Matthew 21:1-17
This is the most holy week on the Christian Calendar, the week that centers on the gospel by which we are saved: the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. First, we find Jesus riding into the holy city and received as their promised King and Messiah. This is one of the highlights of Jesus amazing life. The King has arrived.
I. The Praise, v.1-11 All of these are crazy, extravagant, demonstrative, over the top: praise, purge, and power.
Everybody loves a parade, especially one with all the joy of celebrating the people’s hero. Jesus has captured the hearts of Israel and they show it as they welcome Him into their capital city with great pomp and praise. Even the Pharisees said, “Look, the world has gone after Him.” (Jn.12:19) The city is full and they all come out to the city gate to shout the praises of their coming King. They took off their coats and tore down palm branches to put them on the street where He will pass in procession. Excitement fills the air. The Son of David has finally come. Extravagant praise is in order. We should do this ever church service.
II. The Purge, v.12-13
It means to get rid of whatever is impure and undesirable. The eating disorder Bulimia involves purging: one eats well, then purposely throws up what was eaten. Jesus purges His temple.
When the King comes to His own house He does not expect it to be dirty, but Jesus found His Father’s house full of thieves and robbers; people selling merchandise much like an outdoor sales carnival. People would come from all over the world and it was much easier to take money to the temple than to drive their livestock there for sacrifice. The religious leaders made a huge profit from their disadvantage, much like vendors do at professional ballgames. Jesus cleaned house and said, “My house shall be called the house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” When Jesus comes to your house, His temple, the temple of your body, does He find a house of prayer? Let us get violent with the impure things we do in and with our bodies.
III. The Power, v.14-17
First comes the praise, then comes the purity, now we are ready for the power of God to be displayed. Less than one week away from the worst suffering a human being could ever experience in bearing our sins, Jesus is ministering to others. And not just any others: “the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.” These people must have been in the outer courtyard of the temple because the infirmed were not allowed in the holiest areas of the temple, or perhaps they just came in anyway because they had heard that Jesus healed the sick. Sick people will do pretty much anything to be made well.
Which brings us to the main reason He died. Why did Jesus die? We have the answer in 2 Cor. 5:15, “He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves…” Let that sink in, “but for Him who died for them and rose again.” The Christian lives to praise God, wants to purify his heart for Christ, and live for others. When you live for Christ, you live for others. We are saved to bear His image and
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