Jesus's popularity, which has fallen lately due to his "hard sayings" and his refusal to be politicized, has begun to return. He approaches Jerusalem in advance of the Passover feast.
Matt 21:1-9
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "Say to the Daughter of Zion, `See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'"
The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!"
Matt 21:1-9
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "Say to the Daughter of Zion, `See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'"
The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!"
The crowds welcome him into Jerusalem as a prophet. Somehow the people know something is happening on this day; they all interpret this as a Messianic fulfillment of some kind.
The quote in verse 5 is from Zechariah 9:9. The quote in verse 9 is from Psalm 118:26.
The Passover Week has begun. It will end with a crucifixion and then something miraculous on the first day of the week after that. The remaining seven chapters in Matthew will cover that week.
NIV footnotes: "Hosanna" is a Hebrew expression meaning "Save!" which became an exclamation of praise.
Matt 21:10-11
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"
The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
The Passover Week has begun. It will end with a crucifixion and then something miraculous on the first day of the week after that. The remaining seven chapters in Matthew will cover that week.
Matt 21:12-13
Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, "`My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a `den of robbers.' "
Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, "`My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a `den of robbers.' "
It is not clear how Jesus drove out the money changers. He may have begun by driving out the animals they were selling for the sacrificial system.
The quotes in verse 13 are, respectively, from Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11. The Isaiah quote implies that the temple is to be a model for "all nations", which includes the Gentiles. Jesus is incensed that the religious leaders have degraded what was to be an example to the world.
Matt 21:14-17
The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.
"Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him.
"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, "`From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise' ?" And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.
The quotes in verse 13 are, respectively, from Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11. The Isaiah quote implies that the temple is to be a model for "all nations", which includes the Gentiles. Jesus is incensed that the religious leaders have degraded what was to be an example to the world.
Matt 21:14-17
The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.
"Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him.
"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, "`From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise' ?" And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.
The quote in verse 16 is from Psalm 8:2.
Matt 21:18-22
Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered.
When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked.
Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered.
When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked.
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, `Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
In the next passage, Jesus preaches in the temple courts. The religious leaders cannot miss him.
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