Matthew 21
BSB1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to Me. 3 If anyone questions you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." 4 This 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.’" 6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8 A massive crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!" 10 When Jesus had entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?" 11 The crowds replied, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." 12 Then Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. 13 And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’ But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’ “ 14 The blind and the lame came to Him at the temple, and He healed them. 15 But the chief priests and scribes were indignant when they saw the wonders He performed and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David!" 16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked. “Yes,” Jesus answered. “Have you never read: ‘From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise’ ?" 17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where He spent the night. 18 In the morning, as Jesus was returning to the city, He was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. “May you never bear fruit again!” He said. And immediately the tree withered. 20 When the disciples saw this, they marveled and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" 21 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." 23 When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?" 24 “I will also ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 What was the source of John’s baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?” They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet." 27 So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 28 But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first one and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29 ‘I will not,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went. 30 Then the man went to the second son and told him the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he said. But he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first, " they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in a righteous way and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. 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 tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey. 34 When the harvest time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit. 35 But the tenants seized his servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Again, he sent other servants, more than the first group. But the tenants did the same to them. 37 Finally, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39 So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do to those tenants?" 41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time." 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’ ? 43 Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed. “ 45 When the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they knew that Jesus was speaking about them. 46 Although they wanted to arrest Him, they were afraid of the crowds, because the people regarded Him as a prophet.
Study Notes — Matthew 21
- Chapter Summary
- Context for the Chapter
- Heart Application
- What Does This Chapter Mean?
- Voices from the Church
- Outline for Preaching
- Core Doctrines
- Lessons from Matthew 21
- Themes from Matthew 21
- Questions for Meditation
- Detailed Chapter Outline
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Top Cross References
- Sermons on Matthew 21
- Matthew Henry Commentary
- What Do You Notice?
Chapter Summary
Matthew 21 begins with Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where He is hailed as the Son of David by the crowds. Jesus then cleanses the temple, driving out the money changers and merchants, and heals the blind and lame. The chief priests and scribes become indignant and plot to kill Jesus. Jesus tells the parable of the wicked tenants, condemning the Jewish leaders for their rejection of God's messengers. He also tells the parable of the two sons, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God's will. The chapter concludes with Jesus' teaching on the authority of John the Baptist and the Pharisees' question about Jesus' authority.
Context for the Chapter
Matthew 21 is situated in the final week of Jesus' ministry, as He approaches the cross. The chapter sets the stage for Jesus' confrontation with the Jewish leaders and His ultimate sacrifice. In the larger biblical narrative, this chapter connects to the prophecies of the Old Testament, particularly Psalm 118:22-23, and looks forward to the establishment of God's kingdom through Jesus' resurrection and ascension.
Heart Application
As we reflect on Jesus' triumphal entry and confrontation with the Jewish leaders, we are reminded of the importance of faith and obedience to God's will. We must examine our own hearts, recognizing the tendency to reject God's messengers and authority. May we humbly submit to Jesus' lordship, acknowledging His sovereignty in salvation and His role as the cornerstone of God's kingdom.
What Does This Chapter Mean?
Matthew 21 records Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where He is met with both praise and hostility. Jesus teaches the crowds and confronts the Jewish leaders, emphasizing the importance of faith and obedience to God's will. As we reflect on this chapter, we are reminded of Jesus' sovereignty in salvation and His role as the cornerstone of God's kingdom, as seen in Matthew 21:42.
Voices from the Church
“The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner. This is a remarkable passage, and one that has been fruitful in the doctrines of salvation.”
— John Calvin
“Oh, the depths of divine wisdom, that could take the very things that men meant for evil, and turn them to the furtherance of the gospel!”
— Charles Spurgeon
Outline for Preaching
- The Triumphal Entry (Matthew 21:1-11) — Jesus enters Jerusalem, hailed as the Son of David by the crowds, and begins His ministry in the city.
- The Cleansing of the Temple (Matthew 21:12-17) — Jesus drives out the money changers and merchants, restoring the temple to its proper purpose as a house of prayer.
- The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Matthew 21:33-46) — Jesus tells a parable condemning the Jewish leaders for their rejection of God's messengers and emphasizing the consequences of their actions.
- The Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32) — Jesus teaches the importance of obedience to God's will, contrasting the faithfulness of the tax collectors and prostitutes with the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders.
- The Question about Jesus' Authority (Matthew 21:23-27) — The Jewish leaders question Jesus' authority, and He responds by emphasizing the importance of faith and obedience to God's will.
Core Doctrines
- The Sovereignty of God
- This chapter emphasizes God's sovereignty in salvation, highlighting the theme of God's kingdom and the consequences of rejecting His messengers.
- The Authority of Christ
- Jesus demonstrates His divine authority through His teachings and actions, emphasizing the importance of faith and obedience to God's will.
- The Importance of Faith
- Jesus teaches the crowds and confronts the Jewish leaders, emphasizing the importance of faith and obedience to God's will.
- The Rejection of Christ
- The chapter records the Jewish leaders' rejection of Jesus, highlighting the consequences of their actions and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.
Lessons from Matthew 21
- The Importance of Faith — Jesus teaches the crowds and confronts the Jewish leaders, emphasizing the importance of faith and obedience to God's will.
- The Authority of Christ — Jesus demonstrates His divine authority through His teachings and actions, emphasizing the importance of faith and obedience to God's will.
- The Rejection of Christ — The chapter records the Jewish leaders' rejection of Jesus, highlighting the consequences of their actions and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.
- The Sovereignty of God — This chapter emphasizes God's sovereignty in salvation, highlighting the theme of God's kingdom and the consequences of rejecting His messengers.
- The Importance of Obedience — Jesus teaches the importance of obedience to God's will, contrasting the faithfulness of the tax collectors and prostitutes with the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders.
Themes from Matthew 21
- The Kingdom of God — This chapter emphasizes the theme of God's kingdom, highlighting the consequences of rejecting His messengers and the importance of faith and obedience to God's will.
- The Authority of Christ — Jesus demonstrates His divine authority through His teachings and actions, emphasizing the importance of faith and obedience to God's will.
- The Rejection of Christ — The chapter records the Jewish leaders' rejection of Jesus, highlighting the consequences of their actions and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.
- The Importance of Faith — Jesus teaches the crowds and confronts the Jewish leaders, emphasizing the importance of faith and obedience to God's will.
- The Sovereignty of God — This chapter emphasizes God's sovereignty in salvation, highlighting the theme of God's kingdom and the consequences of rejecting His messengers.
Questions for Meditation
- What is the significance of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and how does it relate to His ministry and message?
- How does Jesus' cleansing of the temple reflect His authority and purpose?
- What is the main point of Jesus' parable of the wicked tenants, and how does it relate to the Jewish leaders' rejection of Him?
- What does Jesus' teaching on the two sons emphasize, and how does it relate to the importance of faith and obedience to God's will?
- How does Jesus' response to the Jewish leaders' question about His authority reflect His divine authority and purpose?
Detailed Chapter Outline
1. The Triumphal Entry (Matthew 21:1-11)
| Matthew 21:1 | Jesus sends two disciples to fetch a donkey and its colt, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. |
| Matthew 21:2 | The disciples find the donkey and its colt, and Jesus rides into Jerusalem on the colt, hailed as the Son of David by the crowds. |
2. The Cleansing of the Temple (Matthew 21:12-17)
| Matthew 21:12 | Jesus drives out the money changers and merchants from the temple, restoring it to its proper purpose as a house of prayer. |
| Matthew 21:13 | Jesus quotes Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11, condemning the Jewish leaders for their corruption and hypocrisy. |
3. The Healing of the Blind and Lame (Matthew 21:14-17)
| Matthew 21:14 | The blind and lame come to Jesus in the temple, and He heals them, demonstrating His divine authority and power. |
| Matthew 21:15 | The chief priests and scribes become indignant, plotting to kill Jesus and eliminate the threat to their authority. |
4. The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Matthew 21:33-46)
| Matthew 21:33 | Jesus tells a parable condemning the Jewish leaders for their rejection of God's messengers and emphasizing the consequences of their actions. |
| Matthew 21:42 | Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22-23, highlighting the theme of God's sovereignty in salvation and the rejection of the cornerstone. |
5. The Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32)
| Matthew 21:28 | Jesus tells a parable emphasizing the importance of obedience to God's will, contrasting the faithfulness of the tax collectors and prostitutes with the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders. |
| Matthew 21:29 | The first son initially refuses to obey, but later repents and does the will of the father, demonstrating the importance of faith and obedience. |
6. The Question about Jesus' Authority (Matthew 21:23-27)
| Matthew 21:23 | The Jewish leaders question Jesus' authority, and He responds by emphasizing the importance of faith and obedience to God's will. |
| Matthew 21:24 | Jesus asks the Jewish leaders about the authority of John the Baptist, highlighting their hypocrisy and lack of faith. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem?
Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem marks the beginning of His final confrontation with the Jewish leaders and His ultimate sacrifice on the cross, as seen in Matthew 21:1-11.
Why does Jesus cleanse the temple?
Jesus cleanses the temple to restore it to its proper purpose as a house of prayer, condemning the corruption and hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders, as seen in Matthew 21:12-17.
What is the main point of Jesus' parable of the wicked tenants?
The main point of Jesus' parable of the wicked tenants is to condemn the Jewish leaders for their rejection of God's messengers and emphasize the consequences of their actions, as seen in Matthew 21:33-46.
Top Cross References
| Reference | Connection | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew 21:1 → Zechariah 9:9 | Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem fulfills the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, highlighting His role as the Messiah and King. |
| 2 | Matthew 21:12 → Isaiah 56:7 | Jesus quotes Isaiah 56:7, condemning the Jewish leaders for their corruption and hypocrisy, and emphasizing the importance of faith and obedience to God's will. |
| 3 | Matthew 21:13 → Jeremiah 7:11 | Jesus quotes Jeremiah 7:11, highlighting the theme of God's sovereignty in salvation and the rejection of the cornerstone. |
| 4 | Matthew 21:16 → Psalm 8:2 | Jesus quotes Psalm 8:2, emphasizing the importance of faith and obedience to God's will, and highlighting the theme of God's sovereignty in salvation. |
| 5 | Matthew 21:33 → Isaiah 5:1-7 | Jesus' parable of the wicked tenants is reminiscent of Isaiah 5:1-7, condemning the Jewish leaders for their rejection of God's messengers and emphasizing the consequences of their actions. |
| 6 | Matthew 21:42 → Psalm 118:22-23 | Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22-23, highlighting the theme of God's sovereignty in salvation and the rejection of the cornerstone. |
| 7 | Matthew 21:1 → John 12:12-19 | Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem is also recorded in John 12:12-19, highlighting His role as the Messiah and King. |
| 8 | Matthew 21:12 → Mark 11:15-17 | Jesus' cleansing of the temple is also recorded in Mark 11:15-17, condemning the corruption and hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders. |
| 9 | Matthew 21:33 → Luke 20:9-19 | Jesus' parable of the wicked tenants is also recorded in Luke 20:9-19, condemning the Jewish leaders for their rejection of God's messengers and emphasizing the consequences of their actions. |
| 10 | Matthew 21:42 → Acts 4:11 | The theme of God's sovereignty in salvation and the rejection of the cornerstone is also seen in Acts 4:11, highlighting the importance of faith and obedience to God's will. |
Sermons on Matthew 21
| Sermon | Description | |
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Action and Obedience by Duncan Campbell | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of obeying God rather than human authority. He encourages the audience to reflect on their own lives and identify any areas wh |
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But Suppose God Doesn't Do It by Warren Wiersbe | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the book of Daniel. He highlights how their faith in God allowed them to be delivered from |
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An Earthquake in Jerusalem by Warren Wiersbe | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the scene of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a colt, with the crowd laying down their garments and palm branches in his path. The Roman soldiers |
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My House Shall Be Called a House of Prayer by Jim Cymbala | This sermon emphasizes the importance of prayer and seeking God's intervention in challenging situations, using the powerful testimony of a daughter's restoration through fervent p |
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Lewis Land of Revival (Revival Testimonies) by Duncan Campbell | In this sermon, the preacher describes the supernatural experience of a revival where young people were deeply moved to worship and seek God. The focus of the revival was not on ma |
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Praise - Part 2 by Derek Prince | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal experience of dancing during a church service and how it brought liberation to the congregation. He encourages everyone to praise God, |
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Thanksgiving, Praise and Worship by Derek Prince | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the power of praise and the importance of thanking and praising God. He uses the example of Jonah, who was in the belly of a fish and prayed f |
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Witchcraft in the Church by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the dangers of seeking power and position in the work of God without paying the right price. He uses the story of Simon in the book of Acts a |
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Fruitbearing by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of bearing fruit in the Christian life. They share a story about a woman who kept a secret and was consumed by guilt. The spea |
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The Aroma of Prayer by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of prayer and its transformative power in people's lives. He shares his personal journey of learning about prayer and witnessi |
Summary of Matthew Henry Commentary on Matthew 21
Matthew 21 records Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where He is met with both praise and hostility. Jesus teaches the crowds and confronts the Jewish leaders, emphasizing the importance of faith and obedience to God's will. Through His parables, Jesus reveals the true nature of His kingdom and the consequences of rejecting God's messengers. As we reflect on this chapter, we are reminded of Jesus' sovereignty in salvation and His role as the cornerstone of God's kingdom. May we humbly submit to Jesus' lordship, acknowledging His authority and purpose, and may we be faithful in our obedience to God's will, as seen in Matthew 21:28-32. Read the full unabridged Matthew Henry Commentary →
What Do You Notice?
The Contrast between Praise and Hostility
The chapter begins with the crowds hailing Jesus as the Son of David, but quickly turns to the hostility of the Jewish leaders. This contrast highlights the divided response to Jesus' ministry.
The Use of Parables
Jesus uses parables to teach the crowds and confront the Jewish leaders, emphasizing the importance of faith and obedience to God's will.
The Emphasis on God's Sovereignty
Throughout the chapter, Jesus emphasizes God's sovereignty in salvation, highlighting the theme of God's kingdom and the consequences of rejecting His messengers.