The Way - Day 253 (Matthew 21)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
Matthew 21:1-11
Jesus and His disciples were on their way to Jerusalem at the time right before the Passover (celebration of Jews being freed from Egyptian bondage, see Exodus 12). When they came to a place called Bethphage (near the Mount of Olives), Jesus sent two of His disciples to a nearby village to bring back a donkey and colt which were tied up (21:2-3). Matthew mentions that this action was a direct fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9 where he declares that the King is coming sitting on a donkey. The disciples obeyed Christ and brought Him the donkey. Christ sat on the donkey while crowds of people laid clothes in His path along with branches from trees (21:7-8). In this culture, spreading one's clothes on the ground was a way of paying respect to a person of high status. In essence, these people were outwardly showing their belief in Jesus as the King of the Jews. The people also cried out "hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed in He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" Hosanna means save us and implies that they recognized Jesus Christ as the One who would save them (21:9). Although the people did not totally grasp what was about to happen (His death, burial, and resurrection), they still recognized Jesus as the Messiah. As Jesus moves into Jerusalem, many began asking "who is this?" The multitudes responded by declaring Him to be "Jesus the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee." This particular instance was the first time Jesus was being heralded to the nation of Israel as the Son of David. He would eventually go the cross and give up His own life to satisfy the wrath of God on our sins. Today we should worship Jesus Christ as the One who has saved us from our sin and delivered us from sin and death. We should willingly "lay down our clothes" at His feet and worship Him as King and Lord over our life.

Matthew 21:12-17
Following His triumphal entrance into the city, Jesus enters the temple in Jerusalem and discovers many people buying or selling doves for temple sacrifices. It appears that another group of people, called the money-changers, were also gathered in the temple and their job was to exchange Roman money (which was not fit to buy sacrifices) at high exchange rates. All of this activity made Jesus very angry because He felt the temple had become a hangout for thieves instead of a place for prayer and worship (21:13). He began turning the tables of the merchants and money-changers to help them understand that they were using the temple for their own financial gain rather than reverencing it as a place to meet with God. The ungodly actions of these people had obviously caused distraction for those who genuinely came to worship God and as soon as Jesus confronted these thieves, the blind and lame came to be healed (21:14). The children cried out to Jesus as the Son of David, the One promised to save them (21:15). It was as if the temple had finally been freed to do what God meant for it to do. I find that many people get distracted when they come to the church to worship the Lord. Maybe the people aren't selling sacrifices or exchanging money, but there are many other hindrances to worshiping God the way we should. We seem to drag "baggage" into church because of our pride and disregard for what should be taking place at church - the worship of God alone. Sometimes we have a disagreement with another person and harbor anger toward them while trying to worship. Things may not be the way we think they should be in church (ministry change, music, leadership, broken relationship, etc.), but in reality we have been distracted from what church is all about...bringing glory to God through worship! That's what Jesus was trying to get across to the money-changers and merchants! Would God be angry with you at church? Are you coming with the right heart attitude toward Him when you walk into the doors of the church?

Matthew 21:18-22
On the surface this passage seems to be an action that Jesus did out of frustration, but upon closer examination He seems to be actually drawing some symbolism as well as teaching a spiritual lesson on faith. As Jesus returns to the city of Jerusalem in the morning He is hungry and stops by a fruit tree along the way but instead of finding figs He discovers a barren tree (21:19). Seemingly frustrated Jesus curses the fig tree and commands that no fruit grow on it ever again and immediately the tree withers. To me, this appears pretty harsh; however, the disciples thought it was pretty cool because they marveled that He was able to speak a curse and the tree withered (21:20). The disciples had a thing with power and were often amazed when Jesus performed a miracle. But, Jesus was teaching a greater lesson. The fig tree is often symbolic of Israel (see Hosea 9:10; Joel 1:7) and in reality its' fruitlessness represented their rejection of Him in addition to their failure to follow God's ways. As God's chosen people, Israel had been given many spiritual and physical blessings but oftentimes found the evil around them more attractive than obeying God. Jesus would allow judgment to fall upon Israel for their failure to produce spiritual fruit (see Galatians 5:16-25 for a discussion of spiritual fruit). The disciples then question about His power to curse the fig tree and Jesus encourages them that if they have faith they can perform this miracle and also move mountains (21:21). He is quick to remind them that this power only comes through asking God in prayer and believing that He can do it (21:22). The application in this situation is two-fold. First, as a "tree" is God's field, are you producing spiritual fruit? Your life should be drawing others to worship God alone. Secondly, do you realize you can accomplish God's will through prayer and faith in Him? God always enables us to do His will when we turn control over to Him and believe that He can do great things through us. Have you reached that potential?

Matthew 21:23-46
The chief priests and elders (the supposed spiritual leaders of that day) come to Jesus and inquire of Him by what authority He performs miracles and teaches. They had obviously observed the numerous things He had done, even His cleansing of the temple the day before; however, they knew that if He continued, their system would be destroyed. So, their goal was to find something to incriminate Him and what better way to do this than to get Him to say that He had authority from God the Father or that He was God. Jesus knew what they were trying to do so He told them that if they answered His question, He would tell them by what authority He does these things (21:24). Here is the question He posed: "the baptism of John - where was it from? from heaven or from men?" The religious leaders discussed this amongst themselves and knew if they answered "from heaven" then He would inquire as to why they did not believe His message about the coming Messiah (21:25). But, they knew if they answered "from men", the people would be angered because they accepted John the Baptist as a prophet (21:26). They chose not to answer and Jesus told them that He would not tell them by what authority He performed these things (21:27). Jesus continues on to tell two parables. The first tells of a man who had two sons (21:28-32) and the father asked the first son to go work in his vineyard, to which the son responded that he would not. The father approaches the second son and he says that he will go but he never does. Jesus asks which of these sons did the will of the father and they responded "the first." Through this parable Jesus is teaching that the tax collectors and prostitutes (outcasts of society) are like the first son because they believed in John's message (21:31-32); however, the "religious crowd" rejected his message because they were self-righteous. Jesus tells another parable of a landowner who plants a vineyard and leases it to some vinedressers (21:33-39). When the landowner sends his servants (symbolic of Old Testament prophets), the vinedressers kill them. Jesus says that again the landowner sends his servants (symbolic of more prophets and John the Baptist), but the vinedressers kill them (21:36). Lastly, the landowner sends his own son and they kill him also (21:37-39). The message is clear - Jesus is declaring Himself as the Son of God. God had sent many prophets before testifying to the salvation of God, but unbelievers had chosen to reject the message and silence them by killing them. Ultimately, God (the landowner) to testify of the message of salvation, but they rejected and killed Him also. Jesus was pronouncing swift judgment on those who rejected the message of salvation, especially to the self-righteous (21:40-44). Examine your heart right now...have you accepted the message of hope which was sent through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your sins?

Dear God, may you help many to accept the message of hope which was sent by You through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help them to turn from self-righteousness and to the grace extended through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.