Question
Matthew 21:1-13
Key Verse: 5
“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
1. Read verses 1-7. Why is Jerusalem important in God’s history and plan (Ps 2:6)? Why did Jesus need a donkey, and how did he obtain one? What does this show about Jesus’ lordship?
2. Read verse 5 again. How did Jesus fulfill prophecies from the Old Testament (Zech 9:9; Mt 1:1)? What is significant about “your king comes to you”? What is the character of Jesus as king?
3. Read verses 8-11. What did the crowds shout? What kind of king were they expecting Jesus to be? What kind of king is Jesus (1:21; 2:2; 27:37,42)?
4. Read verses 12-13. Where did Jesus go next and why? What is the significance of the temple (Ezk 37:27)? How does Jesus fulfill the temple role (Jn 1:14; Heb 10:19-20; Rev 21:22)?
5. In view of Jesus’ salvation and kingship, how does this affect your life and worship?
Manuscript
Message
Matthew 21:1-13
Key Verse: 5
“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
In Isaiah 6:1-13, Prophet Isaiah saw the glimpse of the Kingdom of God. The Lord Almighty, high and exalted, was seated on a throne. Seraphim were calling to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Doesn’t it look glorious? However, God’s voice seemed grieved as he said, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Why? Because one thing was missing there: his people, his own children. While God’s cry, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” was God’s call for Isaiah in his time, however, in perspective of God’s redemptive history we can learn who truly answered God’s call: it was Christ Jesus. Hebrews 10:5-7 says, “Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, “Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll – I have come to do your will, my God.”’” Jesus came down from heaven to do God the Father’s will. Christ Jesus came down from heaven to bring his people into his Kingdom.
In today’s passage, As Apostle Matthew saw Jesus’ entering Jerusalem on a donkey, he proclaimed the fulfillment of Prophet Zechariah’s prophecy of the coming of God’s King. He said, “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” Through this message, let’s learn what kind of King Jesus is, especially his character and his purpose in coming. By knowing Him personally, may the Holy Spirit enable us to respond properly to his coming.
I. Jesus revealed himself as the Messianic King (1-11).
Look at verses 1-7. “As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 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. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.” Here we can learn about what kind of King Jesus is in four ways.
Firstly, Jesus is the King who fulfilled all that had been spoken through the prophets. Apostle Matthew saw Jesus’ entering Jerusalem on a donkey as the fulfillment of what had been spoken through the prophet. Zechariah 9:9 was literally fulfilled, as he rode on a donkey. While Matthew did not say explicitly what other prophecies Jesus fulfilled through that event, however, from the context of Matthew’s gospel, we can see two other prophecies fulfilled. 1) Jesus entered Jerusalem; 2) It happened during the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. According to Psalm 2:6, God’s king will be installed in Zion, which is Jerusalem. And according to Exodus 12, the Lamb of God had to be slaughtered during the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. Isn’t it amazing that Jesus knew exactly where he should be, what he had to do there, and precisely when he should do it?
As we read Matthew’s gospel, we find other fulfillments that Jesus brought about through his birth, proclaiming the kingdom of heaven, shepherding, teaching, healing, driving out demons, being rejected and crucified, and being raised from the dead on the third day. In a word, everything that was written about the Messiah in the Law of Moses, the prophets and the Psalms was fulfilled in and through Jesus (Lk 24:44). Jesus himself said in Mt 5:17-18, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” As he was about to die on the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished” (Jn 19:30). While on earth, Jesus executed and finished the work of redemption that God had planned through Him for his lost children. Jesus is the very King who fulfilled every detail of God’s plan and purpose written in the OT. Jesus is not just one of the prophets who foretold the work of the Messiah. He is the Greatest Prophet who fulfilled all that were spoken by the prophets about the Messiah. Who is able to fulfill God’s plan and purpose without missing even one detail? Only God can! Jesus is God himself.
Some of us may say, “Good for him! What do Jesus’ fulfillments have to do with me?” Now, look at verse 5. “Say, to Daughter Zion. ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” From this fulfilled prophecy, we can say that your king is coming to you. Jesus is first coming to you with all he has fulfilled for your salvation. That is the second point we can learn about King Jesus.
Secondly, Jesus is your King who is coming to you. Worldly kings sit on highly exalted thrones demanding their subjects to come and serve them. However, Jesus is different. “See, your king is coming to you!” King Jesus’ coming to his people is described as a good father who comes to his little girl crying in the darkness and puts his strong but tender arms around her until she feels safe.
Jesus’ coming is very personal. He is your king. No other kings deserve to be your king, not even yourself. He comes to you as if you are the only person he is interested in and cares about. Your King first comes to you because you could not come to Him out of shame, guilt, or fear. Your king first comes to you because you have not come to him perhaps because of anger, disappointment or misunderstandings of him.
Jesus’ coming on earth was praised by Zechariah (the father of John the Baptist) as God’s visitation in Luke 1:68 as follows, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.” In Isaiah 6, God is high and exalted, and the seated king on a throne. But what an amazing truth it is that this mighty and exalted God humbled himself to come to visit his lost children! The purpose of God’s visitation through his King Jesus is to redeem his people.
Jesus is now coming to you to let you know that you have redemption through Him. Christ Jesus has already bought you back from the slavery of sin and death because he became the ransom for his people on the cross. Jesus is now coming to you in order to help you to live a new life of freedom with Him. Jesus is coming to you through the Holy Spirit in order to dwell in you and eat with you. In Rev 3:20, the Risen Jesus is saying to those whose hearts are lukewarm, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” What on earth can be better than his presence! What relationship on earth can be better and more intimate than our union with Jesus! What blessing on earth can be better than every spiritual blessing that Jesus brings to us in Him (Eph 1:3)!
Look at verse 5 again. What else does it say about King Jesus?
Thirdly, Jesus is gentle King. King Jesus’ gentleness was clearly demonstrated when he sat on a donkey, neither on a war horse nor a chariot, but on a borrowed donkey. King Jesus is coming to greet his people, not with pomp and circumstance, but with gentleness; with all humility and meekness. What a comic scene it was that a big man was sitting on a small donkey dragging his feet on the ground!
We need to learn more about King Jesus’ gentleness as we read Zechariah 9:9. The preceding verses of Zechariah 9 (1-8) describe how God would destroy Israel’s ancient enemies, like the Syrians and the Philistines. Then 9:9 is the prophecy of the coming of the King riding on a donkey. The following verse promises that this king will conquer mighty armies and proclaim peace to all nations until his rule will extend from sea to sea from the River to the ends of the earth (Zech 9:10). The coming King is powerful enough to destroy the enemies of his people and to bring peace to all nations. However, to his own people, he is like a father who comes to them on a donkey.
There was one commercial I greatly enjoyed and made me laugh. In a birthday party for a little girl everyone who was invited had to wear angel’s costumes. What do you think her father did? Did he go to play football? No! He appeared to his daughter’s party wearing white tights, a tutu, wings on his back, and a halo on his head. Of course, he shaved his beard and even put on make-up. That father was so gentle!
Pastor Ron described the gentleness of King Jesus as “power under control.” Jesus is powerful enough to destroy his people’s enemies: Satan and the power of sin and death. However, to his own children, Jesus is like a good father who comes to them with tender, peaceful, loving, and nail-pierced hands. He does not treat people roughly or abusively. Instead, he rules with a gentle strength that brings healing and wholeness. When we are disheartened, gentle Jesus encourages us not to give up. When we are downcast, gentle Jesus wipes away our tears. When we are too tired and exhausted to move a finger, he carries us on his back. When we are disobedient, gentle Jesus restores us to the right path with his shepherd’s staff. Our King Jesus is such a gentle King! This Gentle King Jesus is coming to you! I hope I can be as gentle as Jesus to my children and my wife by the help of the Holy Spirit. How about you, gentlemen?
Thus far, we have learned that Jesus is the King who fulfilled the prophesies, who comes to us, and who is gentle. I told you at the beginning we can see what kind of king Jesus is in four ways! Is there anything I missed? As I looked up Zechariah 9:9 and compared it to Matthew 21:5, I noticed something: Matthew missed a phrase from it. Zechariah 9:9 in NIV 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.” The coming king in Zechariah 9:9 is also described as “righteous and victorious,” in ESV as “righteous and having salvation,” and in KJV as “just and having salvation.”
Did Matthew make a mistake? No! He was a former tax-collector, the best accountant and was quite detail oriented. So he intentionally didn’t put it. Why? It is simply because the prophecy of the King’s “being righteous and victorious,” would be fulfilled later when he was raised from the dead and ultimately through his Second Coming. This phrase “righteous and victorious,” adds another important truth about the Coming King.
Fourth, King Jesus is righteous and victorious. While struggling to decide whether to include or not this phrase in this message, my dear friend, Dr. Suh said something inspiring, “It is about Jesus’ Messianic righteousness and victory for us.” Why is this meaningful?
What is Jesus’ Messianic righteousness? As we all know Jesus is God incarnate. He is always holy, just and righteous God. However, as he came to the world in human flesh according to God’s plan and purpose, God the Father did something to him that no human being could imagine. In 2 Co 5:21, Apostle Paul says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” God made sinless Jesus to be sin for us. In other words, he put all of our sins, the sins of the world upon him. And God poured out his wrath upon Him on the cross. After he was crucified, he was laid in a grave. God made Jesus Christ to be sin for us in that way and made him pay the full wages of our sins. Do you think that God is very cruel while Jesus is good? Not at all! When God sacrificed his One and Only Son, he sacrificed himself. However, that was not the end of the story.
God raised him from the dead freeing him from the agony of death (Acts 2:24). By raising Jesus from the dead, God declared that Jesus was no longer sin. God was proclaiming that Jesus is righteous as the Messiah. This is Jesus’ messianic righteousness. That was not all! God appointed Him as the Lord and Savior (Acts 3:36; Rom 1:4; Php 2:9-11). Now read 2Co 5:21 again. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” We who are united in his death and resurrection by faith become the righteousness of God. We can never earn God’s righteousness. But we can freely receive God’s righteousness when we accept and believe in Jesus Christ, who is God’s righteousness. This is what Jesus’ Messianic righteousness for us means. Our King Jesus is righteous and at the same he comes to offer God’s righteousness to us!
What does Jesus’ being “victorious” mean? Just as Jesus’ being righteous as the Messiah is for us, so is his victory as the Messiah also for us. There were various victories God gave to Jesus on earth. But the greatest victory that God gave to Jesus is that he raised him from the dead and seated him at the right hand of God. God freed him from the agony of death and glorified him by making him King of kings and Lord of lords sitting at his right hand. Jesus is coming to you to offer these victories. When we believe in his death and resurrection, we have already crossed over from death to life (Jn 5:24). We will never die (Jn 11:26). There will be no second death to those in Him (Rev 21:8). By being united with him, we are already sitting with Him at the right hand of God (Eph 2:6). We are eternal victors through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Do you believe this? This is the salvation that Jesus has for us and comes to offer to each of us!
II. Jesus came to fulfill the role of the temple (12-13).
In verses 12-13, we see Jesus’ kingship from a very different angle. Look at verse 12. “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 benches of those selling doves.” Jesus entered the temple, especially the temple courts, which were the only place where the Gentiles could come to worship God. When he entered the temple courts, he was no longer the humble meek King who entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. He was full of righteous anger. He cleaned the temple courts of animals, and those who made money by making use of the temple sacrificial system. And then he proclaimed the role of the temple. Look at verse 13. “‘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.”’” Jesus called the temple, “God’s house,” where God dwells and where prayers for all nations can be offered.
Why is Jesus’ entering the temple such an important event in light of God’s kingdom? In Matthew 24 Jesus predicted the total destruction of the temple. In fact, his prophecy was fulfilled in AD 70 when both the temple and Jerusalem were completely destroyed by the Roman Army under General Titus. Then, does God’s house no longer exist? Yes! It does exist! Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it in three days” (Jn 2:19). By saying this, he meant that he would be raised from the dead and he himself would become the very temple where God dwells.
We need to remember that in the heavenly temple Prophet Isaiah saw the Lord Almighty seated on a throne. We also need to remember God’s grieving voice. But after Jesus rose again from the dead, Christ Jesus entered the Holy of holies in the heavenly temple with his blood (Heb 9:12), and his torn body became a new and living way for those who believe in Him (Heb 10:20) to approach God boldly. Now we can come to the heavenly temple where Christ is ministering as the heavenly High Priest offering intercessory prayers for all nations. We can come to the throne of God’s grace in heaven through Christ Jesus.
Do you see now how that one missing piece in heavenly temple, his people, can be added and his kingdom will be perfected? Can you hear and see God’s joy when one prodigal son or daughter comes back to his dining table in heaven?
The Bible also says that while living on earth, we believers individually and corporately are the temple as well (1Co 3:16, 6:19; 1Pt 2:5). What will happen when we welcome Jesus so that he can enter the temple of our hearts? Of course, he will drive out all kinds of animals; the animals of lust, anger, greed, etc., and all kinds of commercial activities from our hearts. Our hearts will be cleansed with his blood so that there will be healing, renewal, and praises like little children who shouted in the temple.
As I learned of King Jesus, I became increasingly excited about the ISBC. On the other hand, when I look at myself, I see myself sometimes tired and harsh toward others. Why is this so? It is because even if Jesus has come to us, if we hide ourselves from him enjoying the world, then King Jesus is only near to us like one of our neighbors, but not in us. When Jesus comes to us, we also need to take one step to come to him and intentionally open our hearts and lives and minds to him. While living on earth, each moment, we need to live with the faith that our King Jesus has already come into our hearts when we first believed in him and intentionally deepen our relationship with King Jesus.
In truth, we are living between Jesus’ two Comings. Jesus first came on earth as a baby and entered Jerusalem on a donkey. And he entered the heavenly temple through his resurrection and ascension. But this same Jesus is coming back very soon. He will come again with great power and glory that all he fulfilled can be fully realized and God’s kingdom can be perfected. When he comes again, the New Jerusalem, God’s dwelling will come down from heaven to among his people. And all of his children will be gathered from the four corners of the world. No one will be missing. Every single redeemed person will enter God’s eternal kingdom and give praises to our God forever. Are you waiting for his Second Coming?
As we now know who Jesus truly is and the purpose of his coming as our King, what shall be our response? Will you let Him come into your hearts as your King? Lord Jesus! We open the door of our hearts that you can come in and make them your throne! Prophet Zechariah encourages us to “Rejoice greatly!” and “Shout!” He also tells us to “See” or behold. We shouldn’t lose our sight from King Jesus. We fix our eyes on Him and experience his gentleness moment by moment. Lastly, Apostle Matthew says, “Say to the Daughter Zion.” We are told to share the good news of the coming of King Jesus! By having Jesus as our righteous and victorious King by faith in our hearts and in our daily lives, we can live a righteous and victorious life on earth while looking forward to his Second Coming. May Jesus, our gentle, righteous and victorious king receive all our love, honor and worship forever and ever.