Matthew · chapter 21 of 28
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Matthew 21 tells of Jesus entering Jerusalem riding a donkey, acclaimed as Son of David, and of the cleansing of the temple. He then curses a fruitless fig tree, answers the leaders who question his authority and tells the parables of the two sons and of the wicked tenants, warning that the kingdom will be given to those who bear fruit.
With this chapter the last week of Jesus in Jerusalem begins, which takes up nearly half of Matthew's Gospel. After announcing his passion three times, Jesus enters the city as king and confronts the temple leaders, who increasingly oppose him.
As they approach Jerusalem, Jesus sends two disciples to a village to bring a donkey and her colt, and Matthew explains that this fulfills what the prophet said: your king is coming to you, humble and mounted on a donkey. A very large crowd spreads cloaks and branches on the road and shouts hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Jesus enters the temple, drives out those who were buying and selling, overturns the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling pigeons, and says it is written that his house will be called a house of prayer, but they have made it a den of robbers. The children cry out hosanna, and the chief priests are indignant, but Jesus answers with a psalm about the praise of children.
In the morning, hungry, he sees a fig tree with leaves but no fruit and says that it will never bear fruit again; the fig tree withers at once. Jesus says that with faith they will do this and more, and receive whatever they ask in prayer, believing.
In the temple, the chief priests and elders ask him by what authority he does these things. Jesus answers with a question about the baptism of John, where it came from; they do not dare answer and he does not tell them by what authority he acts. Then he tells the parable of the two sons, one who said no and later went, and one who said yes and did not go; tax collectors and prostitutes enter the kingdom before them. Then he tells the parable of the wicked tenants, who kill the servants and finally the vineyard owner's son. Jesus quotes the psalm about the stone the builders rejected that became the cornerstone, and says the kingdom will be taken from them and given to a people producing its fruits. The chief priests and Pharisees understand that he is speaking about them and want to arrest him, but they fear the crowd.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
Matthew quotes Zechariah: the king of Jerusalem comes humble and mounted on a donkey. Jesus enters as the promised Messiah, but as a humble king and not as a conqueror with horses and armies.
Jesus declares that his house will be called a house of prayer, but they have made it a den of robbers. By his act in the temple he denounces those who used the place of worship for their own profit.
Jesus tells the disciples that whatever they ask in prayer, believing, they will receive. The promise invites confident prayer, tied to the context of the kingdom and God's will.
Jesus quotes the psalm about the stone the builders rejected that has become the cornerstone. He is speaking of himself: rejected by the leaders but exalted by God as the foundation stone.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: On a donkey, with her colt. — Matthew 21:5-7
Answer: Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. — Matthew 21:9
Answer: That his house will be called a house of prayer, but they had made it a den of robbers. — Matthew 21:12-13
Answer: Jesus said it would never bear fruit again, and the fig tree withered at once. — Matthew 21:19
Answer: Where the baptism of John came from, from heaven or from man. — Matthew 21:24-25
Answer: The kingdom of God, which will be given to a people producing its fruits. — Matthew 21:43
Jesus enters as king, but a gentle king. For his church this means that Christ's authority is lived out with humility and service. In a small group you can ask whether our worship and our gathering places are today a house of prayer or have filled with other interests.
The parables ask for fruit. Ask whether you are like the son who says yes without doing it, or like the one who, after refusing, repents and obeys. Choose one concrete obedience you have been putting off and put it into practice this week.
Matthew 21 shows the humble king entering Jerusalem, cleansing the temple and confronting the leaders with parables of judgment. In chapter 22 the leaders test him with questions about taxes, the resurrection and the greatest commandment, and Jesus answers them with wisdom.
Hosanna comes from a Hebrew expression meaning save now or save us, taken from Psalm 118. Over time it became a shout of praise. The crowd acknowledges Jesus as king and asks him for salvation, though many did not yet understand what kind of salvation he would bring.
It is a symbolic act, like those of the prophets. A fig tree with leaves promises fruit, and having none is an image of the fruitless religion of the temple leaders, a theme that continues in the parables. Matthew connects it with the teaching on faith and prayer.
The trade in animals and the exchange of coins took place in the court where the nations could pray, and was used for personal profit. Jesus acts with the authority of the Messiah and quotes the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah to show that the temple was meant to be a place of prayer for all.