June 5, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Matthew? Here’s today’s reading:
Matthew 21 (NIV)
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying 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. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”……Continue Reading
Matthew 21
Verse 31-32: “Truly I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.”
Jesus, speaking to the chief priests and elders, has just before this verse revealed their hard hearts and unwillingness to acknowledge the Truth. And here in this verse, he does it again…saying that John came in a way that they should have recognized, since they hold themselves to be so righteous. But Jesus knows their righteousness is a sham, an act, and that their hearts are not for God, but rather for themselves. Instead, it was the broken and corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes who heard John’s message of repentance and hope, and believed him, turning from their sin and trusting in God. The contrast is stark and intentional, and it infuriates the chief priests and elders, continuing to set in motion that which Jesus knows must happen in order for Him to obey the Father.
This whole chapter is full of Jesus telling the people who supposedly knew God that they were liars and would in fact NOT enter the kingdom of heaven. One often wonders what it would look like if Jesus were to return to earth in the way He first came and began to purify His church in this way. How many churches would reject Him, exclude Him, call Him a legalist or a works-based righteousness fanatic? I suspect a lot.
But then, what should we expect when Jesus gives us His Word in Matt 7:22-23 “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
I can think of no more terrible words than these.
The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the LORD’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’ ?
”Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.“
Matthew 21:31-32 NKJV
Matthew 21
“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.””
Matthew 21:22 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.21.22.NIV
Matthew 21
So Jesus’ last week on earth begins. And how fitting that it would start with Jesus doing what the prophets said Messiah would do, letting us and the people know exactly who Jesus thought He was. Before others could declare Him to be Messiah, He had to show that is who He thought He was too. And by virtue of coming into Jerusalem like this, He would come into conflict with the Jewish leaders. It is appropriate, therefore, for them to ask by what authority He is doing these things. And in His classic style, He ASKS a question rather than answering to cause them to think more deeply about what is being discussed and to put them on the hot seat where they belong. They rejected John because He challenged them and exposed them for the hypocrites they were, but they should have seen in him the power of God because the very people they thought were the most sinful were actually coming to repentance because of his ministry. They were the son who said yes to the father and then didn’t do his bidding. And just in case they missed the point of that instruction, Jesus tells a parable that shows what the Jews had done historically and what they were doing to Jesus now. The wall around the vineyard is a pretty clear description of Jerusalem and God sent many teachers and prophets to bring the Jewish people back to Him. But they rejected them. Now Jesus was there doing the same thing..directing them to come to back to God by accepting Him for who He is. But they will end up killing Him, the Son of God, just like the tenants did in the parable. How sad that the Jews in the past understood that they were tenants of what God had provided but they defied the covenant that God made with them and now the Jews in Jesus’ day did the same thing to Him.
Jesus enters into his holy city. Riding a donkey. The king of kings. Hosanna in the highest. Willingly he comes in peace as the perfect lamb of God. Knowing the will of his Father for the coming days. Im astounded . !!!!!
Matthew 21
Jesus’ curse on the fig tree is really a physical parable for the disciples and compliments the parable of the parable of the two sons so well. He is showing us the importance of being the person we say we are or appear to be. We should not be like the fig tree that was all leaves and no fruit. This was the way of the second son who said he would do the work for his father but never actually did. We must not just say we will obey but actually follow God’s path for our lives.
So when Jesus tells us that we have the power to send a mountain into the sea, that is only possible when our faith is in true union with God. It is only when our hearts and minds are consistent with our actions, as a result of true dependance on Him, that the things we want to happen will be the things He desires for us because we would only be seeking His will in our lives not our own fleshly desires.
Matthew 21
Jesus starts right off knowing everything would go right before sending 2 disciples for the Donkey and her colt. He took robes and sat on them and followers laid down jackets and branches to go to Jerusalem. The tree that bore no fruit so Jesus said you will never beat fruit again.
If you have enough faith you can say to the mountain go throw yourself into the sea!
IF YOU BELIEVE YOU WILL RECEIVE WHATEVER YOU ASK FOR IN PRAYER! Love this!
The stone the builders rejected became the capstone. The Lord has done this for us and it is marvelous
In our eyes!
This is big he tells them the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to people that will produce fruit!.
Who ever falls on the stone will be broken to pieces but he who falls will be crushed.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For 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 this continues on to this day. Prostitutes, criminals, drug addicts, abusers, are all turning away from their sin and having faith in Jesus for their salvation. These people know the way to righteousness, and they will enter the kingdom of God. And those people who think they have to do good, look good or feel good to be righteous before God are terribly mistaken.
More prarbables, miracles, prophecy fulfillment and tangling with the pharisees. Jesus was doing what he could to show them who he was and teach just to believe in him, for his yoke is light. So much so that if the former worst of sinners are welcomed into life with Jesus. Praise Jesus.
Matthew 21