The Royal Welcome
Today's reading starts off with Jesus nearing Jerusalem. He has some of his disciples to get him a donkey, and so they do.
“This is the full story of what was sketched earlier by the prophet: Tell Zion’s daughter, “Look, your king’s on his way, poised and ready, mounted On a donkey, on a colt, foal of a pack animal.””
Matthew 21:4-5 MSG
Zechariah 9:9-10 MSG
A Humble King Riding a Donkey
9-10 “Shout and cheer, Daughter Zion!
Raise your voice, Daughter Jerusalem!
Your king is coming!
a good king who makes all things right,
a humble king riding a donkey,
a mere colt of a donkey.
I’ve had it with war—no more chariots in Ephraim,
no more war horses in Jerusalem,
no more swords and spears, bows and arrows.
He will offer peace to the nations,
a peaceful rule worldwide,
from the four winds to the seven seas.
Isaiah 62:11-12 MSG
10-12 Walk out of the gates. Get going!
Get the road ready for the people.
Build the highway. Get at it!
Clear the debris,
hoist high a flag, a signal to all peoples!
Yes! God has broadcast to all the world:
“Tell daughter Zion, ‘Look! Your Savior comes,
Ready to do what he said he’d do,
prepared to complete what he promised.’”
Zion will be called new names: Holy People, God-Redeemed,
Sought-Out, City-Not-Forsaken.
Matthew 21:6-9 MSG
“The disciples went and did exactly what Jesus told them to do. They led the donkey and colt out, laid some of their clothes on them, and Jesus mounted. Nearly all the people in the crowd threw their garments down on the road, giving him a royal welcome. Others cut branches from the trees and threw them down as a welcome mat. Crowds went ahead and crowds followed, all of them calling out, “Hosanna to David’s son!” “Blessed is he who comes in God’s name!” “Hosanna in highest heaven!””
When I used to look at this, it didn't make much sense to me how all these people would just show up all the sudden to welcome Jesus riding into Jerusalem, however after becoming familiar with the stories it clicked.
Jesus regularly drew crowds, this was nothing new, apparently it was not uncommon for him to have as many as 5000, so why would it be so surprising that people would find out he was entering Jerusalem and show up in masses.
The crowd that gathered to praise Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey was likely fulfilling a prophecy from the Old Testament book of Zechariah 9:9 which states, "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." This verse was understood by many Jewish people of Jesus' time as a messianic prophecy, and they believed that the coming of the Messiah would be preceded by a peaceful and humble entry into Jerusalem, unlike the previous conquerors who had entered the city on horses and chariots, with a military parade.
Some Jewish people of Jesus' time had a different understanding of the Messiah. They believed that the Messiah would be a powerful and triumphant king who would come to conquer the Romans and restore the kingdom of Israel to its former glory. They expected the Messiah to lead a military campaign against the Roman oppressors and to establish a new era of peace and prosperity for the Jewish people.
there are passages in the Old Testament that could be interpreted to support this belief. Here are a few examples:
In Isaiah 11:1-10, it speaks of a coming ruler from the line of Jesse (father of King David) who will bring peace and justice to the earth. This passage describes the coming ruler as having the spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and fear of the Lord, which could be interpreted to indicate that he would be a powerful leader.
In Jeremiah 23:5-6 it speaks of a coming "righteous branch" who will reign as king and bring justice and righteousness to the land. This passage describes the coming king as one who will "execute justice and righteousness in the land" which could be interpreted to indicate that he would be a military leader who will bring peace and justice to the land.
In Ezekiel 37:24-28 it speaks of a coming king who will be the ruler of Israel and will bring peace and prosperity to the land. This passage describes the coming king as one who will "execute justice and righteousness in the land" which could be interpreted to indicate that he would be a military leader who will bring peace and justice to the land.
“As he made his entrance into Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken. Unnerved, people were asking, “What’s going on here? Who is this?” The parade crowd answered, “This is the prophet Jesus, the one from Nazareth in Galilee.”” Matthew 21:10-11 MSG
He Kicked Over the Tables
The Temple in Jerusalem was the center of Jewish religious life, and it was where sacrifices were offered to God. However, the priests and religious leaders of Jesus' time had allowed the Temple to become a marketplace where merchants and money changers were selling animals for sacrifice at exorbitant prices, and were cheating the people who came to offer sacrifices. This commercialization of the Temple had turned it into a den of thieves, as it said in Matthew 21:13.
Jesus' actions echo the prophet Jeremiah 7:11, where God says "Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching!" this passage describes how God saw the temple as a place of worship and not a marketplace.
“Jesus went straight to the Temple and threw out everyone who had set up shop, buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of loan sharks and the stalls of dove merchants. He quoted this text: My house was designated a house of prayer; You have made it a hangout for thieves. Now there was room for the blind and crippled to get in. They came to Jesus and he healed them.”
Matthew 21:12-14 MSG
I love this! Jesus comes in and kicks out and shuts down the market place, then the place is filled with sick people and Jesus heals them! what a day i would have loved to have witnessed.
But of course the "religious leaders" step in . . .
“When the religious leaders saw the outrageous things he was doing, and heard all the children running and shouting through the Temple, “Hosanna to David’s Son!” they were up in arms and took him to task. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” Jesus said, “Yes, I hear them. And haven’t you read in God’s Word, ‘From the mouths of children and babies I’ll furnish a place of praise’?””
Matthew 21:15-16 MSG
Psalm 8:2 MSG
2 Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you;
toddlers shout the songs
That drown out enemy talk,
and silence atheist babble.
(detour on thoughts)
This image depicts the 63,779 cross references that are found in the Bible.
The significance of the 63,779 cross references in the Bible is that they provide a way to understand the interconnectedness and continuity of the various books and themes within the Bible. These cross references, also known as "allusions" or "echo" help to show how different parts of the Bible relate to one another and how they build upon each other to form a unified message. They help readers to see the connections between different passages, books, and themes in the Bible, and how they contribute to the overall narrative of the Bible.
For example, a cross reference from an Old Testament passage to a New Testament passage can help to show how the Old Testament passage was understood and fulfilled in the New Testament. This can help to deepen the understanding of both passages and how they relate to the overall message of the Bible.
Additionally, cross references can also help to identify themes and concepts that are present throughout the Bible, such as the concept of God's grace and salvation, the role of faith and obedience, or the concept of God's justice and righteousness.
The Withered Fig Tree
“Early the next morning Jesus was returning to the city. He was hungry. Seeing a lone fig tree alongside the road, he approached it anticipating a breakfast of figs. When he got to the tree, there was nothing but fig leaves. He said, “No more figs from this tree—ever!” The fig tree withered on the spot, a dry stick. The disciples saw it happen. They rubbed their eyes, saying, “Did we really see this? A leafy tree one minute, a dry stick the next?””
Matthew 21:18-20 MSG
Two interesting things come from this, One is the Echo of the concept of bearing fruit, this theme occurs many times in the New Testament.
The second is Jesus response which has to do with faith and the power of our words.
Jesus often uses the metaphor of fruit-bearing to refer to the actions and attitudes of his followers. In Matthew 3:8-10, John the Baptist says that God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones if they don't repent and bear good fruit. In Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus warns his disciples to beware of false prophets who will show good signs but inside they are wicked, he explains that by their fruits you will know them.
In the book of John, Jesus says that "every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away" (John 15:2), and that his followers must "bear much fruit" (John 15:8) in order to prove that they are truly his disciples.
In the book of Romans, Paul says that "those who are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:8) and that they are "fruitless" (Romans 6:21)
In the book of James, he says "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:14-17)
In the book of Revelation, Jesus says "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth" (Revelation 3:15-16).
And now for a list of verses -
Matthew 3:8-10 - "Bear fruit in keeping with repentance"
Matthew 7:15-20 - "You will know them by their fruits"
Matthew 12:33 - "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit."
Matthew 21:43 - "Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing the fruits of it."
Mark 4:20 - "And these are the ones sown on good ground: those who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit"
Luke 3:8 - "Bear fruits in keeping with repentance"
Luke 8:15 - "But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop."
John 15:2 - "He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit"
John 15:8 - "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples"
Romans 6:21 - "What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!"
Romans 7:4 - "Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God."
Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Ephesians 5:9 - "For the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true"
Philippians 1:11 - "Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ"
Colossians 1:10 - "so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
2 Peter 1:8 - "For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
James 2:14-17 - "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
Revelation 14:14-15 - "Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe."
Revelation 22:2 - "In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."
Hebrews 12:11 - "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."
1 Corinthians 15:58 - "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord."
1 Peter 2:1-3 - "Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious"
All these verses emphasize the importance of bearing fruit in our lives, whether it's the fruit of repentance, the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit of righteousness, or the fruit of good works. They also suggest that bearing good fruit is a sign of being a true follower of God, and that those who do not will be cut down.
ok, so that was an overload there of the concept of Fruit. Now on to Jesus Response
“But Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Yes—and if you embrace this kingdom life and don’t doubt God, you’ll not only do minor feats like I did to the fig tree, but also triumph over huge obstacles. This mountain, for instance, you’ll tell, ‘Go jump in the lake,’ and it will jump. Absolutely everything, ranging from small to large, as you make it a part of your believing prayer, gets included as you lay hold of God.””
Matthew 21:21-22 MSG
ok, don't hate me, now i am going to show how this concept of the power of tongue also echo's throughout the bible.
Proverbs 18:21 - "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit."
James 3:2-5 - "For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!"
Ecclesiastes 5:3 - "For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool’s voice is known by his many words."
Proverbs 12:14 - "A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him."
Isaiah 55:11 - "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
Matthew 12:37 - "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
Proverbs 15:4 - "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit."
Proverbs 16:24 - "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones."
Proverbs 17:28 - "Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive."
Proverbs 21:23 - "Whoso keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles."
Isaiah 45:23 - "I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath."
Colossians 3:8 - "But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth."
Ephesians 4:29 - "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."
James 1:26 - "If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless."
All these verses remind us of the power of our words, how it can bring life or death, how it can be pleasant or corrupt, and the importance of bridling our tongue and think before we speak. They also remind us of the importance of accountability for the words we speak and the impact they may have on others and ourselves. They encourage us to use our words for good and speak in a way that honors and glorifies God.
Also a good place to remind ourselves that God spoke the world into creation.
True Authority
“Then he was back in the Temple, teaching. The high priests and leaders of the people came up and demanded, “Show us your credentials. Who authorized you to teach here?””
Matthew 21:23 MSG
And here again, Jesus responds to their insecurity with a question
“Jesus responded, “First let me ask you a question. You answer my question and I’ll answer yours. About the baptism of John—who authorized it: heaven or humans?” They were on the spot and knew it. They pulled back into a huddle and whispered, “If we say ‘heaven,’ he’ll ask us why we didn’t believe him; if we say ‘humans,’ we’re up against it with the people because they all hold John up as a prophet.” They decided to concede that round to Jesus. “We don’t know,” they answered. Jesus said, “Then neither will I answer your question.”
Matthew 21:24-25 MSG
The Story of Two Sons
““Tell me what you think of this story: A man had two sons. He went up to the first and said, ‘Son, go out for the day and work in the vineyard.’ “The son answered, ‘I don’t want to.’ Later on he thought better of it and went. “The father gave the same command to the second son. He answered, ‘Sure, glad to.’ But he never went.”
Matthew 21:28-30 MSG
This parable is a commentary on the religious leaders of Jesus' time who were not following God despite their professions of faith. The first son represents the tax collectors and prostitutes who initially refused to follow God but later repented and followed him. The second son represents the religious leaders who initially professed faith in God but did not follow through with their actions.
““Which of the two sons did what the father asked?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said, “Yes, and I tell you that crooks and whores are going to precede you into God’s kingdom. John came to you showing you the right road. You turned up your noses at him, but the crooks and whores believed him. Even when you saw their changed lives, you didn’t care enough to change and believe him.”
Matthew 21:31-32 MSG
Ouch! Imagine being a self righteous religious leader thinking you have it all together because of your ability to know and "follow" the law only to be told by Jesus that crooks and whores are going before you. . .
Psalm 118:22-29 MSG
21-25 Thank you for responding to me;
you’ve truly become my salvation!
The stone the masons discarded as flawed
is now the capstone!
This is God’s work.
We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!
This is the very day God acted—
let’s celebrate and be festive!
Salvation now, God. Salvation now!
Oh yes, God—a free and full life!
26-29 Blessed are you who enter in God’s name—
from God’s house we bless you!
God is God,
he has bathed us in light.
Adorn the shrine with garlands,
hang colored banners above the altar!
You’re my God, and I thank you.
O my God, I lift high your praise.
Thank God—he’s so good.
His love never quits!
The story of the Greedy Farmhands
This parable is a commentary on the religious leaders of Jesus' time, who were entrusted with the care of God's vineyard (Israel) but they rejected and killed the messengers of God (prophets) and ultimately the Son of God himself (Jesus). The landowner represents God, the servants represent the prophets and the son represents Jesus. This parable is a warning to the religious leaders who were rejecting Jesus as the Messiah, that they will be judged for their actions and the kingdom of God will be given to others who will produce fruit.
The story also illustrates how the tenant's greed led them to reject the authority of God and his messengers, leading to their own destruction. It is a call to humility, obedience and faithfulness to God, and a warning of the consequences of rejecting God's authority.
“When the religious leaders heard this story, they knew it was aimed at them. They wanted to arrest Jesus and put him in jail, but, intimidated by public opinion, they held back. Most people held him to be a prophet of God.” Matthew 21:45-46 MSG
Job 22 -
““Give in to God, come to terms with him and everything will turn out just fine. Let him tell you what to do; take his words to heart. Come back to God Almighty and he’ll rebuild your life. Clean house of everything evil. Relax your grip on your money and abandon your gold-plated luxury. God Almighty will be your treasure, more wealth than you can imagine.”
Job 22:21-25 MSG
Eliphaz accuses Job of having been oppressive, of having taken advantage of the poor, and of having turned away from God. He suggests that Job's wealth and prosperity must have come from exploiting others, and that his current suffering is God's punishment for these sins. He also implies that Job's suffering is a test from God, and if he repents and returns to God, he will be restored to prosperity.
Eliphaz's speech is based on the belief that suffering is always a punishment for sin and that prosperity is a sign of God's favor. He also implies that Job's suffering is a test of his faith and that if he repents and returns to God, he will be restored to prosperity. However, his speech is not accurate and doesn't take into account that Job is innocent of the sins Eliphaz is accusing him of. It also doesn't take into account the bigger picture of the dialogues between Job and his friends and the test of Job's faith.
Job 23 -
“Job replied: “I’m not letting up—I’m standing my ground. My complaint is legitimate. God has no right to treat me like this— it isn’t fair! If I knew where on earth to find him, I’d go straight to him. I’d lay my case before him face-to-face, give him all my arguments firsthand. I’d find out exactly what he’s thinking, discover what’s going on in his head. Do you think he’d dismiss me or bully me? No, he’d take me seriously. He’d see a straight-living man standing before him; my Judge would acquit me for good of all charges.”
Job 23:1-7 MSG
In Job 23, Job responds to Eliphaz's accusations by expressing his frustration and confusion about his current suffering. He laments the fact that God seems distant and unapproachable, and that he can't find God despite his earnest search.
Job states that he wishes he knew where God was so that he could present his case to him. He asserts his innocence and complains that God is being unjust in punishing him. He says that he wishes to be able to plead his case before God, but that God seems to have hidden himself from him. He also expresses his despair at the fact that God seems to be ignoring his cries for help.
Overall, Job expresses his feelings of being wronged, and his desire to understand why he is suffering and to have a fair hearing before God. He also expresses his longing for God's presence, and his sense that God is distant and unresponsive. The chapter highlights Job's feeling of isolation, confusion and despair.
““But he is singular and sovereign. Who can argue with him? He does what he wants, when he wants to. He’ll complete in detail what he’s decided about me, and whatever else he determines to do. Is it any wonder that I dread meeting him? Whenever I think about it, I get scared all over again. God makes my heart sink! God Almighty gives me the shudders! I’m completely in the dark, I can’t see my hand in front of my face.””
Job 23:13-17 MSG
Job 24 -
In Job 24, Job continues to express his frustration and confusion about his suffering. He points out that the wicked seem to prosper and escape punishment, while the righteous suffer. He questions why God allows this to happen and why He is not more active in administering justice.
Job notes that the wicked are often able to take advantage of the poor and oppress them without consequence. He also observes that the wicked are able to prosper and go unpunished, while the righteous suffer. He also points out that God seems to be inactive in bringing justice to the earth and that the wicked are able to act with impunity.
Throughout the chapter, Job highlights the apparent injustice in the world and the fact that the wicked seem to flourish while the righteous suffer. He also express his disappointment in God's lack of action in bringing justice to the earth and the fact that the wicked are able to act with impunity. The chapter highlights Job's feeling of confusion and disappointment in God's apparent inaction in the face of injustice.
Psalms 21
I believe this falls somewhere in 2 Samuel, David marches the Ark of the Covenant and also defeats some other armies.
It begins with the psalmist expressing great joy and delight in the Lord for answering his prayers and granting him victory and success.
The psalmist expresses his gratitude for the many blessings God has bestowed upon him, including his powerful protection, provision, and salvation. He states that God has given him the desire of his heart and fulfilled all his plans.
The psalmist also praises God for His strength and might, describing Him as a "king" who is victorious in battle. He states that God has bestowed him with honor and glory and he will proclaim the Lord's name in public.
The psalmist also expresses his trust in God's protection and deliverance, stating that no one can stand against God and that God will keep him safe from his enemies. He concludes the psalm by expressing his desire to live in God's presence forever and to praise Him for all eternity.
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