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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.