Matthew 21

Matthew 21:3

Go thy way. The householder gave these all he had agreed. They had no ground of complaint but envy.

Matthew 21:4

Is thine eye evil? Envious.

Matthew 21:5

So the last shall be first, and the first last. A special lesson, first, to the Jews. They had been called first by God, but the Gentiles who heard the call should soon enjoy special privileges. They would even be first in the kingdom, because of their greater readiness to receive the gospel. Our duty in the vineyard is to go to work as soon as the Lord calls us, and to do what he tells us.

Matthew 21:6

Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart. For six months, ever since the confession at Caesarea Philippi, the Lord had been trying to prepare the twelve for his death. Compare Mr 10:32-52 Lu 18:31-43. He was now east of the Jordan, on his way.

Matthew 21:7

Behold, we go up to Jerusalem. They had gone to Jerusalem ofttimes before, but never on such a mournful errand. Shall be betrayed. By Judas, who would lead the band sent by the Jewish rulers to seek him in the night. Unto the chief priests and unto the scribes. The Jewish Sanhedrin. It included both the leaders of the priesthood, the leading scribes, or doctors of the law, and others. The great council of the nation condemned Jesus to die. See Matthew 26:59-66.

Matthew 21:8

Shall deliver him to the Gentiles. The Sanhedrin could condemn, but had no power to inflict capital punishment, because the government had passed into the hands of the Romans–a Gentile race. To mock, and to scourge. For comment on these words, see Matthew 27:26-31. The third day. This expression, which occurs often, shows the sense in which the Jews understood the corresponding phrase, “three days and three nights”.

Matthew 21:9

Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children. Salome, the mother of the apostles James and John, and supposed by many to be the sister of the mother of Jesus. Compare Mr 10:32-35 Lu 18:31-34.

Matthew 21:10

What wilt thou? We learn from Mark that they asked him to grant what they wished before they stated it, after the manner of Herod to the daughter of Herodias, but he forced them to state their ambitious desire (Mr 10:35-37). The mother speaks for them. That these my two sons may sit, etc. They still believed that he would be an earthly monarch, notwithstanding that he had just told them of his speedy death.

Matthew 21:11

Ye know not what ye ask. An illustration, this of ignorant prayer. Within a month they saw the places on his right hand and left occupied by the two thieves in the crucifixion (Matthew 27:38). Are ye able to drink of the cup? The “cup” is an Old Testament image of a man’s lot, or portion, as holding what of life God pours out for him. See Psalms 11:6 16:5 23:5 73:10 75:8 116:13 Eze 23:33. Be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with? Baptism is the necessary condition by which one can enjoy the privileges of the church. The “cup” signifies suffering voluntarily taken, or “drunk”, and the baptism what is endured at the hands of others. We are able. They no doubt thought they were. They loved their Lord, as well as pre-eminence, and felt that they were willing to go with him through suffering. They, however, overestimated their strength.

Matthew 21:12

Ye shall drink indeed of my cup. They cannot do it now, but in due time they shall follow him; they shall rise to their calling, and bravely meet all its risks and hardships. See Acts 12:1,2 Re 1:9. Is not mine to give. The highest honors of his kingdom were not now to be disposed of by him to gratify the worldly ambition of any one. For whom it is prepared. The Father had a plan in reference to the honors of the kingdom. The lowliest would be the loftiest. They who gave up most would get most.

Matthew 21:13

The ten . . . were moved with indignation. The indignation of the “ten” displayed the same spirit and motive as the request of the sons of Zebedee. It is very common that in the very act of condemning our brethren we are guilty of the same or worse faults than those we condemn.

Matthew 21:14

Jesus called them [unto him]. Evidently their indignation had been outspoken, but not in the immediate presence of the Lord. The princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion. In order to present the contrast between the kingdom as it would be and as they expected it, he pointed out the nature of Gentile rule. The princes “lorded over” the people.

Matthew 21:15

It shall not be so among you. No such lordship, no such authority, can be tolerated in your fraternity. The case is a rebuke of unhallowed ambition. Men prominent in the church should be the first to heed the admonition. Such priestly despotism as the absolute rule of the Catholic, Greek, and of some Protestant churches is at variance with this principle. Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister. Your “deacon”, “servant”. Greatness in the kingdom of heaven consists in “doing”, rather than in “being”, and in doing for others, rather than for self. Greatness is to be found in service. Only those men are truly great who are the servants of their race, helpers of mankind.

Matthew 21:16

Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant. In the church, the greatest one is he who serves most and best.

Matthew 21:17

Give his life a ransom. Our Lord came to serve. He even gave his life. He became our ransom; that is, he redeemed us by his blood.

Matthew 21:18

As they departed from Jericho. He had now crossed the Jordan. At Jericho he saved Zaccheus. Compare Mr 10:46-52 Lu 18:35-43. Jericho stood a few miles from the southern ford of the Jordan, on the road to Jerusalem, which was about eighteen miles distant. He left Jericho for Jerusalem on Friday, just a week before his crucifixion.

Matthew 21:19

Two blind men. Mark and Luke name only one, blind Bartimaeus, probably well known and hence named (Mr 10:46 Lu 18:35).

Matthew 21:20

Have mercy on us, O Lord, [thou] Son of David. This was virtually acknowledging Jesus as the Christ, who was to be the Son of David.

Matthew 21:21

Jesus stood still. He does not object now to this title. Compare Matthew 9:27. He is now about to proclaim himself the Messiah.

Matthew 21:23

Jesus . . . touched their eyes. The faith of the blind men had saved them. Compare Mr 10:52 Lu 18:42. Faith saved. The blind Bartimaeus (1) asked about Jesus as he passed; (2) cried to him as the Son of David, the Messiah; (3) asked for mercy; (4) kept on crying when they tried to stop him; (5) when permitted, sprang up and hurried to Jesus; (6) asked of him to receive his sight. This is faith in action.

Matthew 21:25

Christ Entering Jerusalem SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 21: The Lord Leaves Bethany to Enter Jerusalem. The Charge to the Two Disciples. The Fulfillment of Prophecy. The Great Multitude Who Prepare the Way. Hosanna to the Son of David. Jesus Enters the Temple. The Money-Changers Cast Out. The Barren Fig Tree. The Controversy with the Rulers. John’s Baptism. The Parable of the Two Sons. The Parable of the Vineyard and the Husbandmen. The Stone That the Builders Rejected. When they drew nigh unto Jerusalem. Jesus passed through Jericho, where be bestowed sight on Bartimaeus and salvation on Zaccheus, came up the mountain pass from Jericho to Jerusalem, stopping over the Sabbath in the congenial home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, in Bethany, and so on Sunday morning made his entry into Jerusalem. Compare Mr 11:1-11 Lu 19:29-44 John 12:12-19. As they drew nigh to Jerusalem they ascended the Mount of Olives. There were three paths over the Mount of Olives: (1) on the north, in the hollow between the two crests of the hill; (2) over the summit; and (3) on the south, between the Mount of Olives and the Hill of Offence–still the most frequented and the best. Along this Jesus advanced. To Bethphage. Bethphage and Bethany were suburban villages near to one another, and lying on the direct line of road that led to Jerusalem from the east. Mount of Olives. A hill just east of Jerusalem, so called from the olive trees upon it. It was about a mile from the city. It was their open ground–for pleasure, for worship; the “Park” of Jerusalem; the thoroughfare of any going or coming in the direction of the great Jordan valley.

Matthew 21:26

Into the village over against you. Bethphage is in view, over against them, perhaps separated from them by a valley. Ye shall find an ass tied. In the East the ass is in high esteem. Every Jew expected, from the words of one of the prophets (Zechariah 9:9), that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem riding on an ass.

Matthew 21:27

The Lord hath need of them. It is probable that the owner was a disciple.

Matthew 21:28

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet. See Isaiah 62:11 Zechariah 9:9. The prophet here describes him as riding upon one of the humblest of animals, and in the fulfillment we find, (1) that the animal was borrowed; (2) that he rode without a saddle on borrowed garments; (3) that it was a colt on which no man had ever before rode. Only animals hitherto unused were regarded fit for sacred uses. See Numbers 19:2 Deuteronomy 21:3 1 Samuel 6:7. This is the only instance reported in which the Lord ever rode on any animal.

Matthew 21:31

They set [him] thereon. Hitherto he had entered the holy city on foot; this day he would enter as David and the judges of Israel were wont–riding on an ass.

Matthew 21:32

And a very great multitude spread their garments. Vast multitudes were gathered at Jerusalem at the Passover. The Law required the assembling of the Jewish nation. Josephus says that several millions were wont to gather. Among these were thousands of Galileans who had heard of Jesus, seen his miracles, and believed in him as their Messiah King. When the people of Bethlehem, during the war between Turkey and Egypt in 1836, sought the protection of the British consul, they “spread their garments in the way” of his horses, in order to do him honor. Cut down branches from the trees. John says that these were the branches of palm trees (John 12:13); rather, the wide, spreading, branch-like leaves of the palm tree, well fitted to form a soft, level carpet. The only branches of the palm tree are its leafy crown.

Matthew 21:33

Hosanna. A Greek modification of the Hebrew words rendered, “Save now, I beseech thee”, in Psalms 118:25, the next verse of which formed part of their song, “Blessed”, etc. It is used as an expression of praise, like “hallelujah”. He that cometh in the name of the Lord. The words are taken in part from Psalms 118:25,26, a hymn which belonged to the great hallelujah chanted at the end of the Paschal Supper and the Feast of Tabernacles. The people were accustomed to apply it to the Messiah.

Matthew 21:34

All the city was moved. The procession burst into full view of Jerusalem as it appeared on the Mount of Olives, 200 feet higher than the temple mount. There, as the city appeared in all its splendor, according to Luke, he stopped and wept over its coming sorrows (Lu 19:41-44). As the procession descended, it was in plain view of all Jerusalem, and its magnitude, shouts and songs excited the wonder of the whole city.

Matthew 21:35

Jesus the prophet of Nazareth. The inquiry arose everywhere, “Who is this”? to which the Galileans who composed so large a part of the procession, responded: “It is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth, of Galilee”. Of this they were sure; of his real character none but his own disciples knew, and they imperfectly. The Galileans regarded him the prophet named by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:18.

Matthew 21:36

And Jesus went into the temple. According to Mark, on this day, after the triumphal entry, he entered the temple, looked around, perhaps to note the abuses, and then at eventide went out to Bethany (Mr 11:11). The next day, returning, he again entered the temple, and wrought the cleansing that is here recorded. He went into the temple, not as a worshiper, but as its Lord. Cast out all them. This casting of the traders out of the temple is not to be confounded with that recorded in John, at the commencement of Christ’s ministry. See notes on John 2:13-17. Them that sold and bought in the temple. A Market was held there for the sale of animals and those things necessary for the temple service. Not the less a desecration because so great a convenience. The part of the temple occupied by the traders was not in the temple proper, but the Court of the Gentiles. In the accompanying plan of the temple, the open space next to the outer walls is the court. Tables of the moneychangers. Money would be required, (1) to purchase materials for the offerings; (2) to present as free-offerings to the temple treasury (Mr 12:41 Lu 21:1); (3) to pay the yearly temple tax of half a shekel due from every Jew, however poor. All this had to be paid in native coin called the temple shekel, which was not generally current. Strangers, therefore, had to change their Roman, Greek, or Eastern money, at the stalls of the money-changers, to obtain the coin required. This trade gave ready means for fraud, which was only too common. Christ’s act was a defiance to those who sought his death. Of them that sold doves. Required for poor women coming for purification (Leviticus 12:6,8 Lu 2:24) from all parts of the country, and for other offerings.

Matthew 21:37

It is written. In Isaiah 56:7. A house of prayer. A place of sacred worship. A den of thieves. A cave or den of robbers. The language indicates that it was a corrupt and fraudulent traffic, which a corrupt and fraudulent priesthood had permitted to encroach on the worship of God. It is a desecration of religious institutions to use them for worldly gain.

Matthew 21:39

Chief priests and scribes . . . were sore displeased. These inveterate enemies were displeased, not only at the authority he had assumed over the temple, but at the acclamations of approval, the cries of the children, and the evident favor of the people.

Matthew 21:40

Hearest thou what these say? Christ’s answer to the priests is a rebuke to all who would check religious enthusiasm on the part of children. Out of the mouths of babes, etc. The quotation is from Psalms 8:2. The praise of the innocent child is the perfection of praise.

Matthew 21:41

Went out of the city into Bethany. Two miles east of Jerusalem. During the eventful week, he seems to have passed his nights, until Thursday, at the congenial home of Lazarus.

Matthew 21:42

Now in the morning. Compare Mr 11:12-19 Lu 19:45-48. This was Monday.

Matthew 21:43

He saw a fig tree. On the route from Bethany to the city. The fig is common in Palestine. Found nothing thereon, but leaves. Mark adds that “the time of figs was not yet” (Mr 11:13); that is, of ripe figs. The green figs ought to have appeared among the leaves in April, though the fruit began ripening in June. Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. Peter calls this a cursing. It was doomed to death and withered. On the next morning (Tuesday) it “was dried up from the roots” (Mr 11:21,20). It was a parable in action, illustrating how the fruitless Jewish nation should wither away. It had leaves, but no fruit.

Matthew 21:45

If ye have faith. See PNT Matthew 17:19.