mat22

Matthew 21:1-6 Jesus instructs His disciples concerning preparation for His triumphal entry into Jerusalem

Jesus tells them to go to the city and find a donkey and bring it back for Him to ride into the city on. Here is a significant contrast to Jesus' normal actions. Generally Jesus shunned publicity but here it seems Jesus is making special effort to fulfill prophecy, especially Daniel’s Seventy Weeks, Daniel 9:24-27.

We find that Jesus comes in humility. Jesus could have had them bring Him a mighty stallion to ride; instead He has them bring Him a donkey and its colt. And this is how He enters the city, riding on a donkey. He is the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings and He will receive adoration as the Messiah!

Matthew 21:7-11 As Jesus rides into the city the crowd throw their cloaks and robes onto the road before Him and shout out Hosanna meaning “save now!” They are shouting out names that give Jesus the recognition He deserves as the Messiah. the crowd openly gives Jesus the titles appropriate for the Messiah. This is truly the day the Lord has made and it is time to rejoice and be glad in it (Psalms 118). Jesus, the Messiah comes to Jerusalem as Savior in fulfillment of the prophecy of Daniel. The crowd hailed quite often Jesus as King but each time Jesus would turn His back on the accolades and says, “my time has not yet come.” Now it seems as if Jesus is encouraging the praise for He knows the time has come!

We must also remember that Jerusalem was like a tourist attraction at this time of year being just days before Passover. It was required by law for every male able to make the trip to go to Jerusalem for Passover. This was indeed a glorious event. Reading this account in Luke 19 we see the crowds were shouting praises to Jesus (Psalm 118). This type of behavior again angered the Pharisees. This was blasphemous. This man was not king according to them. Had Jesus ever sat on the throne of David? What kind of man is this coming into the city of Jerusalem in this manner? Jesus showed no fear even though He knew they were plotting to kill Him. Openly He comes into the city as the Messiah and demands attention as He prepares to cleanse the temple.

Matthew 21:12-13 The things taking place in the temple were wrong. Moneychangers, exploiters working alongside the priests were robbing the people and forcing them to buy sacrificial animals at ridiculous prices. And what made it even worse was where they were doing the buying and selling. It was in the outer courts of the temple where the Gentiles could come to pray. I believe we could compare the buying and selling to a modern day flea market. Only difference is that this flea market was dishonest! To stay in line with the laws moneychangers were needed to convert the money over to temple currency. This is the temple of God not the house of man (2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4 and Malachi 3:1-3). Up until this time Jesus was pretty much the man of compassion and quietness but now we see a boldness coupling its self to the quiet man of compassion. Evil was openly flaunting its self in the temple of God and Jesus took action.

Matthew 21:14 And we find, as many times before, the blind and the lame came before Him and He healed them. Jesus always had time to heal and do good.

Matthew 21:15-17 What happens next is to hypocritical. In the temple of God we have greed, robbery, and illegal acts taking place and it does not bother the priests and Pharisees. But let the men, women, and children cry out in praise and adoration to Jesus bothers them. They are calling out to Jesus calling Him the son of David, shouting Hosanna to the King. They ask Jesus if He does not hear what they are saying and Jesus answers them boldly. Yes, I've heard what they are saying and it is joyous to God. Jesus quotes from Psalm 8:1-3 1. From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established 2. strength Because of Your adversaries, To make 3. the enemy and the revengeful cease.

Jesus then left the city and walked to Bethany. You might recall Bethany was also where Lazarus was raised from the dead.

Matthew 21:18-19 Jesus rebukes a fig tree. Coming unto the fig tree, which should have been abundant with fruit, it is instead barren and Jesus rebukes the tree and it withers. This is symbolic of false prophets, false teachers, and all things false. The fig tree was covered with leaves yet had no fruit. Fig trees generally bore figs before leaves so this tree should have had fruit. Many men and women look like and act like children of God but are barren, false teachers.

Bethany means house of unripened figs. The lesson for us here is that we must bear fruit. No one is able to see the heart but God so the only way we can tell a man or woman of God is by the fruit they bear.

Matthew 21:20-22 The disciples are puzzled on how the fruit tree so quickly withered and Jesus explains to them it was because of faith. Jesus rebuked the tree in prayer. If we have the same type of faith as Jesus when we pray God will hear us and answer us according to His will. This is not spoken by Jesus to the multitudes but spoken to the disciples. In other words only those that truly believe in Jesus will receive by faith from God.

Matthew 21:23-27 Now we find that Jesus is returning to the city and enters the temple again. This is the same temple where He threw out the moneychangers. Talk about boldness. Jesus comes forth unafraid and totally in control of the situation. He’s not afraid of anyone there. The religious leaders approach Him asking where He gets His authority to do and say the things He does. Jesus comes back to them with a question asking them where John's baptism came from. The leaders discuss this amongst themselves and realize they cannot answer and so they tell Jesus they don't know. Jesus then says He also will not honor them with an answer. He knew all they sought was to entrap Him so they could arrest Him.

Matthew 21:28-32 Another parable and praise God for the parables of Jesus. In this parable it is quite clear what Jesus is saying. Lip service means nothing if it is not followed by action. The one son said no he would not work, then realized he needed to obey his father and went to work. The other son said yes but didn't go. The latter used lip service the first used action. Many people, like the religious leaders, can talk a good talk but cannot walk the walk. Just talking godly will not get you to heaven. Jesus goes on to say that prostitutes and thieves repented when they heard the truth but the wicked religious leaders still continued on in sin and this leads us into the parable of the wicked servants.

Matthew 21:33-41 This parable is a condemnation of the Jewish leaders and their treachery. Jesus spoke this parable in the temple at Jerusalem shortly before the crucifixion. The parable was addressed to the Sanhedrin (the highest court, which was located in Jerusalem). The owner of the vineyard was looking for fruit not vengeance just as Jesus looked for fruit from the fig tree but found none. This is likened also unto rejection of Jesus by the world. (Isaiah 5:1 to 7)

Matthew 21:42-46 Jesus reminds them that it was the stone, which the builders rejected, which became the chief cornerstone (Psalm 118:22). Their rejection of Him speaks volumes of their guilt and coming judgment. The Sanhedrin, Pharisees, priests, they all thought they would soon have Jesus on trial, but it was never Him on trial it was and is us on trial! The choice the religious leaders had to make is the same choice every person today has to make. Let God break you and bring you unto Him or be broken in judgment and go to hell. The religious leaders were much like people today to stubborn and angry to repent and come to Jesus. So instead they will wallow in their guilt acting like they are right and Christians are wrong. They will change laws and misinterpret the Word to make what they do look right but their day will come and they will wish they had listened and repented.

Father, help me and help all those desiring You to never fall prey to religious ideas and thoughts that will only bring us down and break us away from the truth in Jesus name amen.

Where Jesus is Lord!
Living Vine Ministries
Pastor Thomas Miles

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