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addressed them as rulers of Sodom and Gomorrah： 〃Hear the word of the Lord； ye rulers of Sodom； give ear unto the law of our God； ye people of Gomorrah。 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me？ saith the Lord： I am full of the burnt offerings of rams； and the fat of fed beasts； and I delight not in the blood of bullocks； or of lambs； or of he…goats。 When ye come to appear before Me； who hath required this at your hand； to tread My courts？〃 〃Wash you； make you clean； put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes； cease to do evil； learn to do well； seek judgment； relieve the oppressed； judge the fatherless； plead for the widow。〃 1 Sam。 15：22； Isa。 1：10…12； 16；17。
He who had Himself given these prophecies now for the last time repeated the warning。 In fulfillment of prophecy the people had proclaimed Jesus king of Israel。 He had received their homage； and accepted the office of king。 In this character He must act。 He knew that His efforts to reform a corrupt priesthood would be in vain； nevertheless His work must be done； to an unbelieving people the evidence of His divine mission must be given。
Again the piercing look of Jesus swept over the desecrated court of the temple。 All eyes were turned toward Him。 Priest and ruler； Pharisee
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and Gentile； looked with astonishment and awe upon Him who stood before them with the majesty of heaven's King。 Divinity flashed through humanity； investing Christ with a dignity and glory He had never manifested before。 Those standing nearest Him drew as far away as the crowd would permit。 Except for a few of His disciples； the Saviour stood alone。 Every sound was hushed。 The deep silence seemed unbearable。 Christ spoke with a power that swayed the people like a mighty tempest： 〃It is written； My house shall be called the house of prayer； but ye have made it a den of thieves。〃 His voice sounded like a trumpet through the temple。 The displeasure of His countenance seemed like consuming fire。 With authority He commanded； 〃Take these things hence。〃 John 2：16。
Three years before； the rulers of the temple had been ashamed of their flight before the command of Jesus。 They had since wondered at their own fears； and their unquestioning obedience to a single humble
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Man。 They had felt that it was impossible for their undignified surrender to be repeated。 Yet they were now more terrified than before； and in greater haste to obey His command。 There were none who dared question His authority。 Priests and traders fled from His presence； driving their cattle before them。
On the way from the temple they were met by a throng who came with their sick inquiring for the Great Healer。 The report given by the fleeing people caused some of these to turn back。 They feared to meet One so powerful； whose very look had driven the priests and rulers from His presence。 But a large number pressed through the hurrying crowd； eager to reach Him who was their only hope。 When the multitude fled from the temple； many had remained behind。 These were now joined by the newcomers。 Again the temple court was filled by the sick and the dying； and once more Jesus ministered to them。
After a season the priests and rulers ventured back to the temple。 When the panic had abated； they were seized with anxiety to know what would be the next movement of Jesus。 They expected Him to take the throne of David。 Quietly returning to the temple； they heard the voices of men； women； and children praising God。 Upon entering； they stood transfixed before the wonderful scene。 They saw the sick healed； the blind restored to sight； and deaf receive their hearing； and the crippled leap for joy。 The children were foremost in the rejoicing。 Jesus had healed their maladies； He had clasped them in His arms； received their kisses of grateful affection； and some of them had fallen asleep upon His breast as He was teaching the people。 Now with glad voices the children sounded His praise。 They repeated the hosannas of the day before； and waved palm branches triumphantly before the Saviour。 The temple echoed and re…echoed with their acclamations； 〃Blessed be He that cometh in the name of the Lord！〃 〃Behold； thy King cometh unto thee； He is just； and having salvation！〃 Ps。 118：26； Zech。 9：9。 〃Hosanna to the Son of David！〃
The sound of these happy； unrestrained voices was an offense to the rulers of the temple。 They set about putting a stop to such demonstrations。 They represented to the people that the house of God was desecrated by the feet of the children and the shouts of rejoicing。 Finding that their words made no impression on the people； the rulers appealed to Christ： 〃Hearest Thou what these say？ And Jesus saith unto them； Yea； have ye never read； Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings
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Thou hast perfected praise？〃 Prophecy had foretold that Christ should be proclaimed as king； and that word must be fulfilled。 The priests and rulers of Israel refused to herald His glory； and God moved upon the children to be His witnesses。 Had the voices of the children been silent； the very pillars of the temple would have sounded the Saviour's praise。
The Pharisees were utterly perplexed and disconcerted。 One whom they could not intimidate was in command。 Jesus had taken His position as guardian of the temple。 Never before had He assumed such kingly authority。 Never before had His words and works possessed so great power。 He had done marvelous works throughout Jerusalem； but never before in a manner so solemn and impressive。 In presence of the people who had witnessed His wonderful works； the priests and rulers dared not show Him open hostility。 Though enraged and confounded by His answer； they were unable to accomplish anything further that day。
The next morning the Sanhedrin again considered what course to pursue toward Jesus。 Three years before； they had demanded a sign of His Messiahship。 Since that time He had wrought mighty works throughout the land。 He had healed the sick； miraculously fed thousands of people； walked upon the waves； and spoken peace to the troubled sea。 He had repeatedly read the hearts of men as an open book； He had cast out demons； and raised the dead。 The rulers had before them the evidences of His Messiahship。 They now decided to demand no sign of His authority； but to draw out some admission or declaration by which He might be condemned。
Repairing to the temple where He was teaching； they proceeded to question Him： 〃By what authority doest Thou these things？ and who gave Thee this authority？〃 They expected Him to claim that His authority was from God。 Such an assertion they intended to deny。 But Jesus met them with a question apparently pertaining to another subject； and He made His reply to them conditional on their answering this question。 〃The baptism of John；〃 He said； 〃whence was it？ from heaven； or of men？〃
The priests saw that they were in a dilemma from which no sophistry could extricate them。 If they said that John's baptism was from heaven； their inconsistency would be made apparent。 Christ would say； Why have ye not then believed on him？ John had testified of Christ； 〃Behold
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the Lamb of God； which taketh away the sin of the world。〃 John 1：29。 If the priests believed John's testimony； how could they deny the Messiahship of Christ？ If they declared their real belief； that John's ministry was of men； they would bring upon themselves a storm of indignation； for the people believed John to be a prophet。
With intense interest the multitude awaited the decision。 They knew that the priests had professed to accept the ministry of John； and they expected them to acknowledge without a question that he was sent from God。 But after conferring secretly together； the priests decided not to commit themselves。 Hypocritically professing ignorance； they said； 〃We cannot tell。〃 〃Neither tell I you；〃 said Christ； 〃by what authority I do these things。〃
Scribes； priests； and rulers were all silenced。 Baffled and disappointed； they stood with lowering brows； not daring to press further questions upon Christ。 By their cowardice and indecision they had in a great measure forfeited the respect of the people； who now stood by； amused to see these proud； self…righteous men defeated。
All these sayings and doings of Christ were important； and their influence was to be felt in an ever…increasing degree after His crucifixion and ascension。 Many of those who had anxiously awaited the result of the questioning of Jesus were finally to become His disciples； first drawn toward Him by His words on that eventful day。 The scene in the temple court was never to fade from their minds。 The contrast between Jesus and the high priest as they talked together was marked。 The proud dignitary of the temple was clothed in rich and costly garments。 Upon his head was a glittering tiara。 His bearing was majestic； his hair and his long flowing beard were silvered by age。 His appearance awed the beholders。 Before this august personage stood the Majesty of heaven； without adornment or display。 His garments were travel stained； His face was pale； and expressed a