The King Arrives: How Jesus' Reception Testifies of Him

Scripture Reading

Prayer

Introduction

How a notable person enters a place can be significant

award shows

sports events

national leaders

Review

Exposition

Matthew 21:1 ESV

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

We have finally arrived in Judea

Notice the map

zoom in

Bethpage is a village at the Mount of Olives

Matthew 21:2 ESV

saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.

Jesus clearly has knowledge that he would not otherwise have about the situation before him.

His instructions could be understood by his disciples as to steal this donkey and colt

So he says, “…

Matthew 21:3 ESV

If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”

Notice how Jesus identifies Himself

“The Lord”

I. Jesus is Lord so give Him priority (1-3)

Begin next point

Purpose?

…

Matthew 21:4 ESV

This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

Matthew 21:5 ESV

“Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ”

So these verses (4-5) are Matthew inserting his narration into the story and rather than simply retelling the events, he provides commentary.

It is said that a king arriving on a donkey communicates His coming in peace

Jesus certainly did not NEED to ride into town, he just completed a large journey on foot.

Earlier in the book we saw this often (fulfilling prophecy)

II. Jesus is King so give Him the reverence He deserves (4-5)

Not just king of the jewish nation

look with me at the context of the quote

Zechariah 9:9–10 ESV

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

Begin next point

Matthew 21:6 ESV

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.

Simply put, they obeyed

Matthew 21:7 ESV

They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them.

They put their cloaks on the colt and Jesus sat upon the cloaks

What happened next is perhaps simultaneously, one of the most remarkable and sad scenes in the Scriptures

Matthew 21:8 ESV

Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

Rolled out the red carpet

yet they were about to yell “crucify Him, crucify Him”

How quickly a crowd can turn on its hero.

Matthew 21:9 ESV

And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

Hosanna - “Save Us!”

From Psalm 118

Part of the Hallel (Song sung at various feasts, signifies messiah

III. Jesus is Messiah so trust Him (6-9)

Matthew 21:10 ESV

And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?”

Matthew 21:11 ESV

And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

IV. Jesus is more than a prophet so don’t misunderstand Him (10-11)

Revelation 19:11–16 ESV

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.