Jesus has explained how the first shall be last, and the last shall be first; and He has demonstrated that the greatest must serve rather than be served. Now Jesus arrives in Jerusalem for the Triumphal Entry, the beginning of the Passion Week. Jesus cleanses the Temple and continues healing the blind and the lame, which makes the religious leaders all the more irate. He curses the fig tree and uses the moment to teach the disciples. When the religious leaders confront Him again, Jesus speaks to them in parables, which enhances their hatred.
1) V1-11 – 1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying 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. 3If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5“Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey’ [Zechariah 9:9].” 6The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna [Lord, Save!] to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” [Psalm 118:26]! “Hosanna in the highest!” 10When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Jesus illustrates His perfect foreknowledge here by sending two of the disciples to borrow a particular donkey and her colt for His ride into the city. Matthew explains that this was to fulfill the prophecy from Zechariah 9:9, and we have to presume that Jesus intentionally made this happen. Of the over 300 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled as the foretold Christ, all of them were in His complete control as Immanuel, God with us. Some were out of His control as fully human (such as the foretold betrayal of Judas or even the actions of the crowd with the palm branches as He rides into the city here in this passage); but this example seems to bridge the gap. As a mere human, Jesus could have easily prepared ahead of time to ensure that He would enter the city riding on a colt in order to fulfill prophecy, but He would not have known that the donkey and her colt were tied up in a particular spot in the village ahead, where they had yet to visit, unless He exhibited His divinity in perfect foresight. This moment did not come about through coincidence; it was orchestrated from eternity past by the Creator Himself for glory.
But this Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem did not display the glory we might have expected from the Great King coming to His people; we would expect a vast parade, spreading for miles, akin to Aladdin’s visit to the princess after the genie made him into a prince. But there were no elephants or camels or servants here – just a Man riding the smallest pack animal that could bear His weight for a short jaunt. King Jesus comes in humility, not to be served but to serve, and this was His coronation to the ultimate and long anticipated, once-for-all service project – death on the cross. Now we are told that “a very large crowd” gathered and “spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road” (v8). The crowds were ahead and behind Him, shouting “Hosanna,” a word that means, “Lord, save!” That this crowd would be persuaded in just a few days to go from celebrating their coming King in this fashion, by declaring that He is indeed the Savior God has promised, to demanding His crucifixion is shocking – but clearly God-ordained. This moment was by no means an every-day occurrence, and it prompted the city’s inhabitants to ask, “Who is this” (v10)? And the crowds offered the answer as Jesus entered the city, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee” (v11).
Throughout the gospels, people identify Jesus, and of course we remember the confession of Simon Peter at Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus said Peter was blessed for declaring that He was the Christ. Here the crowds declare that Jesus is the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee. This identity beckons us to recall Nathanael’s remarks in John 1:46, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” as well as the crowd’s confusion in John 7:41-42 when they asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” Who is Jesus? It’s the question for your life. Period. Is He merely a prophet from Nazareth in Galilee, as this crowd thought? Is He a liar? Is He a lunatic? Or is He Lord? Is He the Christ? Who is Jesus? Are you sure? Why?
2) V12-22 – 12Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13“It is written,” He said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer’ [Isaiah 56:7], but you are making it a ‘den of robbers’ [Jeremiah 7:11].” 14The blind and the lame came to Him at the temple, and He healed them. 15But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things He did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. 16“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked Him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants You have ordained praise’ [Psalm 8:2]?” 17And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where He spent the night. 18Early in the morning, as He was on His way back to the city, He was hungry. 19Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then He said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. 20When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. 21Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Coming into Jerusalem to a throng of praise, Jesus makes His way to the Temple, where He “drove out all who were buying and selling there” (v12). Quoting Scripture, Jesus accused them of turning the house of prayer into a den of robbers. Jesus did “wonderful things,” healing the blind and lame and welcoming praise from the children (according to the Scriptures) in the temple area, and the religious leaders noticed as their anger raged. Escaping for the night to Bethany, where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived, Jesus headed back to Jerusalem the following morning.
However, along the way, Jesus was hungry and found a fig tree – but it had no fruit. When Jesus cursed the tree, it immediately withered. Then we read that the disciples “were amazed” (v20). We might think they were amazed that Jesus would do such a thing, as He seems to have gotten frustrated, lost His temper, and acted out rashly in anger. But this is undoubtedly a teaching moment for Jesus, as the disciples were amazed not at Jesus’ actions, but at the sudden effectual power of His words. They couldn’t believe the tree withered before there eyes! This should not be so surprising, as He is the Creator, speaking all things into existence, and “sustaining all things by His powerful word” (Hebrews 1:3). When the disciples asked how the tree withered so quickly, Jesus taught them that with an undoubting faith, it is possible to tell a mountain to throw itself into the sea, “and it will be done” (v21). We have a hard time believing this Stars Wars type of power, but Jesus is not engaging some type of Jedi mind trick. The reality is that we lack faith, and we doubt far more than we will ever realize.
Some people argue that Jesus is speaking figuratively here, that the mountains we move by faith are just the obstacles we face in living a life of peace and joy on this earth. Overcoming a job loss, or a divorce, is a mountain that cannot be moved except by faith. But the disciples would not have understood this as figurative teaching. Jesus had just withered a fig tree, and He was undoubtedly walking past a mountain that He pointed to and taught them with clarity. The disciples will later grasp this kind of faith as they exercise it in the working of miracles, such as healing and even raising people from the dead (Acts 9:40). The one who has this powerful undoubting faith will realize that there is no need to literally move mountains, but they will seek to use their faith by the power of the Holy Spirit to compassionately serve others. Thus, Jesus concludes with the remark, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (v22). Again, we aren’t promised the ability to conjure up wealth for ourselves, but we can be a blessing to others, asking for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, just as Jesus did.
3) V23-32 –23Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while He was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?” 24Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25John’s baptism – where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘From men’ – we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then He said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 28What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. 31Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”
When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem at the Temple, He began teaching in the temple courts. The religious leaders come to Him and ask, “By what authority are You doing these things” (v23)? They are, of course, referring to His actions from the previous day, when He garnered a parade honoring His entry to the city and drove out the marketplace that had taken root in the temple area. They may also be asking how He is healing the blind, sick, and lame, and even what gives Him the right to teach as He does. And they have asked questions like this throughout Jesus’ ministry, so it’s no surprise that Jesus is not interested in giving them a plain and simple answer. This time, Jesus turns the Q&A session into a game. He gives them a question, and if they answer, then Jesus will answer their question. But the religious establishment cannot answer Jesus’ question, for they realize that it is a lose-lose situation for them. And in v27-28, Jesus, since they refuse to answer His question, refuses to answer theirs directly and instead invites them to give an opinion to a parable that will actually provide the answer to both questions.
The story is about a father who asked his two sons to go and work in the field. One son said he would not, but actually did go and work, while the other son said he would, but never did. Jesus wants to know which son did what the father asked. The religious leaders answer correctly, that the first son did right, even though he said he wouldn’t, and Jesus explains that the perceived sinners are like the first son, doing what the father asks, which is “to believe in the One He has sent” (John 6:29), even though they may lack the works of law that might be expected. Meanwhile, the religious leaders, who outwardly profess obedience to God, like the second son, are not doing what the father asks, and they, therefore, are not entering the kingdom of God as they should be, ahead of the so-called sinners. And the proof is in John’s baptism. Jesus declares that John’s baptism was from heaven, and the religious leaders were wrong to disobey John; but even after disobeying, they have had plenty of opportunities to repent and believe, but they have not done so. On the other hand, the “sinners” have humbled themselves in believing John and obeying, such that their lack of righteousness is no longer a problem, because they have Christ’s righteousness through faith. And with this parable, Jesus declares that the authority He has to do the things He has been doing come from the Father, because He is the Messiah who followed John, as Scripture foretold.
4) V33-46 – 33“Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. 34When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. 35The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. 38But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.” 42Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone [Or cornerstone]; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’ [Psalm 118:22-23]? 43Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.” 45When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew He was talking about them. 46They looked for a way to arrest Him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that He was a prophet.
Jesus is so patient with these religious leaders. We often think He was only harsh with them all the time, but really the harsh words come only at the end of years of reasoning and pleading through these parables. And no doubt the parables offer a stern rebuke of their actions, but they are the shepherds over the flock of God, so they are in a position that demands the language Jesus uses. Here Jesus invites them to listen to another parable, and He tells the story of the tenants who work for a landowner. Jesus spends only v33 giving the setting, but there’s an important detail there, that the landowner did all kinds of work to get things the way He wanted. He planted a vineyard, “put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower.” The work is done, and the tenants simply lease the land and wait for harvest time. Jesus is saying that God is the landowner, and Israel is His vineyard. God has done the work, while the religious leaders are the tenants; they are overseers of the vineyard, the people of God.
Now come harvest time, the landowner sends servant after to servant to collect a sample of the harvest, but the tenants are wicked; they mock, beat, and even kill the servants, showing no respect to the landowner and refusing to grant him a sample of the harvest. The religious leaders were not willing to be stewards of God’s people; power-hungry and arrogant, they wanted the people for themselves. The servants are the prophets, God’s messengers to warn the religious leaders of their failings and to encourage restoration of the people of God (the fruit). The landowner decides to send His Son, for surely the tenants will respect the landowner’s son. Unlike the stereotype of today’s corporate culture, where the son of the owner is seen as a spoiled, lazy, and incompetent boy, here the tenants simply notice that they can kill the heir and somehow take over the landowner’s property. And when they kill the son, Jesus asks the religious leaders what the landowner will do next. They reply in v41, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
In v42-44, Jesus adds to their right understanding of His parable, helping them to apply it to their present circumstances. He quotes Psalm 118:22-23, pointing out that just as the tenants killed the landowner’s son, so the builders rejected the cornerstone. And not only this, but also that “the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” How amazing that God determined these events should occur in the exact manner they do, for His glory in the accomplishment of salvation through the crucifixion of Jesus! The religious leaders have done what God predestined them to do: reject Jesus of their own free decision making process; they have not led the people spiritually, just as the Lord decided should happen, so “the kingdom of God will be taken away from” them. V44 offers a challenging conclusion for them (and us) to consider. Whoever trips over the stumbling block that is Jesus Christ will be broken, crushed by the magnitude of the Savior having come and been rejected. And it’s clear in these verses that the religious leaders understand the story; in v45-46, we read, “They know He was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest Him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that He was a prophet.” They get the truth, and they don’t like it, so they reject it. The same thing happens today.
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