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A Study Of The Book of Matthew
Sermon # 73
“He is My King!”
Matthew 21:1-11
It is now late March and the Feast of Passover is
near. We are in the last week of the Lord's earthly
ministry. We need to remember that according to John's
account it was just the previous day that Jesus had
raised Lazarus from the dead. Jesus and His Disciples as
well as those who have witnessed the restoration of
Lazarus to life are returning to Jerusalem and the
reality of this miracle is underscored by the presence of
the former dead man himself. This in turn leads to
many more placing their faith and trust in Jesus as Lord
and Savior. The fact that many more are following Jesus
did not sit well with the religious authorities and the
only suitable solution was to kill both Jesus and Lazarus
(John 12:9-10). So even as Jesus enters the city of
Jerusalem for Passover plans are already being made to
kill Him.
Because it was Passover, the Jewish historian
Josephus, estimated that between two and three million
people were packed into the city. So when Jesus choose
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this moment to reveal Himself as the Messiah, it is akin
to throwing gasoline on a campfire, something memor-
able is going to happen.
“Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to
Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two
disciples, (2) saying to them, "Go into the village oppos-
ite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied,
and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me.
(3) And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say,
'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will
send them." (4) All this was done that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
(5) "Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is
coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt,
the foal of a donkey.' "(6) So the disciples went and did
as Jesus commanded them. (7) They brought the donkey
and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on
them. (8) And a very great multitude spread their
clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the
trees and spread them on the road. (9)Then the
multitudes who went before and those who followed
cried out, saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David!
'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'
Hosanna in the highest!" (10) And when He had come
into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is
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this?" (11) So the multitudes said, "This is Jesus, the
prophet from Nazareth of Galilee."
First, The Preparation for the King (21:1-3, 6-7)
The story of Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem is obvious-
ly important because it is told in detail in all four of the
Gospel accounts. The thing that has to strike you as you
read this story is that Jesus was in complete control of
everything that happened. In verse one Jesus is making
preparation for His entrance into the Holy city. These
preparations are important for it is now that Jesus
intends to reveal that He is the Messiah. So He sent His
Disciples out with detailed instructions, (v. 1b-2) “Now
when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Beth-
phage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two
disciples, (2) saying to them, "Go into the village
opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey
tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to
Me.” They are told where to go, what they will find and
what to say. Jesus predicted everything that would take
place. The purpose of the mission given the Disciples
was to secure the colt upon which Jesus would ride into
the city.
Each of the accounts mentions that Jesus sent two
of the Disciples but none of then tell us who they were.
We can surmise that since Mark gives eyewitness details
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and Mark received his information from Peter that it is
probable that Peter was one of them.
Jesus anticipated the objections that could be
raised and told the Disciples what they were to say in
response, (v. 3) “And if anyone says anything to you, you
shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately
he will send them." The assurance found at the end of
verse three “....and immediately he will send them" is an
encourage to the Disciples that the owner will be
cooperative.
According to verse six and seven the Disciples
immediately carried out the Lord's instructions, “So the
disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. (7)
They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes
on them, and set Him on them.”
Secondly, The Prophecy Concerning the King
(21:4-5)
''All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken by the prophet, saying: (5) "Tell the daughter of
Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and
sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.' "
Jesus is revealing Himself to be the king. Matthew
quotes the prophecy of Zechariah written over five
hundred years earlier. Quoting from Zechariah 9:8-10
Matthew selectively uses only part of the prophecy. He
makes note of the fact that the king will come in peace
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but leaves out that the coming king’s reign will extend
from sea to sea (Zech 9:10). Of course the second part of
that prophecy will be fulfilled at the Lord’s second
coming.
Matthew tells us that actually the Disciples
brought back two donkeys – a mother and a colt that
had never been ridden. Jesus rides the colt into
Jerusalem on a young unbroken colt with the mother
walking along beside.
But why a donkey? Because then as now, a man's
transportation reveals much about him. If a man drives
a five year old minivan filled with car seats we can
guess that he is a family man with young children. If a
young man drives an beat up twenty year old car he is
probably a student, and single. If he drives a sleek and
fast red sports car, he is probably experiencing a middle
life crisis.
So it was in that day, Kings and conquering
generals rode powerful stallions from which they could
rain down blows upon their enemies. But no one rains
down blows on their enemies from a donkey unless they
are fighting slow-moving midgets. I'm sorry that is
politically incorrect; I should have said “little people.”
But contrary to what we might think today,
riding on a donkey was a kingly act which identified the
royal line of David. It told the whole world not only who
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Jesus was but what He was like. It presented both His
person and His position.
We see Jesus coming in humility and gentleness
which is symbolic of the fact that Jesus still comes to
mankind in humility and gentleness. When seem to
expect God to speak to us in thunderous tones of
judgment, but God often speaks to us in a “still small
voice.” The world shouts at us from every side,
illustrated so well by the those television commercials
that make you search frantically for the volume control.
God however, demands that we really listen in order to
hear His voice.
Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem was no haphazard
event. Not only the day but the very hour for His
presentation as the Messiah was selected in eternity
past; with countdown precession. Almost five hundred
years earlier an angel had appeared to Daniel and said,
“Know therefore and understand, That from the going
forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem,
until the Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks
and sixty-two weeks;....” (Daniel 9:25)
This is a week of years and renders a total of 483
years. Daniel was told that 483 years from the signing
of the order which allowed the rebuilding of the walls of
Jerusalem the Messiah would appear in Jerusalem. Sir
Robert Anderson, a former director of England's
“Scotland Yard,” was a brilliant lawyer and an avid
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Bible student. He analyzed the book of Daniel and
calculated that the order was issued on March 28, 445
B.C. and that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on April 6, 32
A.D., exactly 483 years later. [Ray Stedman. The King Is Coming.
www.pbc.org]
Jesus rides into Jerusalem in fulfillment of ancient
prophecy, but He is still clearly in control. He knows
what is head of Him in Jerusalem. Still He rides on.
Third, The Presentation of the King (21:8-11)
“And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the
road; others cut down branches from the trees and
spread them on the road. (9)Then the multitudes who
went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
"Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes
in the name of the LORD!'Hosanna in the highest!" (10)
And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was
moved, saying, "Who is this?" (11) So the multitudes
said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of
Galilee."
Jesus began the approximately three mile journey
from Bethany to Jerusalem, as He approached the city
of Jerusalem people lined the road, laying their clothes
on the road in front of Him, waving palm branches, and
shouting “Hosanna.” The Hebrew “Hosanna” literally
means “save now.” So as Jesus is riding along the road
the crowds were shouting, “Save us, Save us!” The
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question then becomes “Save us from what?” It is highly
probable that those exclaiming “Hosanna” or “save us”
may not have meant the same thing. There were those
present that were looking for salvation from their
problems, economic or otherwise. Some were looking
for salvation from the political opposition of the
Romans. Some were looking for salvation from the
burden of their sins.
It crucial to understand what these people were
thinking when they shouted “Hosanna, Blessed Is He
That Comes In The Name of The Lord” in order to
understand how some of those same people could in
just a few days be a part of the crowd that was shouting
“Crucify Him, Crucify Him.”
Some of these people were swept up in the
emotions of the crowd.
No doubt some of those present were merely
caught up in the excitement of the moment and had no
real commitment to Jesus.
Whenever a crowd gathers, everyone wants to
know what is going on. Whenever there is an accident
on the expressway traffic becomes entangled – not from
the accident itself but from rubber-neckers who want to
see what is going on. People don't want to miss
something big that may be happening. Some of those in
the crowd that day were no doubt just looking to see if
anything important was happening.
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Some of these people were carrying out a
religious ritual.
The cry “Hosanna, Blessed Is He that comes in
the name of the Lord” taken from Psalm 118:25-28,
was a common religious chant, especially at Passover. It
was not uncommon to welcome pilgrims to Passover
with these words. So for many people, they may simply
have been reciting a familiar prayer. It is like what
happens in churches that recite the Lord's prayer. It is
possible to recite the prayer without ever stopping to
consider the words that are being said.
Some of these people were calling out for
political deliverance.
Many if not most of the people of Israel believed
that the Messiah would come as the military liberator
of Israel. For some that day they were participating in
the equivalent of a political rally. They were excited
because they thought that the glory days of Israel were
going to return.
Over the course of time shouting “Hosanna”
became something of a nationalistic cry, rather like
“God save the king” in England or “God Bless America”
in this country. “God Bless America” can be a humble
prayer of a Christian or can be the proud words of
someone who is convinced the God is on America's side,
whatever Americans do.” [Daniel Doriani. Reformed Expository
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Commentary Series “Matthew” Vol. 1, Matthew 14-28. (Philipsburg, NJ: P
and R Publishing, 2008 p. 248]
The reception they gave Jesus was on based on his
fulfillment of their expectations. The common hope of
Israel was the the Messiah would come regally and
formally into Jerusalem as a mighty conqueror. But
Jesus was not at this time bringing political deliverance
to Israel but much more importantly He was bringing
spiritual salvation for sin.
“To joyfully welcome Him as their “kind of king” is
the not to receive him as “Lamb of God” sent to “take
away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). To receive
their kind Jesus is to reject God’s kind of king. This
apparent reception, is in reality, a rejection. It is
destined to result in rejection. It will take a few days to
become evident, but when they finally grasp that Jesus
has not come to fulfill their expectations, but rather to
be a different sort of Messiah, they will quickly turn
against Him, rejecting Him as their king.” [Bob Deffinbaugh.
“The Un-Triumphal Entry.” John 12:9-19 www. Bible.org.]
But some of the people were wise enough to
be calling out for spiritual deliverance.
It is not only likely that Jesus entered the city
surrounded by sheep headed for sacrifice at the Temple
but that at the very time Jesus was dying on the cross . . .
the sacrificial lambs were being slaughtered for the
Passover feast.
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Passover was a yearly celebration commem-
orating the freeing of the Jewish people from slavery in
Egypt. On the night called Passover God struck every
first-born child of the Egyptians. This devastating
plague led to the release of the Jews from bondage.
God told the Israelite’s to slaughter a lamb and to
take the blood of that lamb and apply it to their
doorpost of their homes. This blood of the lamb would
be recognized by the Angel of Death as protecting the
first-born child that lived within that home. It was
meant to be a picture that pointed to another Lamb
who would die in our place to free us from a much
greater slavery; a slavery to sin and death. Jesus was
the Lamb of God taking away the sins of the world.
Conclusion
Some of those who witnessed Jesus arrive in
Jerusalem ultimately rejected Him because He was not
the kind of king they looking for. We face the same kinds
of challenge that people of that day, we are not given
the choose of making Jesus into the kind of king we
would like.
But whatever people may say, “Jesus is King.”
Two thousand years ago as a symbol that He was
indeed the Messiah, He humbly rode a donkey into the
Holy City. But it will not always be so. The next time He
returns it will be as king over the whole Earth. When He
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comes again it will be with a demonstration of power
and He will be riding a white stallion. Zechariah 14:4, 9
predicts; “And in that day His feet will stand on the
Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem from the East.
And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east
to west, making a very large valley; half of the moun-
tain will move to the north and half of it toward the
south....(9) And the LORD shall be king over all the
Earth....”
Jesus is going to enter the city of Jerusalem once
again but this time the as king over all the Earth.
Ezekiel 44 predicts the Messiah of the future will enter
through the Eastern gate of the Temple. Today, all the
other gates surrounding Jerusalem are open. But as
Ezekiel predicted, the Eastern Gate is shut to this very
day. Neither the Christians nor the Jews did this, the
Muslims did. The Ottoman Turks closed off the Eastern
gate because it was close to the Dome of the Rock, the
third most holy site of Islam. They knew the Jewish
Messiah was to enter that gate, so they sealed it and
turned it into a Muslim graveyard. They did this
because no orthodox Jew would ever walk on a grave,
so they did this thinking they could prevent the Jewish
Messiah from entering. But that old graveyard will
not stop Jesus. On that day it will not be a
graveyard any more.
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S.M. Lockridge, famous African-American
preacher, was pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San
Diego from 1953-1993. Back in 2007 I share a video
presentation of S. M. Lockridge's “That's My King.” But
it is so powerful and so fitting for today's message that I
wanted to share it again. Play Video: “That's My King.” [www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzqTFNfeDnE]
The whole world can reject Him and Jesus is still
King. Men today can do as they please and Jesus is still
King and He will have the last word. The only question
that remains is, “Is Jesus YOUR King? Do you know
Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?”
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“He is My King!”
Matthew 21:1-11
First, The ______________________________ for the King (21:1-3, 6-7)
Secondly, The _____________________ Concerning the King (21:4-5)
(Zechariah 9:8-10, Daniel 9: 25)
Third, The __________________________ of the King (21:7-11)
Some of these people were swept up in the _______________
of the crowd.
Some of these people were carrying out a _______________
ritual.
Some of these people were calling out for ______________
deliverance.
But some of the people were wise enough to be calling out
for spiritual deliverance.