Palm Sunday 2021 Matthew 21:1-11 The Triumphal Entry
Palm Sunday/Triumphal Entry Context:
Came down from the north where he had healed the blind men
Next major action would be the cleansing of the Temple
- Foretold à Matthew 21:1-3
“As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
Matthew 21:1-3
- Bethpage on the Mount of Olives
- Jesus Sent Two: The Facts [He told them what would happen. That was true of each event, whether during His earthly life or through the prophets He had sent before]
- You will Find a donkey and her colt
- You have an Explanation if Asked
- He will send them…….Right Away
Some questions:
- Who are the Disciples that he sends? We are not told here
- Who is the man? Presumably his animals
- Prophet? having received divine revelation
- An Angel?: Messenger, Servant, Can take human form
- Another Disciple?
We are not told…..
Because it doesn’t matter!!!!
Everything points toward Jesus coming to the fulfillment of His mission
- A Noble Steed à Matthew 21:4-5; Zechariah 9:9; Genesis 49:1,10-12
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
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.’ ”
Matthew 21:4-5
- Through the Prophet
9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zechariah 9:9
- Even Earlier
“Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.”
Genesis 49:1
“The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
until he to whom it belongs shall come
and the obedience of the nations shall be his. [Messianic]
11 He will tether his donkey to a vine, [Jesus is the True Vine}
his colt to the choicest branch;
he will wash his garments in wine,
his robes in the blood of grapes. [The symbolism of a New Covenant]
Genesis 49:10–11
- Donkeys carried prophets and kings throughout the Bible
- Horses were limited and in some ways related to Israels slavery in Egypt
“The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.”
Deuteronomy 17:16
- Horses first see wide use under Solomon, but he rode Davids mule for his coronation (coronation route from Gihon) Spring of Gihon that provided water to Jerusalem during siege
- Associated more with industry, peace and wealth. Where a horse was associated more with wealth, war and military power
- We never read of Jesus riding on any animal, except for this last mile into Jerusalem
- A donkey is purebred where David’s mule was not [product of a donkey and a mare]
- Pilgrimage travelers were probably expected to arrive on foot
- Royal Treatment à Matthew 21:6-9; 2 Kings 9:12-13
“The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey 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 others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.”
Matthew 21:6-8
Another King
- When Elisha anointed Jehu King of Israel, with the charge to destroy Ahab and Jezebel, [Embraced pagan practices. Jezebel persecuting the prophets]
- He poured oil over his head
- The men of Israel greeted the news by spreading their cloaks before him
“Jehu said, “Here is what he [Elisha] told me: ‘This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ ”
13 They quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, “Jehu is king!”
2 Kings 9:12–13
Cloaks were the outer garment that protected from wind/sun/dust/and rain. Possibly the most valuable garment someone would own
They spread them out, so the kings feet would not touch the ground
- We have a donkey, an animal associated with royal coronations past
- We have a coronation route leading up to the city
- We have cloaks arranged for Jesus to sit on. And placed on the road. One Commentary describes this as an improvised red carpet
- We have palm branches thrown before Him on the route
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.
27 The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar [That phrase is important]
Psalm 118:26–27
This is the psalm that speaks of the Stone that the builders rejected. It is messianic, and the importance of what Jesus was doing and what they were doing for Him could not be more clear.
The King was entering the Holy City
- Hosannah à Matthew 21:9
9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” y
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Matthew 21:9
Hosannah = “Help” or “Save, I pray” Psalm 118
“LORD, save us!
LORD, grant us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.”
Psalm 118:25–26
- Help/Save: They desire deliverance from Roman occupation
- Son of David is the messianic title
Put together:
25 LORD, save us!
LORD, grant us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you. i
27 The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.
Psalm 118:25–27
- Who is this? à Matthew 21:10-11
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
With all this fervor, the question is asked, “Who is this?”
With all this fervor, you can see why the Jewish leaders were paranoid He might take their power, or that He might cause a crackdown by the Roman Authorities
The prophet from Nazareth
- Could have been the prophet from any of a number of other cities
- Might as well have been “A Prophet” for the way the city would treat Him in just a few short days
- You wonder if they put their hope in this one, with the intention of also putting their hope in whoever came next?
“Eventually, lightning will strike; right?!?”
I hope they were sincere, and they weren’t also the ones who asked for Barabbas, or mocked Him on the way to the cross
Where were they a week later?
- We don’t know. We aren’t really told. Because the point is Jesus
- The King has come into His City
We should celebrate our King, and remember He was there to sacrifice Himself for us
When Moses anointed Aaron and the Priests for service before the altar, this is what He did:
“He then presented the bull for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. 15 Moses slaughtered the bull and took some of the blood, and with his finger he put it on all the horns of the altar to purify the altar.
Leviticus 8:14–15
27 The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.
Psalm 18:27
The King is making His way into the City. He is making His way to the horns of the altar.
He is there to bring a Final/Once-and-for-all Sin Offering
It is no wonder His next significant act would be the cleansing of the Temple.
They proclaimed a King they did not yet know. They thought Him a prophet.
Today on Palm Sunday: We cry “Hosannah” to a King
Who is known,
Who Paid the price,
Who died on a Cross,
Who rose again,
Who Ascended into Heaven,
Who sits on His throne,
Who poured out His Spirit,
and Who will come again.
