*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.
21:1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 21:2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
21:3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
21:4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
21:6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 21:7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
21:8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
21:9 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.
21:10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 21:11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
21:14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
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, 21:16 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? 21:17 And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.