Up to this time the Lord had enjoined silence upon His followers concerning His

claims as Messiah. Now He declares "if these should hold their peace, the stones would

immediately cry out" (Luke 19: 40). The time of official presentation had arrived. Thus

occurred the most outstanding day of Israel's history, when the Lord came in triumph to

the capital city of Jerusalem, thus literally fulfilling Zechariah's prophecy.

The people's actions showed their awareness of the occasion: "A very great multitude

spread their garments in the way" (Matt. 21: 8), thus forming a carpet, an act reserved

only for those of the highest rank (cp. II Kings 9: 13). In addition to this they strewed

His path with palm branches (John 12: 13), a demonstration in the East to welcome a

king or conqueror.

Their joyous cries are recorded by each of the Evangelists. "Blessed be the kingdom

of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord" (Mark 11: 10). "Blessed be the

King that cometh in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven, and glory in the highest"

(Luke 19: 38).  "Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord"

(John 12: 13). These represent the various cries of the crowd. The whole of Jerusalem

was stirred (literally "agitated") (Matt. 21: 10 and 11), but how deeply did they feel?

The following days were to make that clear.

The Lord now enters the Temple precincts and drives out the money changers and

dove sellers who had commercialized the place. The Temple was the house of God

which was being defiled. Christ described them as having made it a "den of robbers"

(21: 13). He referred to Isa. 56: 7 which teaches that God's house was one of prayer,

not a place of cheap business practices.

The blind and infirm still came to Him and in each case they were healed. This,

together with the joyous shouts of the children in the Temple area, stirred up the jealousy

and fear of the religious leaders. They remonstrated with the Lord and His answer to

them was to quote from Psa. 8: 2, "from the lips of children and infants You have

ordained praise" (N.I.V.), which was a stinging rebuke to those who professed to know

and teach the O.T. Scriptures.