Reactions

N.T.#246 "Reactions"

Feb. 16, 2024 

Matthew 21-Part 6

LET IT GLOW 

What wonderful things has Jesus done in your life recently? Thank God for provisions day-by-day. A sweet couple in our church brought chicken and noodle soup for us while I have been sick. Such love they show to others. You know, reactions reveal what is in our heart. How did people react to Jesus?

It had become a public bazaar in the Temple of worshiping God. The High Priest's family was making money off exchanging money and selling of doves. What extortion, profiting from their position! Jesus threw them out, proclaiming His house was called the house of prayer (Isa. 56:7), but they had made it a den of thieves. (verses 12-13) He wouldn't even allow anyone to carry merchandise through the Temple. (Mark 11:16) Did you notice that Jesus threw the tables and the seats, also? Yet He never sinned. More reading on this subject can be found in Jeremiah 7.

The rightful purpose of the Temple was the prayerful worship of God.

After that happened, what went on next?

• Following the cleansing of the Temple, the blind and lame came to Jesus in the Temple and He healed them. (verse 14) Even after having righteous indignation, Jesus still had compassion on the sick. 
• The children were praising Jesus saying, Hosanna to the Son of David. (verse 15)
• The chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that Jesus did, but they were sore displeased. Not only our Lord's popularity angering those religious leaders, but the children implied Jesus to be the Messiah.(Son of David).

LET IT GROW

Psalm 8:1-2 says, Yahweh, our Lord, how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth! Because of Your adversaries, You have established a stronghold from the mouths of children and nursing infants to silence the enemy and avenger. 

Had the scribes and chief priests not read this verse, that the young ones would perfect praise to Jesus?(verse 16)

Debating with those opposing Jesus, He let Scriptures have the last word. He had pointed out the things were not right with the religious and political hearts of Israel.

Then Jesus departed the same way He entered and returned to Bethany staying there. (verse 17)

Thus, the corrupt organized religion lacked purity of life and the power of God. (Falwell)

Did you see the two reactions to the healing of the blind and lame, which Jesus did? The children praised Him and the scribes and priests were displeased.

Displeased means indignant; greatly afflicted.

Indignant means anger aroused by something unworthy. (Webster's Dictionary)

Are we praising Jesus? Are we teaching our children to praise Jesus, too? Do we see the wonderful things Jesus does in our life and around us? How do we react when Jesus does something special to another person?

LET IT GO

                    ...of anger, jealousy, hate, displeasure, indignation.

                               ...and let Jesus fill us with the fruit of the Spirit.