Matt. 21: 1-17 THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY 3-15-13
What we're about to look into today is often referred to as His triumphant entry, Jesus officially offers Himself to the nation of Israel as her long-awaited Messiah.
Some may wonder how this could be triumphant for Jesus since it leads to His crucifixion.
This was the entry of the Messiah, the King of Kings; and His triumph was to be the greatest victory of all time, the victory over sin, death and the grave. To do that He would have to die in place of all humanity, and then rise from the dead as the sign that He had overcome it all. Therefore, He entered the city to die. Then, when He comes again, He will appear in glory as the truly triumphant and glorious King of Kings.
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* The triumphal entry is found in all four Gospel accounts.
In Matthew's record Jesus was born and sought by the wise men who called Him the King of the Jews. Now, at the end of His ministry, He is again presented as the King of the Jews.
In Matthew, Mark, and Luke's accounts we find three different entries, and from these three accounts we find that Jesus entered Jerusalem on three consecutive days. And at the end of each day He'd return to Bethany.
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* LISTEN; one way we can know that Jesus was and is Israel's King is by Daniels prophecy found in Dan. 9:24-26.
Listen; The kingdom of Judah was taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and Daniel was among the captives, Daniel had either heard Jeremiah preach, or Daniel had read what Jeremiah wrote to do with how long their captivity in Babylon was to last, and after reading Jeremiahs prophecy he knew that 70 years were about up, here is what Daniel read;
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>>Jeremiah 25:11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 12And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, --
>>Jeremiah 29: 10For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
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LISTEN; The seventy years of captivity was the penalty for violating seventy sabbatical years that means they'd not allow the land to rest for one year every 7 years, they continued to work the land.
That would be seventy sevens, a total of 490 years. In those 490 years, Israel had violated seventy sabbatical years; so they would go into captivity for seventy years, thus allowing the land to rest.
>> 2 Chron. 36:21 To fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfill threescore and ten years. 70 years in captivity.
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Again; one way we can know that Jesus was and is Israel's King is by Daniels prophecy found in Dan. 9:24-26. -- The angel Gabriel brings this message to Daniel.
>>Daniel 9: 24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Six things would be accomplished.
Daniel was informed that God has appointed 70 weeks upon the Jewish people to finish all transgressions.
These "weeks," are not seven-day weeks, but each "week" represents seven years. Thus, 70 weeks of years equals 490 years.
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* Here are the six things to be accomplished:
1. "To finish the transgression." This refers to the transgression of Israel. The cross provided the redemption for sin--for the sin of the nation, but not all accepted it. But in that last "week" ** (tribulation) we are told that God says,
>>Zech. 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications ** earnest prayer.
>>Zech. 13:1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
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2. "To make an end of sins." The national sins of Israel will come to an end at the second coming of Christ.
3. "To make reconciliation for iniquity." During this period of Seventy Weeks, God has provided redemption through the death and resurrection of Christ, not only for Israel but for all people.
4. "And to bring in everlasting righteousness" this refers to the return of Christ at the end of the 490 years to establish the Kingdom.
5. "To seal up the vision and prophecy" all will be fulfilled, which includes this prophecy as well as all other prophecies in Scripture.
6. "To anoint the most Holy" has reference to the anointing of the holy of holies in the millennial temple about which Ezekiel spoke (Ezek. 41--46).
== Dan.9: 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
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Listen; From the time of the decree given by Artaxerxes to Nehemiah in 445 B.C. to restore and build Jerusalem until the coming of the Messiah would be 7 weeks (49 years) plus 62 weeks (434 years), amounting to 69 weeks or 483 years, all but 7 of the 490 years involved in the 70 weeks. The last week, or 7 years is telling about the 7 year tribulation.
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The date of 33 a.d. is the date at the end of the sixty-ninth week, this is when Christ entered Jerusalem and presented Himself as the Messiah, Israel's King, but He was rejected which God already knew.
>> John 1: 11He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
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== Dan.9: 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:
This was the crucifixion of Christ. Not for Himself--He died in our place.
The time count stopped at the crucifixion of Jesus, which includes 483 of the 490 years prophesied, there is an undetermined time gapped between the 483 years and the finale 7 years, at this time the Church is being made up, when the Church is complete and removed from the earth then the count starts again, the last 7 years, that's the 7 year tribulation.
So by this prophecy in Dan. 9:24-26 we clearly understand that Jesus is the King of the Jews, only Jesus Christ has all the credentials to be King, when He returns the 2nd time he'll then take His rightful position.
Only our Great God Jehovah could produce such a plan.
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* Now back to the triumphant entry, this is the year A.D. 32
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Listen as I read and comment on today's text found in Matt. 21: 1-17
1And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, ** (Bethphage, which was the suburb of Jerusalem, it was a long scattering street that lay toward the Mount of Olives)
unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, **(just ahead of you) and straightway** "immediately" ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
>Because Jesus is all knowing, He knew where these two animals would be, He told two of His disciples to go to that particular place and bring them to Him. Let's also notice the good lesson of honesty in not using the ass without the owner knowing about it and with his consent. Don't just take something, which equals to stealing it.
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3And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
4All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
>>Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
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There are certain important omissions in the quotation in Matthew. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion" is left out, why? Because Jesus is not coming into Jerusalem at this time, for that time of rejoicing. That will take place at His second coming.
Also left out is "he is just, and having salvation"--the word salvation has the thought of victory, which will also be fulfilled at His second coming.
At His second coming there will truly be a triumphal entry.
By this entry Jesus was compelling the people to recognize Him as the coming King predicted in Zechariah. They would have to consider this event in the light of that prediction
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>Mention is made in the prophecy of a colt, the foal of an ass; and therefore Christ sent for the colt along with the ass, that the scripture might be fulfilled.
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6And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
>They didn't take off wondering if the ass and colt would be there, they went to fetch the ass and the colt, not doubting to find them, and to find the owner willing to lend them as well.
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7And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
>They had not so much as a saddle for the ass, but the disciples put some of their clothes upon it, the disciples furnished him with the best they had, and did not object the spoiling of their clothes when the Lord had need of them.
There was without doubt was much commotion, much shouting, and a great deal of moving about, but in the midst of the excitement of the crowd a young unbroken animal remained calm when Jesus rode it, a sign that Jesus controlled nature. This symbolism pointed to the peace of the Messianic kingdom.
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8And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest."
>>The cries included: "Hosanna to the Son of David"; "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD"; and "Hosanna in the highest."
>>The word "hosanna" is a Greek writing meaning "save us" a cry for help.
But as time went along it became an acclamation, much like the Hebrew word halleluiah which means ("praise the Lord")
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10And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
>>In Luke's account He was criticized by the leaders for receiving such praise.
>>Luke 19: 39-40 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
He alone is worthy of such praise; and everything in creation will praise Him.
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11And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
>Think of it, The Holy One unknown in the holy city! In places where the clearest light shines, and the greatest profession of religion is made, there is more ignorance than we have even here.
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12And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
The presence of the money-changers changed a holy place into a place of commerce (for profit). And so Jesus drove them all out.
At the coming of the Messiah, the temple had become a den of robbers. These words come from Jeremiah 7:11.
Jeremiah had denounced the superstitious worship in the temple that included all kinds of wickedness that ruined the worship.
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14And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
Both the cleansing of the temple and the healing of the people shows Jesus' authority over the temple and those who ran it.
Jesus was showing that He alone could make people whole so that they could enter the sanctuary. He was God's remedy for mankind's ruin; He was the provision of sanctification for the sins and the infirmities of the world.
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15And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,
16And said unto him, "Hearest thou what these say?" And Jesus saith unto them, "Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?"
When the children were singing, "Hosanna to the Son of David" these leaders became very angry.
Since Jesus received such praise, He must be doing the things that Messiah was to do, and this they could not accept.
But Jesus answered them by citing Psalm 8:2, and introducing it with the rebuke: "Have you never read?" He was responding to their indignation by uncovering their spiritual ignorance.
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17And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.
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The triumphal entry ended at the cross where it had been fore ordained of God, but He will come the second time in triumph.
