2025.08.17. Sermon Notes. The KING, The Temple, and The Tree_Matthew 21.1-22 (Part 1)
Welcoming the KING, Purifying the Heart, Bearing Fruit in Faith
BIG IDEA: The KING has come - not to meet our shallow expectations, but to rule our hearts, cleanse our worship, and produce in us a faith that is both pure and fruitful.
JESUS enters as the rightful KING, calls His people to pure worship, and expects genuine faith that bears spiritual fruit.
Arrival -> Cleansing -> Expectation
Scriptures: Matthew 21:1-22, Zechariah 9:9, Psalms 118:25-26, Isaiah 56:7,
Jeremiah 7:11, 2 Timothy 4:2-5, John 15:8, Galatians 5:22-23, James 1:6,
1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Corinthians 13:2, Mark 11:24
Matthew 21 is a pivotal chapter in the Gospel, marking the beginning of JESUS’ final week before the crucifixion - often called the Passion Week. It’s full of prophetic fulfillment, sharp confrontations with religious leaders, and parables that expose the heart condition of GOD’s people.
Today we will look at Matthew 21:1-22 (Part 1)
Introduction
Imagine a leader arriving into town - crowds cheering, waving flags, shouting. In our day, we expect armored limos and media teams. But JESUS entered Jerusalem on a humble borrowed donkey.
• This chapter marks the beginning of the end — the final week before the cross.
• It’s filled with prophetic fulfillment, cleansing, cursing, confrontation, and parables — each revealing the heart of GOD and exposing the hearts of people.
I. THE KING’S ARRIVAL - WELCOMING JESUS - THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY
Matthew 21:1-11
(Mark 11:1–10; Luke 19:28–40; John 12:12–19)
1 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 opposite 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.’ ”
PROPHECY: Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding 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!”
PROPHECY: Psalms 118:25-26 25 Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
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.”
KEY VERSE: “Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9)
SUMMARY:
• Preparation: JESUS sends two disciples to fetch a donkey and a colt — every detail already arranged (vv. 2–3).
• Prophecy Fulfilled: Zechariah 9:9 foretold a humble King bringing peace, not war.
• Crowd’s Response: People spread cloaks and palm branches (symbols of victory) on the road, shouting “Hosanna!” — meaning “Save us now!” echoing Psalm 118:25–26.
• Symbolism of the Donkey: In biblical times, a donkey signified peace; a warhorse signified conquest. JESUS’ choice revealed His mission as a spiritual Savior, not a political conqueror.
• Mixed Expectations: Many welcomed Him with praise but misunderstood His purpose – expecting a political savior to overthrow Rome. The people were seeking political deliverance rather than spiritual redemption.
KEY POINT: JESUS entered Jerusalem as a humble King offering peace and salvation - not as the military leader many expected, but for a greater conquest, not Rome’s throne, but our hearts.
JESUS didn’t come as the political savior; HE came as the Savior of souls.
APPLICATION:
• Am I welcoming JESUS for who He truly is — or only for what I want Him to do?
• Do my actions match my words of praise?
• Do I honor Him both in word (“Hosanna!”) and in life (obedience)?
II. THE KING’S AUTHORITY - CLEANSING THE TEMPLE
Matthew 21:12-17
JESUS Cleanses the Temple (Mark 11:15–19; Luke 19:45–48; John 2:13–22)
12 Then JESUS went into the temple of GOD and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of thieves.’ ”
PROPHECY: Isaiah 56:7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain,
And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
PROPHECY: Jeremiah 7:11 Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” says the LORD.
POINT: GOD SEES WHEN HIS HOUSE IS CORRUPTED
14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant 16 and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”
And JESUS said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,
Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have perfected praise’?”
17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.
LESSON: The KING’s House – Cleansing the Temple (Matthew 21:12–17)
KEY VERSE: “My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you make it a den of thieves.” (Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11)
SUMMARY:
• Confrontation: JESUS enters the temple and drives out the money changers and dove sellers — a display of righteous anger against corrupt worship.
• Scriptural Rebuke: Quotes Isaiah 56:7 (“My house shall be called a house of prayer”) Isaiah 56:7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
POINT: GOD’s house is for prayer, joy, and acceptance of true worship.
Jeremiah 7:11 (“…but you have made it a den of thieves”)
Jeremiah 7:11Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” says the LORD.
POINT: GOD SEES WHEN HIS HOUSE IS CORRUPTED
• Restoration: He heals the blind and lame in the temple (v. 14).
• Pure Praise: Children cry out “Hosanna,” angering the chief priests. JESUS responds by quoting Psalm 8:2, affirming that GOD ordains and delights in simple, childlike praise.
POINT: True worship is marked by purity, prayer, and compassion — not profit or self-interest.
THOUGHT – Cleansing the Temple of the Heart
“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the HOLY SPIRIT… you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify GOD in your body and in your spirit, which are GOD’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)
APPLICATION:
• What needs to be “overturned” in my life so that my worship is pure?
• Is my walk with GOD marked by prayer and compassion — or cluttered with distraction and self-interest?
• What “money changers” need to be driven out of my own heart?
Cleansing the Temple – Then vs. Now
THEN – Matthew 21:12-17
NOW – Our Lives 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Then: JESUS entered the physical temple in Jerusalem.
Now: The HOLY SPIRIT dwells in our bodies — we are GOD’s temple.
Then: He found corruption: money changers and merchants turning worship into profit.
Now: GOD finds distractions, selfish ambition, and sin that crowd out true worship.
Then: He overturned tables — a forceful removal of what didn’t belong.
Now: We must allow GOD’s Spirit to overturn habits, attitudes, and idols that hinder holiness.
Then: He restored purity — making the temple again a place for prayer and GOD’s presence.
Now: We pursue purity so our lives are marked by prayer, holiness, and intimacy with GOD.
Then: He healed the blind and lame.
Now: When the “clutter” is removed, GOD’s power works freely to heal and restore our lives.
Then: Children cried “Hosanna!” — genuine, unpretentious praise.
Now: GOD still delights in sincere, childlike worship that flows from a pure heart.
Key Takeaway:
Just as JESUS cleansed the temple in Jerusalem, He wants to cleanse the “temple” of our hearts today — removing what doesn’t belong so His presence, power, and praise can fill our lives.
III. THE KING’S EXPECTATION - FRUITFUL FAITH
Matthew 21:18-22
The Fig Tree Withered (Mark 11:12–14)
18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry.
19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.
The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree (Mark 11:20–24)
20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”
21 So JESUS answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
RELATED SCRIPTURES:
• 2 Timothy 4:2-5 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
• John 15:8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
• Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
• James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
• 1 Corinthians 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
• Mark 11:24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
LESSON: The KING’s Expectation – Cursing the Fig Tree (Matthew 21:18–22)
KEY VERSE: “If you have faith… whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive.” (v. 22)
SUMMARY:
• Symbolic Act: JESUS curses a fig tree that looks healthy but bears no fruit; it withers immediately.
• Prophetic Picture: The fig tree often represents Israel — outwardly religious but spiritually barren (Jeremiah 8:13; Hosea 9:10).
• Spiritual Lesson: GOD expects genuine fruitfulness under His care; outward appearance without inward reality leads to judgment.
• Faith Principle: JESUS uses the moment to teach that faith-filled prayer, aligned with GOD’s will, moves mountains (Mark 11:24).
LESSONS from the Fig Tree:
1. Be Ready in All Seasons: Share CHRIST and live faithfully “in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2–5).
2. Leaves Without Fruit: Religious appearance without spiritual substance is empty.
3. Fruit is Proof of Life: True discipleship is seen in fruit-bearing (John 15:8).
4. Faith that Moves Mountains: Prayer and faith are inseparable; both must be genuine.
APPLICATION:
• Am I producing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) or just looking the part?
• Is my prayer life marked by bold faith — or hindered by doubt?
• Am I willing for GOD to examine and prune the barren and unfruitful areas in my life?
ILLUSTRATIONS:
Palm Sunday Parade vs. Real Loyalty: Cheering for a team from the stands isn’t the same as playing on the field.
Cluttered Temple = Cluttered Heart: Like cleaning a garage - the junk has to go before the space can be used well.
Fruitless Tree: A leafy apple tree without apples - attractive but useless for its purpose.
SELF EXAMINATION:
1. What does the Triumphal Entry teach us about receiving JESUS as KING?
2. How can worship today drift into being “profitable but not prayerful”?
3. How does the fig tree challenge you to examine the fruitfulness of your faith?
4. How can we grow in prayer that is both faith-filled and aligned with GOD’s will?
Matthew 21 shows us something about our own walk in CHRIST.
LESSON: Arrival – The Triumphal Entry (Matthew 21:1-11)
POINT: KING comes in humility, fulfilling prophecy
APPLICATION: Receive JESUS for who HE truly is – Not just what we want HIM to do. We welcome HIM as KING
LESSON: Cleansing – The Temple (Matthew 21:12-17)
POINT: Purity in worship, prayer over profit
APPLICATION: Overturn distractions in our hearts so worship is pure. We allow HIM to purify our hearts.
LESSON: Expectation – The Fig Tree (Matthew 21:18-22)
POINT: Faith that bears spiritual fruit
APPLICATION: Live a fruitful faith – prayerful, obedient, Spirit-led. We bear fruit through faith and obedience.
APPLICATION: The KING has come - not to meet our shallow expectations, but to rule our hearts, cleanse our worship, and produce in us a faith that is both pure and fruitful.
LET’s pray,
FATHER, we thank YOU for YOUR WORD as it reveals our hearts and opens our understanding of YOUR Love for us. LORD JESUS, we welcome YOU as our KING. Cleanse the temple of our hearts from all that distracts from worship, by the Power of YOUR Presence. Root out empty religion and replace it with living faith that bears fruits of HOLY SPIRIT in us. Teach us to pray believing, to obey willingly, and to live joyfully under YOUR Reign. Amen.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Bill
Hymns
• 54 “All Glory, Laud, and Honor”
• 122 “Crown Him with Many Crowns”
• 335 “Take My Life and Let It Be”
• 509 “Cleanse Me” / “Search Me, O God”
• 297 “Trust and Obey”
• 316 “I Surrender All”
• 308 “Faith Is the Victory”
