Matthew 21:16

KJV

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?

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} said {G2036} unto him {G846}, Hearest thou {G191} what {G5101} these {G3778} say {G3004}? And {G1161} Jesus {G2424} saith {G3004} unto them {G846}, Yea {G3483}; have ye never {G3763} read {G314},{G3754} Out of {G1537} the mouth {G4750} of babes {G3516} and {G2532} sucklings {G2337} thou hast perfected {G2675} praise {G136}?

Complete Jewish Bible

They said to him, "Do you hear what they're saying?" Yeshua replied, "Of course! Haven't you ever read, `From the mouth of children and infants you have prepared praise for yourself'?"

Berean Standard Bible

“Do You hear what these children are saying?” they asked. “Yes,” Jesus answered. “Have you never read: ‘From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise’?”

American Standard Version

and said unto him, Hearest thou what these are saying? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea: did ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 21:16 captures a pivotal exchange in the Jerusalem temple, where Jesus confronts the spiritual blindness of the religious elite by validating the spontaneous, pure praise offered by children. This verse, occurring immediately after Jesus' cleansing of the temple and His miraculous healings, highlights the profound irony that those considered least significant by society possess the clearest spiritual discernment, echoing ancient prophecy and exposing the hypocrisy of those who should have recognized their Messiah.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the dramatic events of Jesus' final week in Jerusalem, often referred to as Passion Week. It immediately follows Jesus' [Triumphal Entry](/matthew/21-1-11 "Matthew 21:1-11 - Jesus' Triumphal Entry"), where He was publicly acclaimed as Messiah, and His subsequent [cleansing of the temple](/matthew/21-12-13 "Matthew 21:12-13 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple"). After driving out merchants and money-changers, Jesus continued to minister in the temple courts, healing the blind and the lame. It is in this context of divine authority and compassionate action that children begin to shout "Hosanna to the Son of David!" (as recorded in [Matthew 21:15](/matthew/21-15 "Matthew 21:15 - Children's Praise in the Temple")), leading to the indignant challenge from the chief priests and scribes that Jesus addresses in [Matthew 21:16](/matthew/21-16 "Matthew 21:16 - Jesus Validates Children's Praise"). The narrative then proceeds to the parable of the two sons and other confrontations with the religious leaders, intensifying the conflict that will lead to Jesus' crucifixion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The temple in Jerusalem was the spiritual and economic heart of Jewish life, particularly during Passover, a time when thousands of pilgrims converged on the city. The chief priests and scribes represented the established religious authority, guardians of the Law and tradition. Their indignation stemmed from several factors: the children's acclamation of Jesus as "Son of David" was a messianic title, a direct challenge to their authority and a potential incitement to Roman intervention; the temple, in their view, was a sacred space not for such "unruly" demonstrations; and Jesus' actions (cleansing the temple, healing, accepting praise) directly usurped their perceived control. The quote Jesus employs from [Psalm 8:2](/psalm/8-2 "Psalm 8:2 - God's Strength from Infants") would have been known to them, yet their spiritual pride and vested interests prevented them from understanding its contemporary fulfillment. The cultural expectation was that wisdom and spiritual insight resided with the learned and the elders, not with "babes and sucklings."
* **Key Themes:** [Matthew 21:16](/matthew/21-16 "Matthew 21:16 - Jesus Validates Children's Praise") contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Matthew's Gospel. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Messianic Identity and Authority**, as Jesus implicitly affirms His role as the prophesied "Son of David" through His acceptance of the children's praise and His authoritative use of Scripture. Secondly, it highlights the stark contrast between **Spiritual Blindness and Spiritual Discernment**. The religious leaders, despite their extensive scriptural knowledge, are spiritually incapable of recognizing God's work, while the humble and innocent instinctively perceive and declare it. This theme is powerfully echoed in [Matthew 11:25](/matthew/11-25 "Matthew 11:25 - Revelation to the Humble"), where Jesus praises the Father for revealing truths to "babes" rather than to the wise and understanding. Thirdly, the verse emphasizes **True Worship vs. Religious Hypocrisy**, demonstrating that genuine praise, born of simple faith, is infinitely more valuable to God than the ritualistic, self-serving actions of the religious elite. This aligns with Jesus' consistent critique of outward piety without inward transformation, a theme prevalent throughout [Matthew's Gospel](/matthew/1 "Matthew - The Gospel of the Kingdom").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **babes (Greek, _nḗpios'_):** This term refers literally to an infant or a child who has not yet learned to speak. Figuratively, as used here and elsewhere in the New Testament (e.g., [1 Corinthians 3:1](/1_corinthians/3-1 "1 Corinthians 3:1 - Spiritual Immaturity")), it can denote someone who is immature, simple-minded, or lacking in understanding, often in a spiritual sense. In this context, it emphasizes the innocence and uncorrupted nature of the children, contrasting sharply with the "wise and understanding" who are spiritually dull.
* **sucklings (Greek, _thēlázō'_):** Derived from the word for "nipple," this term specifically refers to infants who are still nursing. It further emphasizes the extreme youth and vulnerability of the children, making their spontaneous praise even more remarkable and divinely orchestrated. It highlights their complete dependence and lack of worldly sophistication or theological training.
* **perfected (Greek, _katartízō'_):** This verb means "to complete thoroughly," "to repair," "to adjust," or "to prepare." It implies bringing something to its proper state or making it fully ready for its intended purpose. In the context of "perfected praise," it suggests that the children's worship is not merely adequate or acceptable, but divinely prepared, fully formed, and entirely fitting for God. It implies a divine act of equipping or arranging their mouths to utter such praise, silencing the adversaries.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say?":** This is the indignant challenge from the chief priests and scribes, directed at Jesus. Their question is rhetorical, expressing their outrage and demanding that Jesus silence the children. They perceive the children's shouts of "Hosanna to the Son of David" as blasphemous or at least highly inappropriate for the temple precincts, and a direct affront to their authority.
* **"And Jesus saith unto them, Yea;":** Jesus' immediate and unequivocal affirmation ("Yea," or "Yes") directly confronts their indignation. He acknowledges that He hears the children's praise, and far from being offended or seeking to silence them, He fully validates it. This "Yea" sets the stage for His profound theological retort.
* **"have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?":** This is Jesus' powerful counter-question and direct quotation from [Psalm 8:2](/psalm/8-2 "Psalm 8:2 - God's Strength from Infants") (specifically from the Septuagint version). By asking "have ye never read," Jesus exposes their spiritual ignorance despite their presumed expertise in Scripture. He implies that the very Scriptures they claim to uphold prophesied such a moment, where the most humble would offer perfect praise to God, silencing His adversaries. The children's spontaneous worship is thus presented not as a random outburst, but as a divinely ordained fulfillment of prophecy, a "perfected praise" that God Himself has prepared.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 21:16 employs several potent literary devices. **Irony** is central, as the learned religious leaders, who should have been the first to recognize the Messiah and His divine authority, are spiritually deaf, while innocent children spontaneously offer Him perfect praise. This highlights the paradox of divine revelation often being hidden from the "wise" and revealed to the "simple" ([Matthew 11:25](/matthew/11-25 "Matthew 11:25 - Revelation to the Humble")). **Allusion** to [Psalm 8:2](/psalm/8-2 "Psalm 8:2 - God's Strength from Infants") is critical, as Jesus uses Scripture to validate His actions and the children's worship, simultaneously rebuking His accusers for their lack of understanding. The contrast between "babes and sucklings" and the "chief priests and scribes" functions as a powerful **juxtaposition**, emphasizing the purity of heart versus the hardened hearts of the religious elite. Finally, the children's "Hosanna" (meaning "save now" but evolving into a cry of praise) serves as **symbolism** for the authentic worship that God desires, a worship that is unburdened by self-interest or religious pretense.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 21:16 profoundly illustrates God's paradoxical methods of revelation and His valuing of pure, humble faith over religious status or intellectual prowess. It reveals that genuine spiritual insight is not contingent upon age, social standing, or theological training, but upon a receptive heart. The children's spontaneous praise, divinely "perfected," serves as a powerful testament to Jesus' messianic identity and authority, silencing the objections of His adversaries. This moment underscores that God often chooses the weak and foolish things of the world to shame the wise, demonstrating His power and wisdom through unexpected vessels. It is a timeless reminder that authentic worship flows from a heart attuned to God's presence, regardless of the worshiper's perceived significance.

* [1 Corinthians 1:27](/1_corinthians/1-27 "1 Corinthians 1:27 - God Chooses the Weak")
* [Luke 10:21](/luke/10-21 "Luke 10:21 - Jesus Praises God for Revealing Truth to the Humble")
* [Psalm 118:22](/psalm/118-22 "Psalm 118:22 - The Stone the Builders Rejected")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 21:16 challenges believers to cultivate a heart of childlike faith and genuine praise, unburdened by the complexities and prejudices that often hinder spiritual receptivity. It calls us to examine our own attitudes towards worship: Is our praise truly from the heart, or is it merely a performance? Are we open to God working in unexpected ways, through unexpected people, or do we, like the religious leaders, allow our traditions, expectations, or pride to blind us to His presence and power? This verse encourages us to embrace humility, recognizing that true wisdom often lies in simplicity and that God delights in the unadulterated adoration of His children. It reminds us that our worship, no matter how simple, when offered with a pure heart, is perfected in His sight and can powerfully bear witness to His truth, even silencing the voices of opposition.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be allowing my own expectations or prejudices to hinder my recognition of God's work in unexpected places or people?**
* **How can I cultivate a more childlike faith and a purer heart of worship, free from pretense or self-consciousness?**
* **What "praise" might God be perfecting through the seemingly insignificant or overlooked individuals in my life or community?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus quote from Psalm 8:2, and how does it relate to the children's praise?**

Answer: Jesus quoted [Psalm 8:2](/psalm/8-2 "Psalm 8:2 - God's Strength from Infants") (specifically the Septuagint version) to validate the children's spontaneous praise. While the Hebrew text of Psalm 8:2 speaks of God establishing "strength" or "might" from the mouths of infants to silence the enemy, the Septuagint translates this as "praise" (αἶνος, _ainos_) or "perfected praise." This rendering perfectly aligns with the children's cries of "Hosanna to the Son of David!" ([Matthew 21:15](/matthew/21-15 "Matthew 21:15 - Children's Praise in the Temple")), which had become a cry of adoration. By quoting this verse, Jesus demonstrated that the children's worship was not mere childish enthusiasm but a divinely ordained fulfillment of prophecy, a "perfected praise" that God Himself had prepared to silence His adversaries—in this case, the indignant chief priests and scribes. It served as a powerful rebuke to their spiritual blindness, showing them that even infants could recognize what they, with all their learning, failed to see.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 21:16 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus as the incarnate Son of God, the very object of the children's "perfected praise." The children's spontaneous acclamation of "Hosanna to the Son of David!" ([Matthew 21:15](/matthew/21-15 "Matthew 21:15 - Children's Praise in the Temple")) is a direct recognition of Jesus' messianic identity, a truth that the religious leaders were blind to. Jesus, by accepting this praise and validating it with Scripture, reveals Himself as the one through whom God's praise is indeed perfected, even from the most unlikely sources. This echoes the broader New Testament theme that God chooses the humble and the weak to confound the wise ([1 Corinthians 1:27-29](/1_corinthians/1-27-29 "1 Corinthians 1:27-29 - God chooses the foolish things")). The "babes and sucklings" foreshadow the countless simple, humble believers throughout history who, by faith, recognize Jesus as Lord and offer Him genuine worship, a worship that is pleasing to God because it is directed towards His Son, the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Jesus' validation of their praise anticipates the universal worship He will receive from "every tribe and language and people and nation" ([Revelation 5:9](/revelation/5-9 "Revelation 5:9 - The Lamb is Worthy")), a worship made possible by His atoning sacrifice and resurrection, which truly perfected the way for all to offer praise to God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 8:2

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

Matthew 11:25

¶ At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Luke 19:39

And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

Luke 19:40

And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

Matthew 19:4

And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made [them] at the beginning made them male and female,

Matthew 12:3

But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

Mark 2:25

And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?