaching moment. He didn't just hear; he approved. He answered, "Yes," and immediately pointed them to Scripture: "'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise.'"
This wasn't just a clever comeback; it was a theological declaration. Jesus was saying that God’s praise and recognition of Him as Messiah, the Son of David, was so powerful and undeniable that it would erupt even from the most unlikely sources—babes and nursing babies. When those in power try to silence truth, God can orchestrate praise from the most humble and unexpected places. Their anger stemmed from their own pride and desire for control, blinding them to the divine work happening right before their eyes.
Jesus didn't just say the children were praising Him; He said God had prepared that praise. What does this mean for how God works through us?
The phrase "prepared praise" (or, in some translations, "ordained strength") is key here. The original Hebrew in Psalm 8:2 speaks of God ordaining strength. The Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament widely used at the time) translates this as 'perfected praise.'
Jesus uses this to show that the children’s shouts weren't accidental or merely emotional outbursts. They were, in God’s sovereign plan, the very means by which His strength and glory were being declared and perfected, especially in the face of His enemies.
Think about it: these children, in their innocence and purity, were unfiltered in their recognition of Jesus as the Messiah. Their simple cries held a profound truth that the hardened hearts of the religious leaders couldn't grasp. God used their mouths, their voices, and His praise through their childlike faith. It highlights God's ability to equip and use the weak and seemingly insignificant to accomplish His powerful purposes and to silence opposition.
Understand the original words
‘ōz · Hebrew Noun
A formal expression of adoration, honor, and worship directed toward God, acknowledging His greatness, attributes, and works. In Scripture, it is a response to divine revelation or action and is often linked to the spirit of humility.
This verse is directly tied to Jesus' final week in Jerusalem, specifically His cleansing of the Temple and the subsequent acclaim He received. The children's praise, though seemingly spontaneous, is seen by Jesus as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, highlighting divine approval even from the most unlikely sources, directly challenging the religious leaders' authority and their blindness to God's Messiah.
c. 20-30 AD— this verse
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
Jesus overturns the tables of money changers and those selling animals in the Jerusalem Temple, declaring it a house of prayer, not a marketplace. This action demonstrates His authority and causes controversy.
c. 20-30 AD
Jesus Heals the Blind and Lame
While in the Temple, Jesus heals blind and lame individuals, leading to further acclaim from the crowds and children.
c. 20-30 AD
Children Shout 'Hosanna'
Children in the Temple echo the crowds' praise for Jesus, shouting 'Hosanna to the Son of David!' This acclamation angers the chief priests and scribes.
c. 20-30 AD
Jesus Quotes Psalm 8:2
In response to the priests' and scribes' disapproval, Jesus quotes the Scripture from Psalm 8:2, affirming that praise from the mouths of infants and nursing babies is divinely prepared.
This is the original Old Testament passage Jesus quotes, highlighting that God's praise can come from the most unlikely and humble sources, even infants.
1 Corinthians 1:27Paul echoes this theme, explaining how God intentionally uses the 'foolish' and 'weak' things of the world to shame the wise and strong, mirroring how God used children to praise Jesus.
Isaiah 11:6This prophetic passage describes a future kingdom of peace where a child leads, further emphasizing the theme of innocence and purity being used by God for His purposes.
Luke 10:21Jesus rejoices that certain truths are revealed to 'infants' (often interpreted as humble believers) and hidden from the 'wise and understanding,' echoing the sentiment that God's ways are not man's ways.
bengelMatthew 21:16: "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?"
Matthew 21:16 . Ἀκούεις , κ . τ . λ ., dost Thou hear? etc.) Every thing which is not commonplace and traditional, is too much for hypocrites.[920]— ΘΗΛΑΖΌΝΤΩΝ , sucklings ) who might be as much as three years old.[921] See 2Ma 7:27 . [920] νηπίων ) They who to the world seem still infants, may notwithstanding ha…
pooleMatthew 21:16: "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?"
Ver. 15,16. The other evangelists say nothing of this part of this history. The wonderful things here mentioned, are his healing the blind and lame, of which we read Matthew 21:14 . The cry of the children doubtless more displeased them; it was of the same nature with that of the multitude in the way, and in the…
Jesus doesn't just defend the children's praise; he reveals its divine purpose. By quoting Psalm 8:2, he shows that God intentionally equips even the most vulnerable—infants and nursing babies—to declare His glory, highlighting how He can use seemingly weak beginnings to accomplish His powerful purposes.
As Jesus enters Jerusalem and purifies the Temple, children in the Temple courts begin to cry out "Hosanna to the Son of David!" The chief priests and scribes, angered by this acclamation, question Jesus's awareness of it, implying he should silence them. Jesus, however, defends the children's praise by quoting Scripture, asserting that God can ordain praise even from the mouths of the very young.
As Jesus enters Jerusalem and purifies the Temple, children in the Temple courts begin to cry out "Hosanna to the Son of David!" The chief priests and scribes, angered by this acclamation, question Jesus's awareness of it, implying he should silence them. Jesus, however, defends the children's praise by quoting Scripture, asserting that God can ordain praise even from the mouths of the very young.
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c. 30 AD
Jesus' Triumphal Entry
Days before his crucifixion, Jesus makes a public entry into Jerusalem, riding a donkey, while crowds lay palm branches and cloaks before him, shouting 'Hosanna!' This event is directly linked to the temple cleansing and the acclamation by children.
"and they 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 infants and nursing babies
you have prepared praise’?”" — Jesus doesn't just defend the children's praise; he reveals its divine purpose. By quoting Psalm 8:2, he shows that God intentionally equips even the most vulnerable—infants and nursing babies—to dec…