Messiah Jesus, Ascent, Triumphant Entry, Healing

Q: What happens when our worship ceases to accomplish its purpose? What happens when our worship mostly serves us, rather than providing space and opportunity for people to meet and encounter the living God?

Context: On the road to Jerusalem, now we arrive: Messianic secret is over

Main Idea: Jesus upsets our expectations: He is sovereign Lord, and humble messiah, worthy of our praise.

Preview: Jesus Cares for those on the fringe, Jesus is our humble messiah, Jesus receives praise, Jesus removes obstacles to worship, and Jesus restores the purpose and goal of worship (prayer and wholeness), and that no matter how many good works Jesus’ opponents observe, they’ll still oppose him.

Text:

(vv. 20:29-34)

Chiasm: Healing, Prophecy fulfillment, Jesus is praised, Prophecy fulfillment, and Healing, the conclusion of this chiasm is Jesus’ admonishment (rejection) by the temple establishment (religious leaders)

Main Point 1: Jesus cares for those on the fringe of society

2nd Temple (1st Century AD) Jerusalem

Jesus’ Possible Route Into Jerusalem

Elevation, Jesus on the Ascent.

Temple Mount Comparison

Temple Mount Comparison 2

Temple Mount Comparison 3

Jesus is Messiah for all

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Isaiah 35:5 ESV

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

Isaiah 9:2 ESV

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

2 Samuel 7 ESV

Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” ’ Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ” In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David. Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God. And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”

Jesus Fulfills Prophecy on the Ascent (Prophecy)

(vv. 21:1-7)

Main Point 2: Jesus is the Humble Servant of YHWH

Isaiah 62:11 ESV

Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, “Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.”

Zechariah 9:9 ESV

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.

Zechariah 14:4 ESV

On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.

Zechariah 14:5 ESV

And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

Genesis 49:10–11 ESV

The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he has washed his garments in wine and his vesture in the blood of grapes.

Genesis 49;10-11

The Crowd Praises Jesus on the Ascent (Praise)

(vv. 21:8-11)

Main Point 3: Recognize Messiah Jesus, Pray for the Coming of His Kingdom (and patiently wait for that coming).

Psalm 118:25–26 ESV

Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord.

Hallel ()

“Hosanna” A cry for the kingdom to arrive

Herod’s temple, digital diagram

Mount of Olives and Temple Mount, Aerial View, Digital Overlay, First Century Model

Mount of Olives and Temple Mount, Aerial View (Today)

“Golden Gate” from the Byzantine Period (ca. 400-800 AD) Opened and closed repeatedly from 800-1541, when it was filled in by Muslim conqueror Suleiman (ca. 1541 AD), and stayed that way.

Golden Gate

Top of the Arch of the Second Temple (1st Century) Golden Gate

“Who is this?”

Jesus Cleanses the Temple (Prophecy)

(vv. 21:12-13)

Main Point 4: Jesus cleans house, Let your life point people toward Jesus, not toward yourself.

Gentile Court: Southeast Corner of temple complex

“Who is this?”

Isaiah 56:7 ESV

these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

Jeremiah 7:11 ESV

Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the Lord.

Isaiah 56:7

Jeremiah

A Prophet, and Messianic King

Matthew Explanation of the Text

Jesus was not opposed to the fact of these businesses but the place: the temple was not where such activity should occur.

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Matthew Explanation of the Text

The temple markets may have been set up by Caiaphas about AD 30 in competition with others, and this was controversial, thought by many to be a desecration of the temple (bringing idolatrous coins into it) and a scandal because it was purely mercenary. Doves were by far the most frequently purchased items, as they were the sacrifice of the poor (Lev 12:8, 14:21–22; cf. Luke 2:22–24), and there is rabbinic evidence that exorbitant prices were often charged (m. Ker. 1:7; m. Pesaḥ 57a).

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Matthew Explanation of the Text

the leaders have turned the temple into a mafia-like stronghold

p. 763

Jesus proclaims judgment for the temple cult, and restores the temple to the way that it should function: A place of interacting with God, that is prayer, worship and [the result] healing.

Salvation and acceptance of the blemished and Gentiles ()

Jesus Heals in the Temple (Healing)

(v. 21:14)

Main Point 5: When we clean up sin that hinders worship, then we can participate with God in his work of healing.

Psalm 8:2 ESV

Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.

The Chief Priests and Scribes Challenge Jesus in the Temple (Conclusion)

(vv. 21:15-17)

Main Point 6: Jesus wants us to assess our worship, and correct ourselves if we’re wrong.

So What

Main Idea: Jesus upsets our expectations: He is sovereign Lord, and humble messiah, worthy of our praise.

Pt. 1: Whereas we would spend most of our time investing in people who are desireable, and who would love us back, Jesus healed the broken and people on the fringes.

Pt. 2: Whereas we desire a mighty leader, capable of defeating our enemies, Jesus humbled himself and submitted to death that we might live.

Pt. 3: Whereas we would build our own kingdoms, Jesus gives us the example of a servant. Let us follow his example, as his servants, and yearn for his kingdom to come.

Pt. 4: When our lives (and our worship) get off track, let us return to Jesus, and clean house.

Pt. 5: Once we clean up our lives, we can then reach out to others who desperately need Jesus. We cannot join Jesus on mission if we remain in opposition to him and his will. We cannot serve two masters.

Pt. 6: When we discover that Jesus does not fit our mold, that he doesn’t fulfill our expectations, and that we cannot control him like a magic genie, then we can submit to him as he truly is, sovereign lord, worthy of praise. Let us assess our lives, and our worship, and stop trying to put Jesus in a box.

Main Point 1: Jesus cares for those on the fringe of society

Main Point 2: Jesus is the Humble Servant of YHWH

Main Point 3: Recognize Messiah Jesus, Pray for the Coming of His Kingdom (and patiently wait for that coming).

Main Point 4: Jesus cleans house, Let your life point people toward Jesus, not toward yourself.

Main Point 5: When we clean up sin that hinders worship, then we can participate with God in his work of healing.

Main Point 6: Jesus wants us to assess our worship, and correct ourselves if we’re wrong.

Matthew 3. No Preconceived Categories

Christians all too often think of Jesus in comfortable categories as their friend and helper and forget that he must be worshiped as Savior and Lord of all.