THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY #48
Matthew 21:1-46
Some have designated this even as “The Triumphal Entry.” Jesus has been presented to Israel by John the Baptist, the Twelve, The seventy, and by Himself. This was done through preaching, miracles, parables, and fulfilled prophecy. Now, the Lord presents Himself officially as Israel’s King. This he does in fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”
No doubt, the Seventy, who went before the Lord, had arranged for the colt to be available. The owner was willing to let Jesus us it. It is noteworthy that the Lord entered in meekness and humility. It was not the day of vengeance yet.
Not only did they spread their clothes on the colt, the multitude spread their garments and palm branches in the way. Some of the multitude went before, and others followed crying “Hosanna to the Son of David…” Vine’s Expository Dictionary says, “in the Hebrew, means: ‘save, we pray.'” The word seems to have become an utterance of praise rather than of prayer, though originally, probably, a cry for help. The people’s cry at the Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:9, 15; Mark 11:9, 10; John 12:13) was taken from Psa. 118, which was recited at the Feast of Tabernacles in the great Hallel (Psalms 113 to 118) in responses with the priest, accompanied by the waving of palm and willow branches. “The last day of the feast” was called “the great Hosanna;” the boughs also were called “hosannas.”
When Jesus arrived at the temple in Jerusalem, He entered it and began to drive the money changers and the animals out. John says He made a whip to drive them out. These money changers were wicked and extorted money when changing it to that which was acceptable to be used in the temple. Jesus accuse them of making the temple a “den of thieves.” It was to be a house of prayer. “Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.” Isaiah 56:7
When the chief priests and scribes saw the people praising Him, they were displeased. Why? Because they were protecting their position and income. They envied the attention He was receiving from the common people and the children. He said to them, “…have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?”
The fig tree was a type of Israel. They had the self-righteous of leaves, but no fruit of righteousness. The cursing and death of the tree was a picture of Israel’s future judgment. He also gave the Twelve a lesson on prayer.
Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of the priests and the elders, when they ask Him where His authority came from. He responded saying, that if they would answer His question He would answer theirs. “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?” Their deceit is exposed in their reasoning. “…If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.”
The following parables show their hypocrisy. They professed righteousness, but would not repent of their own sins. The next reveals their wickedness. They killed the prophets sent by God, and they finally killed His Son in order to maintain control of the kingdom and the people.
Jesus ask what the lord of the vineyard would do. “They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.” They had no idea how accurate their answer was. We must not interpret the other husbandmen as a representation of the church in this dispensation. The other husbandmen are those who knew they were sinners, and received Jesus as Israel’s Messiah, and King. This will take place when the Kingdom of Heaven is established on earth. Finally, He exposed their blindness. They were rejecting the Stone that will become the King, who will rule with a rod of iron. (Psa. 2).
Thus, the rulers of Israel have officially, and knowingly, rejected the Son of David, the rightful King of Israel. It only remained for Jesus to instruct His Disciple of future events, prior to his coming, and for the betrayal and crucifixion.
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.