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Matthew 21

1And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying unto them, Go into the village that is over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

3And if any one say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

1And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

2Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

3And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

Commentary · verses 1-3

When they were near Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of His Disciples to a village to find a donkey and a colt to bring to Jesus. If anyone asked of them they should say that "The Lord hath need of them; and straightaway he will send them."

4Now this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, 5Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, Meek, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass.

4All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

5Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

Commentary · verses 4-5

Matthew referenced Isaiah 62:11 and Zechariah 9:9.

6And the disciples went, and did even as Jesus appointed them, 7and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their garments; and he sat thereon.

6And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

7And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

Commentary · verses 6-7

The two Disciples went as Jesus told them to and came back with the donkey and the colt.

8And the most part of the multitude spread their garments in the way; and others cut branches from the trees, and spread them in the way.

9And the multitudes that went before him, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

8And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

9And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

Commentary · verses 8-9

"Hosanna" meant "save now, we pray." See Psalm 118:25. These people were confessing Jesus as Messiah.

10And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, Who is this?

11And the multitudes said, This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.

12And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves; 13and he saith unto them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer: but ye make it a den of robbers.

10And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

11And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

12And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

13And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Commentary · verses 10-13

Jesus quoted Isaiah 56:7. Prayer is a spiritual exchange with God. The money-changers were focused on physical exchange with people, which Jesus described as "a den of robbers." Jesus stated God's house ought to be for spiritual exchange with God, not physical exchange with people.

Doctrines on this passage

14And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.

15But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children that were crying in the temple and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were moved with indignation,

14And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.

15And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,

Commentary · verses 14-15

The chief priests were angry when they saw the wonderful things that Jesus did and that the children were confessing Jesus as the Messiah.

16and said unto him, Hearest thou what these are saying? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea: did ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

16And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

Commentary · verse 16

The chief priests asked Jesus if He heard what the people were crying out, that He was the Messiah. He said yes and quoted Psalm 8:2.

17And he left them, and went forth out of the city to Bethany, and lodged there.

18Now in the morning as he returned to the city, he hungered.

19And seeing a fig tree by the way side, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only; and he saith unto it, Let there be no fruit from thee henceforward for ever. And immediately the fig tree withered away.

17And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.

18Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.

19And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

Commentary · verses 17-19

Jesus and the Disciples lodged outside the city of Jerusalem. This was during the days before the Passover. Jesus with His Words withered a fig tree that appeared to have fruit but did not, which represented hypocrisy.

20And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How did the fig tree immediately wither away?

21And Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do what is done to the fig tree, but even if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea, it shall be done.

22And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

20And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

21Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

22And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Commentary · verses 20-22

Jesus stated that we could receive all things that we ask for in prayer (saying the right words) with faith.

23And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

24And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one question, which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

25The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why then did ye not believe him?

23And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

24And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

25The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

Commentary · verses 23-25

The chief priests and elders asked Jesus where He received His authority (Semikah). Remember, the two Semikahs that Jesus received His authority from during His baptism (Matthew 3:15-17) were John the Baptist and God the Father. In response, Jesus asked them where they believed John the Baptist's authority came from. If they did not recognize John the Baptist's authority, they would not recognize one of Jesus' Semikahs. If they did not recognize the source of John the Baptist's authority, they would not recognize Jesus' other Semikah: God the Father.

26But if we shall say, From men; we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet.

27And they answered Jesus, and said, We know not. He also said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

26But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

27And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

Commentary · verses 26-27

The chief priests and elders weighed both possible responses and decided not to answer, so neither did Jesus. This was Just.

Commentary · verses 28-32

Verses 28-32: the Parable of the Two Sons.

28But what think ye? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in the vineyard.

29And he answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented himself, and went.

30And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

31Which of the two did the will of his father? They say, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

32For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye saw it, did not even repent yourselves afterward, that ye might believe him.

28But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

29He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

30And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

31Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

32For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Commentary · verse 32

The parable contrasted what we SAY with what we DO. Remember, the conclusion of the "Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew 7:24-27) stated we need to DO the Word of God. Those who DO the Will of God will enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus blatantly gave this parable to the chief priests and elders. They must have known He was talking about them.

Doctrines on this passage

Commentary · verses 33-40

Verses 33-40: the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen.

33Hear another parable: There was a man that was a householder, who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country.

34And when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, to receive his fruits.

35And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

36Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them in like manner.

37But afterward he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

38But the husbandmen, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance.

39And they took him, and cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him.

40When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

33Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

34And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

35And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

36Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

37But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

38But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

39And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

40When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

Commentary · verse 40

The householder's servants represented the prophets that were persecuted in the past. The householder's son represented Christ. This parable would have been a massive indirect confrontation to the religious leaders who heard it.

41They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will let out the vineyard unto other husbandmen, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

41They 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.

Commentary · verse 41

The chief priests and elders pronounced their own judgment. Imagine after the death of Christ, one of the religious leaders remembering this story that Jesus told.

42Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; This was from the Lord, And it is marvellous in our eyes?

42Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Commentary · verse 42

Jesus referenced Psalm 118:22.

43Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

43Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

Commentary · verse 43

The Kingdom of God will be given to Gentiles.

44And he that falleth on this stone shall be broken to pieces: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.

45And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

46And when they sought to lay hold on him, they feared the multitudes, because they took him for a prophet.

44And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

45And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

46But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

Commentary · verses 44-46

It didn't take long for the chief priests and Pharisees to realize Jesus was speaking of them. This made them seek ways to put their hands on Christ although they were afraid of the multitude. The Pharisees were now working with the chief priests to destroy Jesus. The Pharisees continued to get worse. In fact, Jesus' interaction with the Pharisees was very similar to Moses' interaction with Pharaoh: Exodus 7. During each interaction, the Pharisees/Pharaoh chose to harden their heart and become worse.

Commentary · verse 46

Matthew 19-21 covered the Pharisees continual confronting of Jesus and becoming worse in response to Jesus' answers.

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