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6. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

7. And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

8. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

9. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.3

10. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

11. And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

The king of Israel who should "sit on the throne of David," now approached Jerusalem, the daughter of Sion. He had recently raised Lazarus from the grave; and "they that were with him, bare record.” "For this cause also the people met him, because he had done this miracle." And they greeted him with those acclamations and signs of joy which are usual in a day of triumph. So "when David was retnrned from the slaughter of the Philistines, the

tion; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass." According to the usage of that time and country, there was nothing especially remarkable in the choice of the ass for this purpose, except as the entrance of a spiritual king was shown to differ from that of an earthly monarch, or conqueror, with his triumphal horses and chariots.

› Taken from Psalm cxviii. "This is the hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

day which the Lord Hosanna: that is,

Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send us prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord." 4 See John xii. 18.

women came out of all the cities of Israel singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and instruments of music." 5 The spiritual

David came from a different scene, suited to his different character: he was "come not to destroy men's lives, but to save them :" and the people who had witnessed the miracle when Lazarus was restored to life, fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah, receiving him as a king, and crying, Hosanna to the Son of David. This remarkable accomplishment of the prophecy gave to the people a last opportunity of recognizing Jesus as the Messiah. A last opportunity for this took place on the first day of the week of the crucifixion. The Jew who was reasonable and dispassionate, should have been led by what he saw and heard to consult his Scriptures, and compare them with the facts which were taking place before his eyes, and so learn that this was indeed "he who should redeem Israel." But the veil of prejudice was so closely drawn, that seeing they saw not, and hearing they did not understand: and God, who does all things well, saw no reason why the "veil should be taken away."

12. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

13. And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

There were certain offerings and sacrifices which the law required. Mary, at her purification, " offered

5 Sam. xviii. 6.

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a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.' The half-shekel too, was paid by every adult male at the return of this feast, which gave occasion for money changing; and those who provided the offerings, and received the half-shekel, filled the courts of the temple, and found an opportunity of gain. It raised the indignation of the "beloved Son" of God, to see his Father's house thus made a den of thieves: a place where those were gathered together, whose only object was to prey upon their countrymen, and turn the holy services into means of secular profit. The temple was not "a place of merchandise," but a house of prayer: honoured with the especial presence of God, where he promised to meet his people; to "come unto them, and bless them." He had said to Solomon, "I have hallowed this house which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever, and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually." " "Mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent to the prayer that is made in this place." The walls, indeed, of this temple, built with such extraordinary magnificence by David and Solomon, and blessed by that especial promise, had been thrown down when Jerusalem received the first punishment of her sins, and was given up to the king of Babylon. But "when the Lord turned again the captivity of Sion," the temple had been restored, and God had renewed his favour to it, and had declared, "The glory of this

6 Luke ii. 24.
Ex. xx. 26.

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7 See Ex. xxx. 15.
9 1 Kings ix. 3.

2 Chron vii. 15.

latter house shall be greater than that of the former; and in this house I will give peace, saith the Lord of hosts." " Yet so little was the Lord of the temple honoured, and so little was his sanctuary reverenced, that the courts and porches which surrounded it were filled with those "who sold sheep and oxen," and made a trade of the stated sacrifices and offerings. These the Lord cast out: and surprised his disciples by an exercise of power and authority which he used on this occasion only, when his " zeal for his Father's house" was kindled: and he said, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer ; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

LECTURE LXXXVIII.

THE FIG-TREE WITHERED.

MATT. xxi. 14-22.

14. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.

15. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased.

16. 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? 1

Hagg. ii. 9.

3 See John ii. 17.

' Ps. viii. 2.

17. And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.

He left them, knowing that his hour was now come. He left them to pursue those ways, along which they were hurrying their nation to destruction. For the chief priests and rulers now became seriously alarmed at the increasing fame of Jesus: and the new demonstration of popular favour which they had seen, incensed them the more against him. "What do we?" they say, "for this man doeth many miracles." "Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? Behold, the whole world is gone after him?" Unawares to themselves, the simple people and the children who cried after him in the temple, Hosanna to the Son of David, had fulfilled a prophecy, and illustrated a verse in one of David's psalms, Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise. The chief priests and scribes were sore displeased, and remonstrated with him, Hearest thou what these say? But he was content to point out what ought to be familiar to those who professed to be guides and teachers; and he left these hardened hearts, that he might go to others more worthy of him; such as were to be found at Bethany, where Martha lived, who cordially welcomed him, and Mary, who" sat at his feet and heard his word."" "There he abode at night.""

18. Now in the morning, as he returned into the city, he hungered.

John xi. 47; xii. 19.

Taken from the Septuagint version. In the Hebrew, Thou hast ordained strength.

4

* See Luke x.

32.

5 Luke xxi. 37.

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