Matthew 21:14-16 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And the blind and the lame came to him, &c.— The opinion that Jesus was the Messiah now prevailed generally; for, while he was in the temple, the blind and the lame, and other diseased persons, were brought to him from all quarters, to be healed. Many such, no doubt, would be waiting in the several avenues of the temple to ask alms, at a time when there was so vast a concourse of people; and there seems a peculiar propriety in our Lord's multiplying these astonishing miracles, both to vindicate the extraordinary act of authority which he had just been performing, and to make this his last visit to Jerusalem as convincing as possible, that those who would not submit to him, might be left so much the more inexcusable. Upon this occasion the very children, when they saw the cures which he performed, proclaimed him the Son of David; so wonderfully were they struck with his miracles. Indeed the chief priests and doctors, finding him thus universally acknowledged, were highly displeased; yet theydurst not do any thingto put a stop to it, as standing in awe of the multitude. They only asked him if he heard what the children said, Matthew 21:16 insinuating, that it was his duty to stop their mouths, by refusing the praises they offered without understanding what they said. Jesus answered them out of the 8th Psalm, where David observes, that though all should be silent, God has no need of other heralds to proclaim his praise, thaninfants who hang at their mothers' breasts; because, though they be dumb, the admirable providence of God, conspicuous in their preservation, is equal to the loudest and sublimest eloquence. To ordain strength, which is the phrase used by the Psalmist in the passage here referred to, was in effect to perfect praise, as the LXX. render it; so that there is no need to be solicitous about that little variance in the quotation. This general observation of David was greatly illustrated by thehosannahs of the children, and yet much more by the triumph of the Apostles,—weak as they were in many respects,—over all the oppositions of Jews and Gentiles. But see the note on Psalms 8:2.