Matthew 21:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Have you not considered, “Out of the mouths of babes and infants You have established praise?”’ The term ‘established’ conveys that You have formed pure and legitimate praise. While children may be deemed imperfect due to their age, they did not speak on their own; they surrendered their voices to the Holy Spirit, becoming His instruments. Thus, it is expressed ‘out of the mouths of babes,’ signifying that the words arose not from their own thoughts but from mouths inspired by Divine grace. This indicated that Christ would receive praise from children and the unlearned, meaning the Gentiles. This also provided encouragement to the apostles; despite being ordinary men, they would be entrusted with the message. Similarly, you too, if you are innocent like a child and feed on the spiritual nourishment of God’s word, will be worthy to glorify God.

However, I find the most astonishing of His signs to be that one man—at that time scorned and so humiliated that He was nailed to the cross—could, in the face of the scribes and Pharisees who were filled with rage against Him and whose expectations of gain were thwarted, drive away such a multitude with a single stroke of the scourge, overturn tables, break benches, and perform feats that an entire army could not accomplish. Truly, a radiant, fiery beam seemed to shine from His eyes, and the majesty of the Divine presence illuminated His countenance. As the priests hesitated to lay hands on Him, they vilified His works and twisted the praises of the people and the children, who cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” into scorn, as this very proclamation pertains solely to the Son of God. Therefore, let bishops and other holy individuals be mindful of the grave peril that arises when this exclamation is misapplied to themselves, for even to the Lord, to Whom this title is exclusively attributed, it was met with reproach.

Christ, the Redeemer, revealed the lack of grace among the chief priests and the folly of the scholars, while also affirming the discernment of the children. He demonstrated through the Holy Scriptures that not only is the praise of children justifiable, but that their actions align with God’s divine plan, as it had been foretold through the ages: ‘Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast made praise’ (Matthew 21:16). Thank God, the situation in this temple differs greatly from that which existed in Jerusalem! Here, we hear the young men and boys proclaiming similar praises, but with a clarity of truth that surpasses that of their Jerusalem counterparts: ‘I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who for our salvation was incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and His kingdom shall have no end’; ‘Hosanna in the highest’ (Matthew 21:9). No one is indignant; instead, those who reflect are filled with joy that our Christian youth are proclaiming truths that transcend the grasp of non-Christian sages. This house of worship was built for the sake of genuine wisdom, to ensure that young people could encounter Christ—who is present here by His grace—through faith and prayer, to learn of Him through His Word, to grow in understanding, and to glorify Him in a manner befitting His majesty.

Returning to the event in Jerusalem, one must wonder how it was that the youths knew more about the faith than the chief priests and scribes. The anticipation of Christ and the awareness of His coming were indeed prevalent not only among those faithful in the Old Testament Church but also among those who were not fully orthodox. The Samaritan woman confidently stated, ‘We know that the Messiah is coming, the one called Christ; when He comes, He will declare all things to us’ (John 4:25). Notably, her understanding of Christ was more profound than that of many carnal Jews; she perceived Him not merely as an earthly king but as the ultimate guide to true knowledge of God and the reverence due to Him. If this Samaritan woman—dubbed unorthodox by the Lord for having had multiple husbands—could grasp such understanding about Christ, how much more should one expect from the orthodox Jews of her time, who were not ensnared by prevailing vices? The youths of Jerusalem surely learned from their parents the same truths the Samaritan woman acknowledged at Jacob’s well: ‘The Messiah, who is called Christ, is coming; He will declare all things to us.’ So, when they witnessed the appearance of Jesus, who proclaimed the kingdom of God and unveiled its mysteries through parables, leading to repentance and forgiveness, healing the afflicted, casting out demons, and raising the dead, they could recognize, with their innocent hearts and unclouded minds, the awaited, yet unseen, Christ in Him.

As they saw Jesus approaching Jerusalem, amid the throngs of people welcoming Him with joyous shouts, they went to the temple, which had yet to fill with crowds, gathering together like a joyful assembly of children. They cried out to the Lord entering the temple, saying, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ Perhaps some ‘of the rulers’ who believed in Him but feared the Pharisees sent their children to this assembly, seeking to ease their own consciences by having their children acknowledge Christ without risking expulsion from the synagogue, with the innocence of youth shielding them from danger. Those listening should not question why this reflection on Jewish children and their families is relevant; it serves a purpose. Consider that these Jewish parents, who were endowed with scriptural and traditional knowledge of the coming Savior, were prudent and blessed, seeking to impart this understanding and instill faith within their children. The fruits of their efforts were remarkable: even at a young age, their children became resounding proclaimers of Christ’s glory.

We can concur that Christian parents also possess wisdom and are indeed blessed, for they strive to impart simple yet profound truths about God and Christ to their children, igniting in their hearts reverence, faith, and love for both. It is vital to plant the seeds of God’s Word in the hearts nurtured by the living waters of holy baptism, while they remain untouched by the weeds of sin and distraction. The promise of fruitful growth and abundant harvest is evident here. Just as the tares and thorns can choke the seedling, so too can a robust faith in Christ prevent the growth of vice and falsehood.

Blessed, indeed, are those Jewish youths who had the rare opportunity to directly ‘praise’ Christ in the temple of Jerusalem, with His immediate approval (Matthew 21:15-16). Their praises stemmed from authentic faith and ecstatic joy. Why should not you, Christian children, also share in this joy, and perhaps even exceed it? This is not merely a momentary opportunity; you have the constant blessing here in the temple, where our Lord Jesus Christ fulfills His promise, ‘to be in the midst … of those gathered in His name’ (Matthew 18:20), and to “be sacrificed and given as sustenance to the faithful” — here you consistently encounter Him and can, with a believing heart, join the Church in proclaiming: ‘Blessed is He who is coming; ... hosanna in the highest!’ (Matthew 21:9). Undoubtedly, He will regard you with favor and, according to the measure of your faith, He will bestow upon you holy joy. It is essential to remember, however, that this is contingent upon the measure of your faith. Merely approaching God with words is insufficient; rote learning of Christ’s teachings is not enough. True knowledge of God must encompass an awareness of His presence, reverence for His majesty, and a genuine desire to honor His holiness. The knowledge of Christ the Savior becomes truly salvific for us only when we recognize our limitations and flaws, coming to understand that without Him, we are but frail, lost souls, and that He is ‘the way’ of our existence, ‘the truth’ and enlightenment of our minds, ‘the life’ (John 14:6) in our hearts. As a result of these realizations, we earnestly strive to reach towards His sovereign light and life by adhering to His commands. Thus, Christ ‘dwells in our hearts through faith’ (Ephesians 3:17), leading to the truth of ‘blessed are ... those who believe’ (John 20:29) and love their Lord. Amen.

Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouths of babes and infants You have arranged praise?’” (Psalm 8:3). It is as if He implied that it was not His fault that the children were offering Him praises, nor that a prophet had foretold this many ages ago.

Moreover, as noted in the Gospel, those who preceded and accompanied Him cried out (Matthew 21:9), indicating that the people are metaphorically referred to as infants due to the purity of their hearts rather than their age, for actual infants cannot comprehend or express praise. They are likened to infants because their joyous proclamations arose from the marvels they witnessed through Christ, akin to how the sweetness of milk elicits joy in children. As it is written, “Did I not humble and soothe my soul as a child weaned from his mother’s breast? My soul was in me as a child weaned from the breast” (Psalm 130:2). Here, the milk symbolizes the manifestation of miracles, while the bread represents the doctrine of perfect righteousness, as articulated by the Apostle: “And my word and my preaching are not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in the manifestation of the Spirit and power” (1 Corinthians 2:4). He further explains, “And I could not speak to you, brethren, as to spiritual, but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk, and not with solid food, for you were not yet strong” (1 Corinthians 3:1-2).

The initial teachings of faith, often referred to as milk, are easily digestible and sweet in flavor. In this way, miracles don’t demand great effort from those who witness them, and they astonish onlookers, seemingly beckoning them to believe. In contrast, the bread symbolizes the deeper teachings of perfect righteousness, which require diligent contemplation to fully grasp. This spiritual understanding involves internal reflection, akin to the chewing of food with spiritual insight.

These are not empty utterances, but the resonances of a pure spirit, which you should heed as well. Those familiar with the Scriptures understand what the Psalmist conveys about God's word, felt even by the youngest, for the child praises God genuinely and openly, putting to shame the foes of God. Rather than deriding the children, you ought to feel embarrassed by their unpretentious declarations: these little ones, in their innocent trust, acknowledge me as the Messiah and provide an example to you, the elders. Though they are children, the Holy Spirit speaks through their voices. St. Chrysostom notes, ‘He rightly said: ‘with their mouths’, for their words did not originate in their minds, but His power guided their still refining tongues. This also foreshadowed the Gentiles, who were once unlettered but then began proclaiming profound truths with compelling faith, encouraging the apostles greatly. To ensure the apostles did not doubt their ability to evangelize the nations as simple and uneducated individuals, the young ones alleviated their concerns beforehand, instilling a solid hope that He who inspired the youth to glorify the Lord would also grant them eloquence. The Lord chose not to quote the subsequent lines of the Psalm in His reply to His opponents, ‘to silence the enemy and the avenger’ (Psalm 8:3).

Those knowledgeable in the Scriptures remember the words of the Psalmist, “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise.” The glory of God is so evident to children that they are able to offer genuine praise in a straightforward manner, which serves to highlight the inadequacies of God’s enemies with their sincerity and heartfelt devotion.

In their youthful exuberance, they echoed the praises that the crowd had directed toward Jesus, phrases they had heard and memorized, though they may not have comprehended their full significance. The term “reviled” illustrates how the religious leaders perceived the growing admiration for Jesus among the people, who recognized Him as the Messiah. Overcome by their disbelief and animosity, they scorned Him, consumed with jealousy for His favor. Such is the intensity of human emotion.