Triumphal Entry

The Proclamation (Matt 21:1-11)

The Preparation (1-3)

Matthew 21:1–3 ESV

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 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. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”

“Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 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. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” (Matthew 21:1–3, ESV)

The Prophecy (4-5)

Matthew 21:4–5 ESV

This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “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.’ ”

“This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “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.’” (Matthew 21:4–5, ESV)

Prophecy of Zechariah 9

Zech 9 is a prophecy of Judgment against the enemies of Israel and a promise of deliverance of his people through a King.

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.

“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 9:9, ESV)

“Jesus had walked all the way from Galilee, and surely did not need to ride a donkey for only the last two miles. Verses 2–3 may well suggest a pre-arranged plan, but even if that was not the case, the use of a donkey now (the only time Jesus is ever recorded as travelling other than on foot) can only have been a deliberate gesture.” (France, R. T. Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 1. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985. Print. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries.)

Jesus is making a very public claim that He is the Messiah and King prophesied in the scriptures. There were many time during Jesus’ ministry that he told people (even his disciples) not to tell others what he did or who he is. But now is the time to make clear to all in Jerusalem who he is.

The Parade (6-11)

Matthew 21:6–11 ESV

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 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!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

“The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 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!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” (Matthew 21:6–11, ESV)

What the people did.

Laid out their Cloaks and Branches.

John tells us that these were palm branches they were laying down.

“It was usual to strew flowers and branches and to spread carpets and garments in the pathway of conquerors and great princes, and of others to whom it was intended to show particular honor and respect.” (Freeman, James M., and Harold J. Chadwick. Manners & Customs of the Bible. North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998. Print.)

This would be similar to the modern idea of “rolling out the red carpet”

The people of Jerusalem were showing great honor and respect to Jesus by doing this. They were ushering in the King with honor.

When a king or army commander after war came to a city, the people of the city would come out and enter with the leader with celebration and fanfare.

This is what they are doing for Jesus.

What the people said.

Matthew 21:9–11 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!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

“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!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” (Matthew 21:9–11, ESV)

They addressed him as a king coming to save.

Hosanna - “(an Aramaic expression meaning ‘help, I pray’ or ‘save, I pray,’ but which had become a strictly liturgical formula of praise) a shout of praise or adoration—‘hosanna.’” (Louw, Nida)

Although Matthew does not record it people though of him as a coming king.

“saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”” (Luke 19:38, ESV)

This is a reference to the Psalmist.

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.

“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.” (Psalm 118:25–26, ESV)

Jesus was making a public and open declaration that he was the Messiah and King in the line of David. The peoples reaction of praise and worship show that they saw him the same way. They cried out in praise to Jesus as the son of David and asked him to save them. Without understanding that Jesus came to accomplish salvation, they most likely were expecting Jesus to bring about freedom from Rome and establish the Messianic Kingdom.

It is highly likely that this same crowd praising Jesus on Sunday as the saving king, will by Friday be shouting “Crucify Him”.

The Purification (Matt 21:12-13)

In entering Jerusalem, Jesus does not go to the Palace and tell the King to get off his throne. Jesus goes to the Temple to purify it. He is the King of a Spiritual Kingdom.

Matthew 21:12–13 ESV

And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

“And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” (Matthew 21:12–13, ESV)

“Jesus performed two acts of judgment: He cleansed the temple, and He cursed a fig tree. Both acts were contrary to His usual manner of ministry, for He did not come to earth to judge, but to save (John 3:17). Both of these acts revealed the hypocrisy of Israel: The temple was a den of thieves, and the nation (symbolized by the fig tree) was without fruit. Inward corruption and outward fruitlessness were evidences of their hypocrisy.” (Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Vol. 1. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996. Print.)

“What does God want in His house? God wants prayer among His people (1 Tim. 2:1ff), for true prayer is an evidence of our dependence on God and our faith in His Word. He also wants people being helped (Matt. 21:14). The needy should feel welcome and should find the kind of help they need. There should be power in God’s house, the power of God working to change people. Praise is another feature of God’s house (Matt. 21:15–16).” (Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Vol. 1. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996. Print.)

Jesus in cleansing the temple of corruption is declaring the purpose of God’s house. It’s for prayer and service, not money making schemes.

Jesus is cleansing this temple, but is going to establish a new place of prayer and worship. He is going to establish in Him the new covenant between God and Humanity. This will be the eternal Kingdom of which He is the King and access to that kingdom is found only in Him. He is establishing a kingdom unlike what they are expecting.

The church (God’s people) are now the house of God through Christ.

The Restoration (Matt 21:14)

Matthew 21:14 ESV

And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.

“And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.” (Matthew 21:14, ESV)

All are welcomed to come and find deliverance and Healing in Christ.

“Most Jewish authorities forbade any person lame, blind, deaf, or mute from offering a sacrifice, from “appearing before Yahweh in his temple.” The Qumran covenanters wanted to go further and exclude all cripples from the congregation, the messianic battle, and the messianic banquet (1QSa 2:5–22; 1QM 7:4–5). But Jesus heals them, thus showing that “one greater than the temple is here” (12:6). He himself cannot be contaminated, and he heals and makes clean those who come into contact with him. These two actions—cleansing the temple and the healing miracles—jointly declare his superiority over the temple and raise the question of the source of his authority (21:23).” (Carson, D. A. “Matthew.” The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke. Ed. Frank E. Gaebelein. Vol. 8. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984. 442. Print.)

“According to 2 Samuel 5:8, the blind and the lame are excluded from (God’s) house by David’s decree. But the Son of David (v. 15) welcomes and heals them in the temple. As the only recorded healing by Jesus in the temple this is surely significant of his bringing a new era in which the old ritual barriers give way to God’s purpose of universal blessing (cf. on Isa. 56:7 in previous verse).” (France, R. T. Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 1. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985. Print. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries.)

The Protest (Matt 21:15-17)

The Praise (15a)

Matthew 21:15 ESV

But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant,

“But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant,” (Matthew 21:15, ESV)

Children - “a young person normally below the age of puberty, with focus on age rather than social status, boy, youth.” (BDAG)

“Hosanna to the Son of David” - Jesus, son of David, save us.

The Protest (15b-16a)

Matthew 21:15–16 ESV

But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “ ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?”

“But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “ ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” (Matthew 21:15–16, ESV)

The religious leaders saw all that Jesus did (entery, cleansing the temple, Healing) and what the people were saying (praise and worship), they became indignant.

indignant - “to be or become angered at something seemingly unjust or wrong.” (Sense)

They thought what was going on as wrong because they did not believe Jesus was the Messiah.

“And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching.” (Mark 11:18, ESV)

“And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” (Luke 19:39, ESV) This happened earlier during the entry, but shows the understandings of the Pharisees.

The Prophecy (16b-17)

Matthew 21:16–17 ESV

and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “ ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there.

“and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “ ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there.” (Matthew 21:16–17, ESV)

Jesus sees and heard all of it and points them to scripture to show that this is what God prophesied.

Psalm 8:1–2 ESV

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.

“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.” (Psalm 8:1–2, ESV)

Psalms 8 is a Psalm of David the King as a praise psalm of the glory of God in creation. It is a Messianic psalm meaning that it points to the coming messiah.

Listen to what Jesus said earlier.

Matthew 11:25–26 ESV

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

“At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.” (Matthew 11:25–26, ESV)

God has chosen to reveal the glories of Christ to the children, but the wise pharisees did not understand.

Takeaways

Significance of the Triumphal Entry

Jesus came as a servant King on a colt, not Steed.

Jesus did not come in Power to conquer, but with Love, Grace, Mercy, and Sacrifice.

Jesus establishes his kingdom not with Armies or with great splendor, but with service and Love.

Jesus did not come to conquer nations, but human hearts and minds.

He came to bring peace with God, not temporal peace among nations.

“Lets walk thru Passion Week”

Join me this week as we remember, read and celebrate Jesus and what he did to pay for out Sins.

Daily videos posted at 9:00 am with scripture reading and simple devotion by me.

Read the text.

Matt 21-28

Mark 11-16

Luke 19-24

John 12-21