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1572 | MattheW 21:2
sent two dis ci ples , 2 say ing to them , “ Go to the vil lage ahead of you , and at once you will find a don key tied there , with her colt by her . Un tie them and bring them to me . 3 If any one says any thing to you , say that the Lord needs them , and he will send them right away .”
4
This took place to ful fill what was spo ken through the proph et :
5
“ Say to Daughter Zion , ‘ See , your king comes to you , gentle and riding on a donkey , and on a colt , the foal of a donkey .’ ” a
6
The dis ci ples went and did as Jesus had instruct ed them . 7 They brought the don key and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on . 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road , while oth ers cut branch es from the trees and spread them on the road . 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that fol lowed shout ed ,
“ Hosanna b to the Son of David !”
“ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord !” c
“ Hosanna b in the highest heaven !”
10
When Jesus en tered Je ru sa lem , the whole city was stirred and asked , “ Who is this ?”
11
The crowds an swered , “ This is Jesus , the proph et from Naz a reth in Gal i lee .”
Jesus at the Temple
21:12-16pp — ​Mk 11:15-18 ; Lk 19:45-47
12
Jesus en tered the tem ple courts and drove out all who were buy ing and sell ing there . He over turned the ta bles of the mon ey chang ers and the bench es of those sell ing doves . 13 “ It is writ ten ,” he said to them , “ ‘ My house will be called a house of prayer ,’ d but you are mak ing it ‘ a den of rob bers .’ e ”
14
The blind and the lame came to him at the tem ple , and he healed them . 15 But when the chief priests and the teach ers of the law saw the wonder ful things he did and the chil dren shout ing in the tem ple courts , “ Ho san na to the Son of Da vid ,” they were in dig nant .
16
“ Do you hear what these chil dren are say ing ?” they asked him . “ Yes ,” re plied Jesus , “ have you nev er read ,
“ ‘ From the lips of children and infants you , Lord , have called forth your praise ’ f ?”
17
And he left them and went out of the city to Beth a ny , where he spent the night .
a
5 Zech . 9:9 b
9 A Hebrew expression meaning “ Save !” which became an exclamation of praise ; also in verse 15 c
9 Psalm 118:25,26 d
13 Isaiah 56:7 e
13 Jer . 7:11 f
16 Psalm 8:2 ( see Septuagint ) eastern slope of the Mount of Olives . Mount of Olives East of Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley . It offers a panoramic view of Jerusalem and the temple . 21:2 the village ahead of you Refers to Bethphage or perhaps Bethany , which was nearby . 21:4 the prophet Refers to Zechariah . The quotation that follows is from Zec 9:9 ( compare Isa 62:11 ). 21:5 Daughter Zion Refers to Jerusalem and its inhabitants . See the table “ Jesus ’ Fulfillment of OT Prophecy ” on p . 1573 . 21:7 the donkey and the colt Matthew includes both animals ; the other Gospels mention only a colt ( Mk 11:1 – 7 ; Lk 19:30 – 35 ; Jn 12:14 – 15 ). See note on 1Ki 1:33 . to sit on Another son of David , Solomon , rode in a similar royal procession ( 1Ki 1:38 – 40 ). 21:8 A very large crowd This crowd probably consists of peasants , most of whom seem to have accompanied Jesus from Galilee . Unlike the city dwellers who later call for Jesus ’ death ( Mt 27:22 – 25 ), these peasants believe that he is the Messiah . spread them on the road Part of the crowd ’ s acknowledgment that Jesus was King . Compare 2Ki 9:13 and note . 21:9 Hosanna This Hebrew expression , meaning “ help ” or “ save us ,” developed into a liturgical expression of praise . who comes in the name of the Lord The crowd understood that Jesus was declaring himself to be the Messiah . Their shouts of praise reflect Ps 118:25 – 26 . See the table “ Messianic Psalms ” on p . 847 . 21:10 Jesus entered Jerusalem This procession symbolizes Jesus ’ messiahship . In Jesus ’ day , dignitaries would go on procession through a city in an act of triumph or celebration . City officials would welcome the dignitary outside the gates , and the group would parade victoriously to the city ’ s temple . The people would offer a sacrifice to honor the dignitary and acclaim his gods , and a feast would be held . 21:11 the prophet This title came to have Messianic overtones ( compare Dt 18:18 ).
21:12 – 17 In keeping with custom , Jesus ’ procession ends at the temple ( see Mt 21:10 and note ). He disrupts the merchants in righ teous anger , replacing their commercial activity with healings . The crowds hail him as the Messianic Son of David , which angers the religious leaders ( v . 15 ).
21:12 buying and selling Merchants were selling animals for sacrifices , and money changers converted the foreign currency of pilgrims into the temple ’ s official currency . See note on Mk 11:15 . doves The poor offered these in place of lambs ( Lev 5:7 – 10 ). 21:13 a den of robbers Jesus ’ rebuke — ​which quotes Isa 56:7 and Jer 7:11 — ​suggests that he is condemning corruption of the temple . This judgment might be aimed at commercial activity within the temple courts , or it might signal that oppressive ( or unjust ) practices were involved . 21:16 Do you hear The religious leaders are disturbed not only because the people hail Jesus as the Son of David , but also because he does not disavow this Messianic title . From the lips of children By quoting Ps 8:2 , Jesus appears to confirm that the crowd ’ s Messianic praises are appropriate . 21:17 Bethany A village roughly two miles from Jerusalem .