Words or Actions

By Hunter Grills

April 14, 2026

Matthew 21:15 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,

In Matthew 21, we have the account of the Triumphal entry. Jesus is entering into the city with the multitudes going before Him. Verses eight and nine state:

Matthew 21:8-9 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.

In this passage, the multitudes are praising the Lord; but a few chapters later, they are crying “Crucify Him.”

Matthew 27:22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

We see that the multitudes were saying one thing with their lips, but later their actions contradicted their rhetoric. Jesus said in Matthew 15:8, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”

Everyday, we make decisions and perform tasks. By God’s grace and strength, may we always love Him with our whole heart and honor Him with our lips as we draw nigh to Him.

Reflection—It is easy to be impressed by the image of being spiritual. God is interested in the internal and the real.