Matthew 21: The End of the Beginning (7)

Pray Psalm 146.1, 2.
Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD, O my soul!
While I live I will praise the LORD;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

Sing Psalm 146.1, 2, 10.
(Hallelujah! What a Savior: Man of Sorrows)
Praise the Lord, my soul, give praise! While I live, His Name I’ll raise!
And exalt Him all my days – God forever reigns in Zion!

Read and meditate on Matthew 21.1-46.

Prepare.
1. How was Jesus greeted as He entered Jerusalem?

2. In this chapter, what did Jesus teach about life in the Kingdom?

Meditate.
Jesus entered Jerusalem to the shouts of people who proclaimed Him as the Son of David and King of Israel. Contrary to what we have seen on previous occasions, Jesus did nothing to discourage that acclaim. The King had indeed arrived at Jerusalem, but it was not here that He would be enthroned, because His Kingdom was not of this world.

Jesus made it clear that the Kingdom over which He ruled was unlike earthly ones. Its focus was on honoring God, not making life easier for people. He demonstrated that God was to be honored through prayer by all nations, and He rejected the expediency and commercialization of faith which the religious leaders of the day encouraged and allowed. He expected fruit from those who would follow Him, fruit which comes from hard work in the Lord’s vineyard – sowing, cultivating, pruning, and preparing souls for the harvest.

The religious leaders of the day sought to thwart Jesus’ work by challenging His authority. Since He was neither schooled in religion nor credentialed for preaching and teaching, they hoped to discourage His followers and bring His ministry to a halt. He frustrated and embarrassed them at each stage. The King had come, and He would not be stopped. His Kingdom had been proclaimed, and He was making preparations to bring it. Nothing the religious leaders could do would be able to impede Jesus’ work or prohibit the coming of His Kingdom.

Not even the cross.

Reflect.
1. What priorities did Jesus demonstrate for life in His Kingdom?

2. Why did He not discourage the people from proclaiming Him as the Son of David?

3. The religious leaders challenged Jesus’ authority. How did He respond? What authority did Jesus acknowledge?

So his detractors found many things to provoke them: the multitude, the cleansing out of the buyers and sellers from the temple, the miracles, the children. John Chrysostom (344-407), The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 67.1

Although [the chief priests and the Pharisees] were hard of heart and on account of their unbelief and wickedness blunted in their understanding against the Son of God, nevertheless they were unable to deny Jesus’ straightforward statements and understood that all the judgments of the Lord were directed against themselves. So they determined indeed to kill him… Jerome (347-420), Commentary on Matthew 3.21.46

There will always be detractors and opponents, Lord, but help me always to…

Pray Psalm 146.3-10.
Use this psalm to renew your faith in Jesus as King and Lord, then commit your day to follow and serve Him in everything you do.

Sing Psalm 146.3-10.
Psalm 146.3-10 (Hallelujah! What a Savior!: Man of Sorrows)
Trust we not in prince or man – no salvation’s in their hand;
Death shall take them, breath and plans – God forever reigns in Zion!

Blessed are they whose hope resides in the Lord, Christ at His side.
By Him heav’n and earth abide – God forever reigns in Zion!

He is faithful evermore; He gives justice to the poor,
feeds the hungry from His store – God forever reigns in Zion!

Jesus sets the pris’ner free, heals blind eyes that they may see,
lifts those burdened painfully – God forever reigns in Zion!

He the righteous loves the best; wand’rers in His grace are blessed;
needy ones in Him find rest – God forever reigns in Zion!

But the wicked who defame His eternal blessèd Name,
Them He brings to ruin and shame – God forever reigns in Zion!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).