*Matthew 21:1-17
Jesus rides a donkey into Jerusalem, fulfilling prophecy and being hailed as king by the crowds.
- Preparation for the Triumphal Entry:
- Jesus instructs two disciples to go into a nearby village and bring Him a donkey and its colt, fulfilling the prophecy from Zechariah about the Messiah riding on a donkey.
- The disciples obey and bring the animals to Jesus, placing their cloaks on them as a makeshift saddle.
- Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem:
- Jesus rides into Jerusalem on the donkey, and a large crowd spreads their cloaks on the road, while others lay down branches.
- The crowd shouts, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” acknowledging Jesus as the promised Messiah.
- The entire city is stirred, with many asking who Jesus is. The crowd answers that He is the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.
- Cleansing of the Temple:
- Upon entering the temple, Jesus drives out those who are buying and selling, overturning the tables of money changers and the benches of those selling doves.
- He declares that God’s house should be a house of prayer, not a den of robbers, chastising those exploiting worshipers.
- Healing in the Temple and Children’s Praise:
- Blind and lame individuals come to Jesus at the temple, and He heals them.
- The children in the temple courts cry out praises, saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”
- The chief priests and scribes are indignant and confront Jesus about the children’s declarations.
- Jesus affirms the praises by quoting Psalm 8:2, “From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise.”
- Return to Bethany:
- After these events, Jesus leaves Jerusalem and stays overnight in Bethany.
Matthew 21:1-17 reminds us that Jesus is a humble King who deserves our praise and respect. When He entered Jerusalem on a donkey, the people welcomed Him with joy, but later, some of the same people rejected Him. This teaches us to remain faithful to Jesus, not just when it’s easy or popular. When He cleared the temple, He showed that worship should be sincere and focused on God, not personal gain. This challenges us to examine our hearts, making sure we honor God with our actions, prayers, and the way we treat others.
Matthew 21:1-17 (WEB)
21:1 When they came near to Jerusalem and came to Bethsphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village that is opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and immediately he will send them.”4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying,5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,behold, your King comes to you,humble, and riding on a donkey,on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus commanded them, 7 and brought the donkey and the colt and laid their clothes on them; and he sat on them. 8 A very great multitude spread their clothes on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The multitudes who went in front of him, and those who followed, kept shouting, “Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”10 When he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?”11 The multitudes said, “This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”12 Jesus entered into the temple of God and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves. 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers!”14 The lame and the blind came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children who were crying in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the son of David!” they were indignant, 16 and said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?”Jesus said to them, “Yes. Did you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of children and nursing babies, you have perfected praise’?”17 He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and camped there.