Definition: 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?

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Matthew 21:16. It’s a really interesting and slightly mysterious passage! Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is about Jesus looking at people who are criticizing or challenging him and noticing they’re actually making good praise for him. Let's unpack it piece by piece: "And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say?" – Jesus is asking a question to the group of people who are talking about him. They're probably saying things like, "He’s being selfish," “He's making mistakes,” or “He’s not doing enough.” "And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?" – This is the key part. Jesus is saying: "Have you ever heard this idea before? Have you ever seen someone express praise for you ?" What does it mean? It’s like Jesus is saying, “Look at these people! They're not criticizing me; they're actually praising me .” He’s suggesting that the way they're speaking about him—with their words of criticism and negativity—is actually creating praise for him. Why is this significant? This verse points to a few important ideas: The Power of Children: Jesus is saying children (and those who are gentle and kind) have the ability to create something beautiful – praise – that can be incredibly powerful. Our Words Matter: The way we speak about others has a huge impact on how they see us. Words can be a form of praise, and sometimes they can even inspire it. In short, Jesus is saying that the way people talk about him is actually creating good praise for him. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Give you some examples of how people might express praise (in a positive way)?