The King Has Arrived (Matthew 20:29-21:11)

Please then take out your Bible and turn with me to Matthew 20:29-21:11. If you do not have a Bible, you can find one there in your seats. And in that Bible you can find our passage on page #981.

In the next week or so, the city of Los Angeles will hold a parade to celebrate their team’s World Series Champions, the LA Dodgers. The team will be put on display to celebrate them being the best baseball team in 2025. It is a parade celebrating their greatness.

Many such parades similar to this have taken place throughout world history. We of course most commonly understand such parades and celebrations around sports championships or festival holidays, such as the upcoming Thanksgiving parade or Christmas parades or the New Year’s parade. 

But in other times, such parades were to show a different kind of greatness. It was to show the power, the prestige of a ruler, a king. Marching throughout the city, showing the strength of his army with him on a war horse or even in a chariot of grandeur and might. 

The entire point of a parade or an entrance into a new city was to strike fear into the people as they saw their king come. Such striking of fear was how they guarded their throne and authority over the people. 

We have seen or heard of such marches around the world in various periods of time by rulers. In 2014-2015, I saw this in the city of Istanbul as the military showed their might with their troops on the streets in the years leading up to the attempted coup that took place there in the summer of 2016. Power and might were to be what was on display through these forces. 

However that is not at all what we see as God’s Forever King makes his entrance into the capitol city of Jerusalem at the beginning of what many refer to as Holy Week. Instead of a war horse, we see a King riding on a beast of burden, a donkey. And it is his entrance that our text of Matthew 20:29-21:11 wants us to consider this morning. 

The Gospel According to Matthew makes clear to us early there in chapter 1, that Jesus is God’s promised Messiah King who has come to save his people from their sins. And throughout the gospel, the authority of King Jesus is elevated. Showing that he is one who has great authority in his teaching, but also in his actions. For he is the King who has not just authority over men, but demons, disease, the wind and the waves, and even death itself. 

And yet, this King is not like other kings. For other kings come to be served, to show their might. But not King Jesus! He has not come to be served, but to serve by laying down his life as a ransom for many so that all who are united to him by faith will be delivered from the bondage of sin and death as we have seen over the last few weeks. 

And this morning, we are being pointed back to other truths about the nature of our King! Particularly in how he is gentle and lowly in heart, inviting us to come and find rest in him. A heart we see now as we turn to the reading of God’s Word. READ MATTHEW 20:29-21:11.

Main Idea: Jesus is God’s Humble King who comes in compassion and is worthy of our praise.

The Compassion of King Jesus

The Procession of King Jesus 

1. The Compassion of King Jesus

Jesus’ march towards Jerusalem continues. But he is not the only one on his way towards Jerusalem. For many throughout the whole of Israel are also making their way to Jerusalem as the Passover draws near. Massive crowds then are making their way to Jerusalem. And a great crowd has drawn near to Jesus as they all make their way to Jerusalem. Look there at Matthew 20:29…

Jericho is one of the last cities before Jerusalem. So what Jesus has predicted draws all the nearer. And yet, now he is surrounded and being followed by this great crowd wanting to be near or even partially identify with him. And yet, it is this great crowd that is to be set in contrast from  two blind beggars. V.30…

Now, if you are familiar with the other two synoptic gospels of Mark and Luke, you will know that in both of these there is only one blind beggar mentioned (Mk 10:46-52; Lk 18:35-43). Mark even mentions this one by name, Bartimaeus. 

Matthew’s mention then of two here might leave you confused or thinking that there are discrepancies in the account. Let me assure you that there is not a discrepancy, and that there were indeed two here as Matthew mentions. In the accounts of both Luke and more notably Mark, what happens is the one more well known beggar is focused on. 

It would be kind of like you are an eyewitness of an accident. And you come and tell someone, Scott was in a car wreck. By that information, you could be telling the truth. But your eyewitness account is not the whole picture as another witness comes in and says, there was a wreck at the intersection of Hwy 45 and B involving two cars with single passengers in both. The one eyewitness account focuses on the one more known driver, the other account paints the bigger picture, just as Matthew here is doing. Matthew focuses on the least of these who cry out for mercy.

A mercy desperately needed as these two blind men were not simply blind, but desperately hopeless. For they had no hope of their circumstances changes. For they were blind and did not ever have the hope of being able to work and make provisions for themselves. They were without hope of ever gaining steady provisions for themselves. They were without hope to ever be anything more than blind beggars. Beggars forced to sit along the way of a busy road going in and out of Jerusalem. Beggars who were desperate for a few coins to be handed to them by any compassionate and faithful ones who passed by. 

Yet as all hope seems lost, a new hope arises. For they hear that Jesus is passing by them! And they cry out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David”.

The title, the Son of David, was a messianic title. For it is in light of the promise of the Lord to David in 2 Samuel 7. A promise that David would have a son come and sit on his throne forever. 

And up to this point, there has only been one public confession that Jesus was the Christ. Peter’s confession back in Matthew 16. But now, these two blind beggars cry out to Jesus as the Son of David, declaring faith in who Jesus is!

Two blind beggars who would have never heard of the teachings of Jesus themselves. Those who would have never been able to witness the miracles of Jesus, in that they were blind. Those who would have only heard second hand from others about what Jesus has taught and done, make this confession and cry out to mercy! 

Simply upon hearing these things, they, through the aide of the Spirit, made connection that Jesus is not just a prophet, but the promised Messiah King! And it is to this Son of David they cry out for mercy from! Faith came without seeing! Faith came from their hearing and believing. 

Those here who do not yet believe in Jesus as God’s promised Redeemer, what’s your excuse then? For do not many make claims that if only their was more proof, they would believe? Yet here, two men who were blind and could not see, believed in just the bit they heard. They connected the works of Jesus with what was foretold of the coming Messiah King. Their faith was their sight, while many today see, but remain blinded in their continued unbelief. May God quicken your hearts to come to faith even now by humbling you to see your poverty and your need to cry out for mercy, just like these two blind beggars.

For they know they are helpless. There is no hope of changing their circumstances. Of bettering their situation. But as Jesus comes, they cry out in their desperation for mercy from the Son of David! They cry out hopeful in Jesus like little weeping children. 

Yet as they cry out, their cries meet resistance. Look at the first part of V.31(a)…

The crowd here follows in the earlier footsteps of Jesus’ disciples rebuking those who bring children to Jesus. However, despite the rebuke and calls to silence of the crowd, the two blind men are not silenced. Look now to the end of V.31(b)…

The two blind men are not silenced at the rebukes of many. Their plea for mercy rings out all the more loudly! O that we would be so quick to echo their continued cries in the face of opposition, of shouts of rebuke!

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, those in this world who presently stand as enemies of God will seek to silence us and rebuke us for our cries out to Jesus. They will seek to silence us from declaring that Jesus is the only way to be restored to a holy God. They will seek to rebuke us and say we are exclusive instead of inclusive by drawing clear lines in the sand of what is and isn’t the gospel. 

And as these come, let us by all means love our enemies, let us seek to show them mercy and do good to them. But let them never silence us in our cries to Jesus, the Son of David! For he is our only hope in life and death! 

For it is this persistent, lasting cry to the Lord for mercy that marks the people of God! And may that define us, as individual disciples of Christ and be part of our identity here at Land O’ Lakes Bible Church. A gathered people who continue to cry out to the Lord Jesus for continued mercy in continued dependence upon him! And trusting that as we continue to cry out to the LORD, he will hear us. V.32-33…

Jesus hears the pleas of the blind men and asks what it is that they want from him. And the make it known. And in this plea of faith and helplessness, Jesus responds. V.34…

Jesus has pity or compassion on these 2 blind men as they have cried out to him for mercy to simply heal their eyes. His guts are emptied out of him in seeking to make things better for them. And he does so by touching their eyes to restore their sight. And without delay, their sight is so restored. Jesus answers their request for mercy by giving them their sight. 

Beloved, do we see, do we grasp the nature of our King, King Jesus? Do we grasp how his compassion burns within him to aide us and care for us? 

Certainly, Jesus pours out his compassion on lost sinners by laying down his life for us on the cross. He compassionately saves us from the wages of sin and death. For this is the gospel, this is the good news of Christ that we build our hope on! 

But beloved, the compassion of our King is not only showed in his sacrificial death on the cross. For our King has been raised from the dead and now has ascended and seated next to the Father in glory. And his compassion is continually being poured out on his people. 

His compassion was furthered by making sure we were not left without a Helper, and so from the Father and the Son, the Spirit of God is sent to us and given to all who are united to Christ by faith. This is part of Jesus’ act of compassion. To continue to be renewing us with the help of the Helper! 

Still, there is more! The compassion of the King is being poured out for us as we continue to go to the Father in prayer and know that King Jesus is interceding to the Father on our behalf. He is pleading for us, because we are his! And he will not forsake his people!

Christian, Jesus did not forsake the two blind beggars for the sake of the great crowd. And neither will he forsake you for the masses. His compassion will continue to be poured out for those who are united to him by faith! 

And so, let us then with confidence arise and follow Jesus, just as these two men! As Jesus answers their cry for mercy, they arise and follow. They leave behind their begging spot and follow their compassionate King! So let us go after him who continues to have mercy and compassion upon us all the days of our lives. 

That’s point #1, the compassion of the king. 

2. The Procession of King Jesus

Where other kings make their processions into cities with force and might, Jesus prepares to enter Jerusalem with a completely different posture! Look at V.1-3 there in chapter 21…

Behphage sits on the outskirts of Jerusalem. And it is here that Jesus prepares for his humble entry with calling these two disciples of his to enter the village and getting a donkey and her colt for him to enter the city upon. 

The Lord seeks not a war horse and chariot to make his royal entry into the city, but an animal of burden, a donkey in all its stubbornness. The Lord has even prepared the location, the means, and the provision for this. 

For none in their right mind would enter a village and take what does not belong to them. And yet, the King provided the only means they would need if anyone asked what they were doing. He gave them the means of his authority, the Lord has need of them.

As to the purpose of this mission, it was essential so that all things may be fulfilled regarding God’s Anointed King. Look there at V.4-5…

Jesus here pulls a quote from the Old Testament found in Zechariah 9:9. A declaration of the coming salvation by the hand of a humble king. A king who will rule from sea to sea, to the ends of the earth. A King who will set the prisoners free. A King who will save his people by his goodness!

And that is what Jesus prepares to do as he enters Jerusalem. He enters as a humble king mounted on a donkey to set the prisoners free from the wages of sin and death! He prepares to fulfill all that was foretold of him to the glory of the Father above!

Upon hearing these things, what should the disciples do? V.6…

They obeyed! They obeyed their Teacher, their King! They went quickly and did precisely as told! Beloved, you want to better understand the will of God for your life? To understand your marching orders? Go and do as King Jesus has instructed us by going into all the world and making disciples, leading them to faith in Christ, to obey all that he commanded beginning with the ordinance of baptism. 

This is how you go and do as you are told! This is how you begin to seek being faithful in our orders today. Being motivated not out of obligation, but joyful eagerness in light of who this King is! A King who is gentle and lowly and humbly sits himself on this beast of burden. V.7-9… 

Culturally like all other kings, Jesus sits on an animal never to have been rode before. He sits on a colt. But unlike other kings, Jesus doesn’t come mounted on a swift war horse or with horse and chariot. He comes seated on a young donkey colt. He sits on this colt without a saddle of any kind. All that is between him and the back of the donkey colt are the few cloaks laid upon it. 

And if that was not enough, he sits on this colt that has never been ridden. That is quite a feat! For in case you have never ridden a young colt that has not been ridden and tamed, it can be quite the ride! It takes very little for that young colt to begin to rear itself up and kick its legs and fight with all its might! Yet the Lord sits not on saddle, but cloaks with likely no bit to drive such a stubborn beast. 

And yet he rides on this young colt as a humble King with such authority and control, fulfilling all that was previously told. And as he sits on the donkey colt and makes his way into Jerusalem, more cloaks are laid out, this time on the ground before him. Cloaks and branches are laid out like a carpet for a royal procession. 

And with the procession, shouts of glee are made. The people cry out, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

The people, likely unknowingly are fulfilling that of our Scripture Reading earlier from Psalm 118:26. Giving shouts of blessing and praise to he who shines upon them as the ultimate gift of God’s steadfast love. The very one who will not bind the sacrifice, but be pierced and nailed as the sacrifice himself on a cruel tree. 

Yet even as these shouts of praise and Hosanna ring out, much confusion remains as to who this one coming into Jerusalem is. V.10-11…

A city stirred by such a procession with a wonder of who this might be. A prophet they said, a prophet from lowly Nazareth of Galilee. While they be not wrong, Jesus is the final prophet which our great God has spoken by. Yet he is not just a prophet, he is much more than that. He is the beloved Son of God who is his promised King! 

A King who comes not as man desired to overthrow Rome. Rather a King who came to bring God’s rule on earth by piercing through harden hearts and undoing what sin left destroyed.  

And so with this inadequate understanding of this Great King, the people’s praise would not endure. Their shouts of praise and Hosanna would quickly fade and become shouts of crucify him. 

A great reminder to us that it is not man’s praise and glory that we are to live for. In the words of J.C. Ryle [1], 

But this is a faithful picture of human nature. This is a proof of the utter folly of thinking more of the praise of man than the praise of God. Nothing in truth is so fickle and uncertain as popularity. It is here to-day and gone to-morrow. It is a sandy foundation, and sure to fail those who build upon it. Let us not care for it. Let us seek the favor of Him who is “the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever.” (Heb. 13:8.) Christ never changes. Those whom He loves, He loves to the end. His favor endureth for ever.

This is why we must live to the glory of God alone! We must never seek the praises of men and live to their demands. To the Father’s honor and glory then we must live! 

Yet at the deeper root of this whole entry was that the knowledge of the Messiah King was inadequate and found wanting! For we must understand who is this great King who has entered so humbly, mounted on a donkey. 

Make no mistake, Jesus indeed was a prophet. He was God’s final prophet. The book of Hebrews catches this as it opens, telling us how God spoke through others, but in the last days through Jesus. 

To borrow from Daniel Doriani [2], 

“We must know Jesus, the King, as he comes in this age. Jesus will come in power, on a warhorse, on the last day. Until then he comes gently on a donkey. He saves not by slaying his foes but by dying for them.”

We then must understand who this Jesus is and why he has come! He has come as one humble and compassionate to call lost sinners home! To slay the sin within.

Application!

Conclusion

Jesus is the Son of David, God’s Forever King! A King who is humble and compassionate and invites us to come to him! Let us then come to him now and lean into all who he is and what he has come to do so that we might faithfully run the race of faith and not veer off in our own foolish ways! 

Let’s pray!

Endnotes

[1]  J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Matthew (New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1860), 267.

[2] Daniel Doriani. Matthew, ESV Expository Commentary: Matthew-Luke, Volume 8. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021) 316.