Confronting the Heart

Easter is arriving soon, in seven weeks.

Seven is a good biblical number (days, sabbath, etc.)

Review

I. Introduction: The Crowd’s Acclamation (Matthew 21:1-11) Begin by painting the scene of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The crowd’s cries of “Hosanna!” (“Save us!”), their palm branches, and their shouts of “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” reflect their fervent belief that Jesus is the Messiah—a king who will overthrow Roman oppression (v. 9). Their expectation is rooted in Old Testament prophecies of a Davidic ruler (Psalm 118:26; Zechariah 9:9), but they misinterpret His humble, peaceful arrival as the prelude to a political revolution.

Scene: Triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Crowd’s cries of “Hosanna!” (Save us!), palm branches, and shouts of “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (v. 9).

Expectation: The crowd sees Jesus as the political Messiah—a king to overthrow Roman oppression, rooted in prophecies like Psalm 118:26 (“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”) and Zechariah 9:9 (“Your king comes to you... humble and riding on a donkey”).

Misplaced Hope: They interpret His humble, peaceful arrival as the prelude to a political revolution, not recognizing His true mission: a spiritual kingdom not of this world (John 18:36).

Scripture Tie-In: “Do not misunderstand—His entrance was not a military march, but a prophetic proclamation of a kingdom yet unseen.”

II. The Crowd’s Expectation: A King of Earthly Power

Political Messiah: The people anticipate a military leader who will restore Israel’s autonomy. Their recent miracles (e.g., raising Lazarus, feeding the 5,000) fuel this hope.

National Pride: The temple, a symbol of God’s presence, would be the stage for Jesus to assert divine authority over Rome.

Immediate Justice: They expect Him to purge foreign occupiers, not the temple’s corrupt religious leaders.

So, what is this Messiah King’s first action upon entering the city?

He goes to the temple!

He goes to his house!

Matthew 21:12–13 NRSVue

Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of robbers.”

III. Jesus’ Action: Cleansing the Temple (Matthew 21:12-13)

The Scene: Upon entering the temple, Jesus violently disrupts commerce (tables overturned, money scattered), casting out those profiting from religious rituals.

The Quote: He cites Isaiah 56:7 (“My house shall be called a house of prayer”) to condemn the temple’s corruption, contrasting it with His vision of worship unmarred by greed.

The Challenge: This act redefines His kingship. Instead of confronting Rome, He confronts the spiritual hypocrisy of His own people—a direct threat to their theological assumptions.

Imagine how their expectation are wrecked!

Shock and Confusion: The crowd expected a political victory over Rome. Instead, Jesus attacked spiritual corruption in the temple, redirecting focus from national liberation to repentance and worship.

Disappointment: The temple, a symbol of national pride, became a site of confrontation. Jesus’ assault on religious hypocrisy (money-changers, sacrifices for profit) undermined their expectation of a Messiah who would elevate Israel’s prestige, not critique its sin.

Cognitive Dissonance: People struggled to reconcile His miracles (e.g., feeding crowds, healing) with this sudden nonviolent, spiritual agenda. Some rationalized: “Is He a zealot? A false prophet? Or does He not care about Rome?”

IV. The Collision of Expectations

Shock and Confusion: The crowd’s hope for a political victory evaporates. Jesus’ focus on spiritual renewal contradicts their desire for material deliverance.

Disappointment: The temple, the epicenter of their national identity, becomes a site of shame. Their Messiah’s actions make Him an enemy of the very system they hoped He’d elevate.

Cognitive Dissonance: People struggle to reconcile His miracles with this abrupt shift. Some rationalize: “If He’s truly the Messiah, why isn’t He fighting Rome?” Others dismiss Him as a zealot or zealot-killer (Matthew 26:55).

Honestly, this is what is happening all around the world today.

Some, not all, some are experiencing this with their political leaders today.

Some might say he was leading an insurrection against the temple!

But some were glad he was there!

Matthew 21:14–16 NRSVue

The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did and heard the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became angry and said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise for yourself’?”

You see, there were some who were good with him being there.

The blind

The lame

The children

Here is something interesting…

The blind and lame are disqualified from being a priest. (Lev 21:17-21)

The blind, the lame and the children are the favorite kind of person God wants in his house!

Isaiah 35:5–6 “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;”

Psalm 146:7–9 “He executes justice for the oppressed, He gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.”

****NEXT SLIDE****

V. The Crowd’s Reactions (Speculative, Based on Scripture and Human Nature)

Awe and Reverence: Some recognize His authority (Matthew 21:16). The temple’s cleansing might stir latent faith in His divine mission.

But, it does not…

****NEXT SLIDE****

Outrage and Betrayal: Others perceive Him as a traitor to national pride. The chief priests and scribes’ anger (Matthew 21:15) foreshadows the crowd’s eventual cry for His crucifixion (Matthew 27:20-23).

Confusion and Withdrawal: Many abandon Him, unable to grasp a kingdom not defined by earthly power (John 6:66). Their expectations collapse, leaving doubt.

What is his response?

****NEXT SLIDE****

He quotes from Psalm 8:2, to silence them.

And I think, in this moment, they never, in a million years, would think of this verse being used against them by this ‘great teacher.’

Psalm 8:2 “Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.”

Matthew 21:16 “Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise.”

VI. The Kingdom’s True Nature (Scripture’s Answer)

Jesus’ Clarification: In John 18:36, He states, “My kingdom is not of this world.” His kingship is spiritual, overthrowing sin, not Rome.

The Temple’s Purpose: Cleansing the temple was a declaration that God’s kingdom begins with repentance (Matthew 3:8). True worship requires purity, not transactional religion.

The Cost of Expectations: The crowd’s rejection mirrors humanity’s tendency to demand God conform to our desires. Jesus’ true mission—a death for many (Mark 10:45)—is antithetical to their expectations.

You DON’T GO TO WAR against your foes, enemies, and avenger

WITH BLIND, LAME, and CHILDREN!

God’s kingdom isn’t build on our cravings—it’s built on surrendering them to Christ

VII. Application: Are We Like the Crowd?

Idolizing Our Expectations: Do we seek a faith that fulfills our agenda (prosperity, comfort, control) rather than embracing Christ’s costly, counter-cultural kingdom?

Repentance and Realignment: Like the temple’s cleansing, we must purge self-centered expectations to see Christ as He is: a crucified King whose power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

The Call to Follow: To be His disciples, we must abandon the “kingdom of our own making” and embrace the cross-centered reality of His rule.

Conclusion: The crowd’s story warns us: Misplaced expectations lead to disillusionment. Jesus’ kingdom is neither what they wanted nor what we might want. But in His unexpected path—through the temple’s cleansing and the cross—we find true liberation. Let us ask: What must I surrender to follow Him as He is?

Final Scripture: “Take up your cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).

Confronting the Heart