Matthew 21:1-11 Entering Jerusalem

When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me.  If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them."  This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "Say to the daughter of Zion, 'behold your king is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'"  The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats. Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!"  When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?" And the crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee." [Matthew 21:1‭-‬11 NASB]

I want to do a little word study on the word "hosanna". Hosanna literally means "save now!" It is derived from the Hebrew root word, "yasha", which is the same root as the Hebrew name "Yeshua" or Jesus (which means "Jehovah saves). Hosanna was originally used as an entreaty for help. Over time it developed a Messianic meaning and implied, "Messiah, save us!" By the time of Jesus, the original meaning as an entreaty was no longer implied. Rather, it became an expression of adoration to the Messiah. (This is not so unusual. In English, when we say "mercy me," we are not calling out for mercy, but expressing joyful surprise.)

When the crowd of disciples cried out "Hosanna to the Son of David!" They were praising Him and announcing their conviction that Jesus was the Messiah they had been waiting for.

For the first time in His life, Jesus publicly accepted His role as the Messiah. He had previously told His disciples to keep it quiet, and even told some people not to tell anyone about the miracles they had received.

Jesus knew what awaited Him in Jerusalem: betrayal, torture and crucifixion. He knew that once He accepted the role of Messiah, His enemies would move against Him, and the time for that had not previously arrived.

By riding the colt of a donkey into Jerusalem, Jesus was purposefully and knowingly fulfilling a Messianic prophecy, and setting in motion all the events to follow. The crowds would have also known about this prophecy, and reacted enthusiastically.

I have often heard people wonder how a crowd could praise Him so heartily on one day, and five days later shout, "Crucify Him!" I think it is because He didn't meet their expectations.

They were expecting the Messiah to ride into Jerusalem, raise an army, and drive out the Romans. They still didn't understand the spiritual nature of the kingdom of God. We may scoff at them now, but they had centuries of expectations and preconceived notions about who the Messiah would be.

How many preconceptions about God do we have that color our perception of Him. When you hear of God the Father, do you compare Him to your earthly father? Depending on your upbringing, you may picture God the Father as strict, authoritarian, and unbending. Or you may see Him as an affectionate, malleable, a pushover, caving to your desires. Or you may see Him as "hands off", virtually nonexistent.

If you really want to know God, you have lose your preconceived ideas. God is perfect in both judgement and mercy. He will condemn the wicked, yet He is willing that no one should perish, He has given you free reign to live your life as you see fit, yet He cares about every moment of your life, and every detail down the number of hairs on your head.

God is infinitely complex, yet He has made knowing Him as simple as saying, "Lord, I believe."

When you come to God in faith, He will fill you with His Spirit, Who will teach you all about Himself. And, if you are open to Him, you will learn who He is. Not who He is compared to an earthly father, but who He is in and of Himself. You will learn who He is, not as someone teaches you about Him, but as you experience Him for yourself.

We are all individuals, and God deals with each one of us individually, and relates to each one of us as we need Him to relate. Therefore, my experience with God will be different than your experience with Him.

There are truths about God in the Bible, and His character will never contradict what is written. You may read about Abraham Lincoln and know a lot about him. But you would never have really known him unless you had been able to live with him.

So with God. You may read about Him in the Bible. But until you spend time with Him, not just pleading your petitions and moving on, but really spending time listening to His Spirit within you, will never really know Him.

I encourage you to take that time.

Matthew 20:29-34 Healing on the Road

As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?"  They said to Him, "Lord, we want our eyes to be opened." Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him. [Matthew 20:29‭-‬34 NASB]

This marks the final recorded act of Jesus' traveling ministry in Matthew. Up to this point, He traveled throughout the cities in and around Galilee, while being primarily based in Capernaum. The rest of His teaching and acts will take place in and around Jerusalem, during the time leading up to His betrayal.

The road from Jericho to Jerusalem is about 18 miles long, and all uphill. You have to ascend from about 800 feet below sea level at Jericho to about 3,000 feet above sea level at the Mount of Olives. The going would be slow, making it a day's journey of about 8 to 10 hours on foot.

What stands out most to me in this story is the reaction of the crowd. The sight of blind beggars by the side of the road was a common enough sight, but these blind men had the audacity to make themselves heard.

These followers of Jesus were goal oriented; they were going to Jerusalem with the Master. Undoubtedly, most of the crowd still expected Jesus to march triumphantly into Jerusalem, overthrow the Roman government, and establish Himself as king. There was no room in their minds for distractions, and those loud, obnoxious blind men calling out for mercy made them uncomfortable. So they did what most followers of Jesus would do; told them to shut up.

God help the poor soul who goes against the tide of the established church. Martin Luther found this out when he was excommunicated and declared an outlaw by the Roman Catholic Church. Later in life, after establishing his own brand of religion, he in turn condemned the Anabaptists when they declared that Lutheranism didn't take freedom in Christ far enough. The Anabaptists eventually evolved into the Mennonite and Amish religions, which condemn everyone who doesn't think like they do.

Look around at the churches today. You will see that we are not much different than the crowds that followed Jesus that day, denying men the chance to receive Jesus' mercy because they make us uncomfortable.

When someone makes us uncomfortable, that should be the person we walk up to and offer the love of Jesus. Show the same compassion that Jesus showed.

Jesus had is eyes set on Jerusalem, but He stopped. He engaged the blind man, had compassion and healed him.

Sometimes you have to take your eyes off the prize, look away from your goal, and see the people who are around you.

Matthew 20:17-28 Unsung Heroes

As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death,  and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up."  Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left." But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to Him, "We are able." He said to them, "My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father."   And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.  It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,  and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." [Matthew 20:17-‬28 NASB]

 The disciples heard the words of Jesus, but they still didn't understand their meaning. Jesus has just announced that He is about to be condemn, scourged, and crucified, and that He would be raised up on the third day.

I think what the disciples chose to hear was, "I am going up to Jerusalem, blah blah blah, new kingdom." There was no reaction to the looming prospect of their Lord being turned over to the Gentiles, beaten with whips, and murdered on the cross.

When they heard that He was going to Jerusalem, their minds shut down to everything except their preconceived ideas about what that should mean. "If He's going to Jerusalem, then He is going to establish His kingdom. I wonder which of us will have the greater position in His palace in Jerusalem?"

James and John enlisted the aid of their mother. She didn't barge in, but came with her sons. Perhaps they felt that it would carry more weight if they came with parental support.

Jesus reiterates that the kingdom of God is different from the kingdoms of men. In the kingdom of God, the first will be last and the last will be first.

He escalates in His descriptions; if you want to be great, become a servant to others. If you want to be first, become their slave.

The disciples may not have understood this at the time, but after Jesus' resurrection, and after they were filled with the Spirit, they began to live it. Jesus had previously said that the disciples would have a special place of honor in the kingdom of heaven. It wasn't because they were that much greater than others, but because they took His words to heart. In effect, they enslaved themselves to the world, and died proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom.

I have seen church politics at work. ("Church" and "politics" are two words that should never exist together.) I have seen pastors climbing and fighting their way through denominational ranks. I have seen them lording it over their "flock", referring to them as "stupid sheep" needing to be led. I have seen church elders jockeying for position in the church, trying to get close to the pastor, arriving early for a meeting so they can sit at his right hand.

It should never be that way! The true pastor isn't lord over the flock, he is the lowliest of sheep, serving the others.

Search your heart and ask God to reveal your motives. Do you want to be a leader? If so, why? Is it for position and recognition? Do you sing loud for the sake of others around you so that you can be admired for the beauty of your voice?

The path to greatness in the kingdom of God is the path of humility. What can you do to make others look good? How can you encourage a brother or sister to grow in Christ?

We have the idea that the great preachers throughout history will have honored places in the kingdom. But I wonder; have they received their rewards through the praise and recognition of men? I contend that the greater position will be held by the unsung and unknown heroes of the faith. Who are they? I don't know and neither do you. And that's the point.

Matthew 20:1-16 Fair Wages

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.  When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.  And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place;  and to those he said, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' And so they went.  Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing.  And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day long?'  They said to him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.'   "When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.'  When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius.  When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius.  When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner,  saying, 'These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.'  But he answered and said to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius?  Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.  Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?'  So the last shall be first, and the first last."  [Matthew 20:1‭-‬16 NASB]

This parable is a follow up to Jesus' previous comments, And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.  But many who are first will be last; and the last, first. [Matthew 19:29‭-‬30 NASB]

The workers contracted for a denarius, which is a normal day's wage. He went out again at about 9:00 AM, Noon, 3:00 PM, and 5:00 PM, each time hiring workers. At the end of the day, he called in the 5:00 group first, finishing with the early morning group. The first group was angry that the last group were paid the same as them, even though they did not do as much work.

Jesus is illustrating the judgement of the saints, as we stand before the judgement seat of Christ. Understand that the judgement seat of Christ does not include judgement for sins, they have been forgiven. This is the time when we will receive our rewards for our obedience to Christ.

The point Jesus is making in his illustration is that what seems fair to us, may not be fair to God. He says, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts." [Isaiah 55:9 NASB]

Paul said, "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!" [Romans 11:33 NASB]

There is an old story of a preacher who preached faithfully in a church from his youth until his very old age. When he finally died, he stood before the judgement of Christ, and received a meager reward. Astonished, he said, "I have preached from my youth until I died at an old age. I have been faithful all this time. Where is my great reward?" and the Lord answered him, "There was another man who, from his youth until his old age, sat on the front steps of your church and prayed. He was never acknowledged in his life, and never sought recognition nor reward. His reward in Heaven will be great."

We tend to think in human terms. We expect a preacher or full-time minister to receive a greater reward than a plumber. "After all," we say, "They've devoted their lives to God's service."

But God doesn't think like we do. You may be a laborer, or an office worker, or even in the clergy. What matters most is that you are obedient to the Spirit of God to do as He wants you. Has He made you to be a preacher, then preach obediently. Has He made you to be a laborer or to work in an office? Then do your work as unto the Lord.

What is important is that you are obedient to do what the Lord has called you to do. If all you can do is sit at home and pray, then pray faithfully.

I expect that when we stand before the Lord, many who have been first in this life, that is the preachers, conference leaders, and famous faces, will find that they have already received much of their reward in this life, as they receive the praise and acknowledgement of men.

I think the truly great people in the kingdom of heaven will be like the poor woman who put only a penny into the temple treasury. Out of her poverty, she gave all she had and received praise from Jesus. They will be the people that no one has heard of, quietly and faithfully serving God, each in his own way.

I encourage you to do whatever it is that your hand finds to do for the kingdom of God, in obedience to the Spirit of God. Never think your contribution is too small. If you are doing what God has called you to do, then your contribution is not too small, it is just right.

Matthew 19:16-30 The Trap of Wealth

And someone came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?" And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."  Then he said to Him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not commit murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself."  The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?" Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."  But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.  And Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."  When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, "Then who can be saved?" And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."[Matthew 19:16‭-‬26 NASB]

The point that this passage makes is that the love of money can take precedence over the love of God in our lives. Even if we do everything else right, we can lose out on the kingdom of heaven if we don't have our priorities straight.

The cultural belief at the time was that riches were a sign of God's blessing. Thus the Sadducees and Pharisees, who were the rulers in Israel, being very wealthy, considered their money to be evidence of their spiritual superiority.

This is not much different from much of the teaching we hear from televangelists and mega-church pastors today. Some come right out and say that their wealth is a sign of God's blessing on their life and "ministry". I believe that many of these preachers, if faced with the same challenge as this young man to sell everything and give to the poor, would make the same choice: to walk away from Jesus in favor of their wealth. In fact, when I hear some of them preach, I am convinced that they have already made that choice.

To the disciples astonishment, Jesus said, "It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." They still labored under false impression that Jesus was going to establish a physical kingdom in Israel. Sure, they were living rough for the moment, but when Jesus came into power, they would rule alongside Him and be rich and powerful.

Then Peter said to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?" And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.  But many who are first will be last; and the last, first. [Matthew 19:27‭-‬30 NASB]

Jesus let the disciples know that their reward was not meant for this life, but for the life to come. The Twelve will have a special place of honor in the kingdom of God.

Jesus also issued a promise for the rest of us. He let us know that whatever we sacrifice in this life for the sake of the kingdom of God will be rewarded many times over.

Examine yourself and ask God to reveal your heart. Is their anything that you have place before God? You may say, "I don't have money, so that's not an issue." But a poor man grasping for money is just as greedy as a rich man who holds onto his.

No possession should come between you and God. Jesus asked the rich young man to sell everything and give it away because He knew the man's heart, that money came before God, and therefore had become his god.

Jesus didn't make this a commandment for everyone; not everyone should sell everything they have. But if money, house, car, or anything else has precedent over God, then it has become an idol. It may be that selling it and giving the money to the poor is your best option as well.

Do whatever it takes to keep God first in your life. He is worthy of being first in all of our lives. Do so, and the rewards in the next life will be great.

Matthew 19:13-15 Little Children

Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."  After laying His hands on them, He departed from there. [Matthew 19:13‭-‬15 NASB]

When we compare this passage with the accounts in Mark and Luke, we can learn a little more about this scene.

First, the age of the children. Luke says, "And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them." [Luke 18:15 NASB] We see that these children are little babies, and not older children.

Also, Mark and Luke record Jesus saying, "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all." [Mark 10:15 NASB]

This is not the first time Jesus made a reference to children and the kingdom of God. We recently read, At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. [Matthew 18:1‭-‬3 NASB] The child that Jesus called to Himself was older and able to come to Him when called, while those in Matthew 19 were babies, being brought to Him for a blessing.

The disciples were out of line when they rebuked the parents who wanted Jesus to bless their children. Jesus took them in his arms (Mark 10:16) and blessed them.

Jesus made it clear that it is not the children who need to grow up and become as we are to be in the kingdom of Heaven, but rather, it is we who need to become innocent like them.

Various churches have taken this passage and made rituals and traditions based on it. Some of the more traditional churches couple this passage with the passage in Acts, "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?" [Acts 10:47 NASB] Thus they have the practice of baptizing infants.

Evangelical churches generally reject the notion of infant baptisms and have baby dedications, setting aside a portion of a service to dedicate the babies to the Lord. The parents and family will bring the baby to the minister, who will pray over the child and the family.

I'm not going to pass judgement on which tradition is more right or wrong. Personally, I dislike religious rituals because the focus tends to become more on the ritual than the meaning behind it. I do think is good to bring your child to Jesus for a blessing however you do it.

In any case it is important to remember what Jesus in teaching us. It is not dedication (using the term to include baptism) that makes the child a part of of the kingdom of God. It is God's grace and acceptance of the child's innocence. They are already in the kingdom of God before they are dedicated. Should we, therefore, refuse to dedicate the babies? Of course not. Jesus said that they should not be hindered.

Dedicating a child to God means that you are giving him to God. It is acknowledging that this child belongs to God, and He is entrusting you to raise him. I think that it is good for parents to have this mind-set because it firmly acknowledges that God is first in the family above the children.

When my son was an infant, he had meningitis. Having recently lost a nephew to meningitis, this sounded to my wife and me like a death sentence. Of course, we prayed for his healing, but we also confessed to God that our son belonged to Him. He was not ours, but God's, so whether God would leave him with us to raise or take him Home to Himself, we would honor Him. God had mercy on us, and allowed our son to have a full recovery with no ill effects, for which I continue to praise Him.

Parents, your children do not belong to you, but to God. He has place them in your care. Ask yourself: If the baby Jesus had been born into your family and placed in your care to raise, how would you raise Him, knowing that He is the Son of God? Remember, your child is also a child of God, and should be raised accordingly.

Matthew 19:10-12 Celibacy

The disciples said to Him, "If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry." But He said to them, "Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given.  For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it. " [Matthew 19:10‭-‬12 NASB]

The disciples are responding to Jesus' teaching that it wrong to divorce and remarry for any reason except immorality on the part of the spouse. Apparently, they felt the restriction was so harsh that it was better to not even marry, rather than to stay with the same woman for the rest of their lives.

Jesus didn't deny them the right to stay single if they so chose (and hadn't already married). Nor did He deny them the right to be married. Essentially, what He is saying is that the ability to be happily celibate for the entirety of one's life is gift that is give to only a few.

In fact, most of the apostles were married. We know from Matthew 8:14 that Peter was married. Paul makes this comment, "Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?" [1 Corinthians 9:5 NASB] According to tradition, John was the only apostle besides Paul to remain single.

The simple fact is that we are human, with desires and urges. Most people cannot remain celibate for their entire lives, which is why Paul wrote, "But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband." [1 Corinthians 7:2 NASB]

Sexual relations are good and pure within the bounds of marriage. And that is exactly where they should stay. Christians who live together like the people of the world are testing the grace of God. 

As for a lifestyle of celibacy, Paul had this to say, "Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that. But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion." [1 Corinthians 7:7-9 NASB]

If you believe that you can be happy remaining celibate so that you can devote yourself more fully to the service of the Lord, then remain so. But if you are like most people who crave companionship and intimacy, the solution is not to sleep around, but to get married. Both choices are good choices.