Sermon Tone Analysis

The Palm Sunday

The King’s Triumphal Entry

This week is one of the most important weeks in Christianity.

This is the time where Jesus was entering into Jerusalem before His death on the cross.

In other words, Jesus is going to Jerusalem to provide Redemption!

The King’s Triumphal Entry.

Today, we are going to look at Matthew Chapter 21.

But before going into this chapter, we must learn what Chapter 20 tells us about this event.

This is, in some ways, a setting to the following chapter, that is chapter 21.

So we learn the reason why He was going to Jerusalem:

The Son of Man will be handed over.

He will be mocked, flogged and crucified.

BUT on the third day he will be raised.

So, in this chapter then, we learn that Jesus approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage.

The Triumphal Entry

Today, we are going to look at Matthew 21:1-11

Jesus Sending His Disciples

Show video of Mount of Olives

Jesus now came from Jericho to Bethphage, a place at the outside of Jerusalem.

So it is not all that far from Jerusalem.

Moreover, Jesus was at the Mount of Olives.

What is the importance of Mount of Olives here?

This is so much significance to the Mount of Olives in the Scripture.

The Mount of Olives

David fled Absalom to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus taught His disciples about this Mount of Olives in the eschatological narratives, that is, in the last days narratives.

Jesus prayed at Gathsemane, which is a base of this mountain.

Jesus was arrested on this Mount of Olives.

Luke tells us that Jesus’ ascension was taken place on this Mount of Olives.

So, there is much importance to this Mount.

Jesus then sends two of His disciples.

We are not sure which two, because their names are not mentioned.

The message Jesus gave to them is to go into the village, (not sure which village that is, but some say it might be Bethany).

However, He says, go to the village, and you will find a donkey tied with her colt.

Bring them to me.

If anyone says anything to you, tell them “the Lord” needs them.

No one would say anything after that - just tell them the Lord needs them.

It seems like Jesus knew that this would happen - that the owners would send the donkey without any argument.

Now, some say that Jesus had an arrangement with the owners already, since He was traveling in that area.

We do not know if He talked with them already.

But, my view on it, is Jesus is God, and He knew all things; and moreover, it is time that Jesus present Himself to the world as the True Messiah.

So, this is in accordance to God’s plan - that they would let the donkey go without any issue.

Matthew then makes it clear that this is a fulfillment of a prophecy.

This prophecy is found in Zech.

9:9 and Isaiah 62:11.

The Humble Character of the King of Kings

This passage here is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy - it is the Old Testament expectation!

This happened because what was spoken by the prophet might be fulfilled.

Now, prophets in the Old Testament did not give the message on their own - they were God’s mouthpiece.

They proclaim what God has given them - the message they uttered is the message of God.

So here, it is God who is fulfilling what was said through the prophet(s).

So the prophecy says - Rejoice Daughter Zion or people of Jerusalem - YOUR KING is coming.

In Isaiah 62:11, the text says, “Your Salvation is coming!”

So, Jesus is both King and Salvation!

That King is gentle - meek.

Meaning, he was lowly.

Kings would usually come on a horse.

But here, this KING is coming on a donkey - a lowly animal.

So here, it represents the character of Jesus.

Jesus is the King of Peace.

We have learned about how He humbled Himself.

Now, the crowd might be expecting that this king would throw out the Roman army.

But Jesus is not going to do that.

He is the King of peace, He is full of love and compassion.

So the disciples did as Jesus told, and He sat on the donkey.

Then the large crowd were spreading clothes on the road, and spreading branches on the road.

So, people came from all over to celebrate Passover festival.

And what is the importance of this festival?

A sacred observance in Judaism that commemorates the climactic 10th plague in the book of Exodus, when Yahweh punishes Egypt by killing all the firstborn but “passes over” (פָּסַח, pasach) the firstborn of Israel (Exod 12:12–13),

So, the large crowd were in Jerusalem.

In John 12:12-13 we learn that the large crowd, when heard that Jesus was there, went out to meet him.

In a sense, these people accompanied Jesus into Jerusalem.

This is a royal procession.

In other words, the royal Messiah is coming into His city.

But not in the sense the people would expect.

He is heading to the opposite direction of their expectation.

So the crowd ahead of him, and behind Him were shouting.

And what was that?

Those who followed Jesus were shouting for a long time with joy, or excitement that their king has come who would rescue them from the Roman mess.

However, what they were shouting is important.

We know Jesus did not save them from that Roman oppression, but He gave Himself to them to be put to death.

So the crowd shouted - Hosanna to the Son of David!

Hosanna means - save now!

Or, it means “O, Save!”

Son of David - this is a cultural concept, and a title to Jesus, which means - “A messianic concept of the Jewish people that their Messiah would be a descendant of King David.”

Then the crowd said, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Is there some recognition of who Jesus is?

They acknowledge that Jesus is God’s representative - He has done many things and people were aware of what He has done.

They this praise was concluded with: Hosanna in the highest heaven.

Meaning, that Jesus should be praised up to heaven itself.

They did get some of it right - that Jesus is worthy of praise, and worship.

But the other part, they did not get it right - that they have a king who would do what they are looking for.

Jesus does the opposite.

In verses 10-11 we learn that there was an issue with the identity of Jesus.

WHO IS THIS?

It may have taken some time for Jesus to get into Jerusalem.

The city heard it, and was in uproar - WHO IS THIS? (They still don’t get who He is).

However, the response of some to this question is that Jesus is a prophet from Nazareth.

Play a video of Jerusalem

The Triumphal entry - the first day of the passion week is very important for us to understand.