Matthew Chapter 21
The last part of the journey approached as the Lord Jesus traveled to Jerusalem. The Lord Jesus moved with determination toward his destiny at the cross. He knew his every action fulfilled the prophecy of the Messiah. He moved toward Jerusalem with the end and a new beginning in sight.
The Lord Jesus no longer told people to be quiet about the fact he was the Messiah. Now everything was done in public. The Lord Jesus allowed the crowd to hail him as Messiah.
The Lord Jesus gave specific instructions to two disciples to obtain transportation for him to enter Jerusalem. The way he chose to enter Jerusalem was fulfillment of prophecy about how the Messiah would enter Jerusalem on a lowly donkey. Matthew made sure we understood this was the fulfillment of prophecy and gave us the exact scripture references.
When people cried out "Hosanna" they were proclaiming the Lord Jesus was the Messiah. Perhaps some did this because everyone else did it. Even the children sang his praise on that day.
The next step on entering Jerusalem was that the Lord Jesus cleansed his Father's house of the wickedness of the money changers. This was a public demonstration of his authority as Messiah. He called the temple his own house.
When he finished cleansing the temple then those who needed healing came to him for help.
The cursing of the fig tree was one of two destructive miracles the Lord Jesus did. The other was when he allowed demons to go into a herd of pigs who threw themselves into the ocean.
Some try to draw a parallel between the fig tree and the nation of Israel but scripture says whoever curses Israel will be cursed. I do not believe the fig tree represents Israel because then the Lord Jesus would be cursing Israel. I do not believe this incident represented the nation of Israel rejecting the Lord Jesus.
The disciples were amazed at the miracle of the fig tree but the Lord Jesus taught them if they had faith and did not doubt they could speak to a mountain and it would jump into the sea. Here was the actual lesson of the fig tree. The Lord Jesus taught about faith and that nothing was impossible for him who prayed and believed.
The religious leaders challenged the Lord Jesus but he corrected them. He pointed to his predecessor John the Baptist. He told them the harlots and publicans heard John the Baptist and repented but the religious leaders did not repent. Those who heard John heard what the Lord Jesus said.
In the parable of the obedient and disobedient sons the Lord Jesus made the point that though Gentiles and sinners may not at first obey God when they hear the gospel they eventually repent and turn to God. Many who were great sinners enter the kingdom of God but those who trust in self righteousness remain outside the kingdom.
This points us to what Paul taught in his letters. Paul contrasted the difference between the righteousness of Christ and our self righteousness.
We cannot trust good works or following religious laws to earn righteousness. When we trust in the Lord Jesus we receive the righteousness of Christ.
Salvation is a free gift from God. It is obtained by believing and receiving the Lord Jesus and the work he accomplished in his death, burial, and resurrection.
The Lord Jesus warned the religious leaders about what they did. They plotted to kill the Son of God.
The Lord Jesus knew it and told them what they would do through a parable. He said those who fall upon him are broken but those upon whom he fell were crushed to powder. The lesson is that it would better to come to the Lord Jesus when he offered mercy. If we refuse to come to the Lord Jesus now he promised he would return later and then it will be too late. When the Lord Jesus comes again he brings the wrath of God upon earth.
