Jesus Comes Clean About Who He Really Is Matthew 21:1-17
It is never easy to talk about yourself but in this fascinating chapter Matthew records what Jesus says about his true nature. He does not mince his words. Time is short and his execution is fast approaching. Jesus is saying that he is the King of all people, God’s king, God’s Messiah.
The nature of his kingship when he lived on earth is very different to what it will be when he returns in glory. In the last book of the Bible, John gives us a glimpse of the glory Jesus will have then.
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron sceptre” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: ‘King of Kings and Lord of Lords.’” Revelation 19:11-16
He is not mild then, he is God Almighty, sitting on the heavenly throne with his Father. The prophet Daniel had been shown that in the future a man would be worshipped as God and would be given all power and authority:
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14
Matthew describes Jesus’ kingship in Matthew chapter 21 by telling us of five events that occurred at this time in Jesus life. Their meaning could not be clearer, Jesus really is King both of the Jews but also of all people. Let us look at what Matthew is saying.
1. Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey
As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem for the final time he told them to do something strange. They were to go into the village of Bethphage, which was on the Mount of Olives that overlooked Jerusalem, and they would see a donkey with its colt standing there. They are to bring them to Jesus. If anyone asks them questions they are to say,
“The Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” Matthew 21:3
We are not told whether an agreement had been reached before. What we are told is the reason for this strange request:
“This took place to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet: ‘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.’’” Matthew 21:4-5
This is a quotation from the prophet Zechariah about the Messiah. Jesus is deliberately saying that this is about himself. Little could be more obvious; he is God’s chosen king! This prophecy also describes his character. Jesus was amazingly gentle when we consider who he really is; he did not call down thunderbolts to destroy those opposed to him but longed that they would come to see the error of their ways before it was too late.
When Old Testament passages are quoted in the New Testament the context and verses either side that are not quoted are usually very significant and they are in this case. The passage in Zechariah reads,
“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem. See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.” Zechariah 9:9-10
What they did not realise was that this gracious humble king who is entering Jerusalem on a donkey is demonstrating how different he is to rulers of this world. He did not enter God’s own city, Zion, on a large white stallion surrounded by soldiers as Pontius Pilate had done. Yet this same person will eventually rule the whole world and then no opposition will be able to exist.
2. Jesus accepts peoples’ worship
Everything went as Jesus planned. They placed ordinary cloaks on the animals. As Jesus approached Jerusalem a very large crowd gathered to welcome him. These people spread their cloaks and branches from local trees, probably palm trees, on the road. This was done when Jehu were crowned king in the Old Testament (2 Kings 9:13),
“ ‘This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ They hurried and took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, ‘Jehu is king.’ 2 Kings 9:13
The people must have known this tradition, but Jesus did not rebuke them.
The crowds were shouting phrases that came from the Old Testament which referred to the Messiah.
“Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:9
The crowd shouted praises to Jesus, “Hosanna!” Hosanna is a word used to express praise or adoration to God, meaning, “Save, I pray or Save now!” The reason they welcomed Jesus so enthusiastically was because they heard the news about Jesus calling Lazarus from the tomb and raising him from the dead (John 12:17–18). The word ‘hosanna’ comes from a Hebrew word meaning “save now” or “save us, we pray.”
The first word of Psalm 118:25 is the Hebrew word ‘Hosannah’, and is linked to the word ‘Jehovah’. It is translated “O LORD, save us!” The crowd’s use of this word at the triumphal entry was significant—especially as they waved palm branches. Psalm 118 was associated with the Feast of Tabernacles when palm branches were waved.. By saying “hosanna” as Jesus passed through the gates of Jerusalem and referring to David and David’s kingdom, the Jews were acknowledging Jesus as their Messiah. The Jews had been waiting a long time for the coming of their Messiah (2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17:11–14; 2 Chronicles 6:16), and their shouts of “hosanna in the highest” indicated the belief that their Messiah had finally come to establish God’s kingdom though doubtless few understood this in the way Jesus had taught.. Luke tell us that there was an expectancy that this Kingdom was soon to come whereas Jesus taught that it had already come because their King had come (Mark 1:15).
“ . . he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.” Luke 19:11
The use of the phrase ‘Son of David” is also Messianic. Seventeen times this phrase is used of Jesus in the New Testament. The Old Testament teaches that the Messiah would be a physical descendant of King David. There can be no doubt that the people were then worshipping Jesus as their Messiah! They were realising what Peter and the disciples had come to understand; they were realising who Jesus really was. Peter had exclaimed a little earlier,
“You are the Christ, the son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16
The vital thing to understand is that this humble Jesus accepted all this worship because he knew it was valid.
3. Jesus clears his temple
Jesus’ next act was to enter the temple and what he found distressed him deeply.
“Jesus entered the temple area and drove our all who were buying and selling there.. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.” Matthew 21:32
This was not just the rebellion of an angry young idealist, he was genuinely concerned for his Father’s glory and honour. He did this to fulfil other Old Testament prophecies. Matthew continues to explain Jesus’ explanation,
“‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’” Matthew 21:12-13
The Jewish authorities must have known these passages that Jesus was quoting. The prophets were also outspoken against the abuse of religious power for financial or other gains. In both those passages it is God who is speaking and Jesus intends people to understand that God is still speaking.
“For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.” Isaiah 56:7
In this passage Isaiah is talking about the coming kingdom of God and Jesus is now saying that he is the promised king. This kingdom Isaiah talks about is also going to be global, and talks about the foreigners who will come to the one true God,
“ And the foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him. . . and give them joy in my house of prayer.” Isaiah 56:6
Jeremiah was also talking to religious leaders who privately broke God’s law and yet think they are safe from God’s judgment. He had not acted up to then although shortly after Jeremiah said this the temple was destroyed by the Babylonians whom God had allowed to defeat his adulterous people.
“Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Jeremiah 7:11
Jesus is emphasising not just that he is God’s king but that his kingdom is for all people.
4. Jesus Heals
The next illustration of Jesus’ kingship was one that had a marked impact on the people of Israel in Jesus’ time.
“The blind and lame came to him at the temple and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they were indignant.” Matthew 21:14-15
The raising of Lazarus from the dead after he had been in a tomb for four days had been the trigger for the worship of Jesus but for three years Jesus had healed people who came to him for help.
Again Jesus replies to the religious leaders anger by quoting from the Scriptures.
“Do you hear what these children are saying?” Matthew 21:16
Jesus could have quoted some of the many passages in the Old Testament that teach that the Messiah would heal people with impossible conditions such as:
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.” Isaiah 35:5-6,
Instead he replies,
“ ‘Yes,’ replied Jesus, have you never read, ‘From the lips of infants and children you have ordained praise.’” Matthew 21:16
This quote is from Psalm 8 which reads,
“O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.” Psalm 8:1-2
Jesus has just received the praise of children and then explains this by quoting a psalm where children are praising God. Psalm 8 is a Messianic Psalm written by King David. It describes how the Lord created ‘the heavens’ and is praised by children. But then the psalm continues to acknowledge the ‘Son of Man’.
“What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honour. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet.” Psalm 8:4-6
The ‘him’ in this psalm is in the singular, it refers to just one man who is ‘crowned with glory and honour’. The book of Hebrews quotes this passage and confirms that it is all about Jesus.
“In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:8-9
Jesus’s meaning, in quoting this Psalm, is obvious, he saying he is God’s Messiah. Jesus has said enough to make it clear what he wants all people to know about him.
5. Jesus reminds them of Scripture
The fifth argument is apparent within these four answer of Jesus. In each case he moves the conversation back to what God has said to mankind in Scripture, just as he did when tempted by Satan. How well Jesus knew these passages of Scripture and the context they come in. For him they are authoritative.
The Old Testament gives approximately 330 prophecies about the coming Messiah, 60 of which are major ones. However the Scriptures do much more than this. They tell us about God’s character (such as Exodus 34:6), give many examples of people’s sin but stress the hope of salvation. This salvation was found through having a personal relationship with God demonstrated by obedience backed by involvement in the sacrifices of sheep bulls and goats as substitutes for their sin. All this is fulfilled in Jesus who, as God’s chosen king, died as the final sacrifice for our sin. Jesus demands the same level of faith from us that men such as Abraham and David had. Jesus wants people of all nations to be certain that he really is God’s chosen king, our Messiah who has the power to save us so that we can put our trust in him.
When Jesus came to earth for the first time, two thousand years ago, he came with love and humility. He explained that he would come again but then it will be in power to rule; all his enemies will be removed from his holy presence. The good news or gospel is that Jesus is now ready to receive all who turn to him and we receive forgiveness, an eternal future and a purpose in living. Our response must be to acknowledge his right to rule over us because of the evidence, both objective (such as Jesus gives us in Matthew 21) and subjective. Subjective evidence is what we instinctively know, that our life has a purpose, that there are real values such as love, honesty, truth and beauty that can only be valid if we have been created by a real loving God.
C.S. Lewis, the author, professor at Cambridge University and former antagonist to the Christian faith wrote about Jesus in his book “Mere Christianity”,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say.
A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the son of God: or else a madman or something worse.
You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
The decision, with its eternal consequences, remains with each one of us.
BVP
October 2022
