"The Path Is Set”

“The Path Is Set”

Matthew 21:1-17

This week marks our calendar what most refer to as “Palm Sunday”

This is in reference to John 12:13 “Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

We are going to look at just the first day of the very busy week for Jesus.

Luke 9:51 “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,”

Stedfastly - to make stable, place firmly, set fast, confirm, one’s mind

From the very beginning Jesus knew where His path would end, Jerusalem.

I. The Path Of Order

Matthew 21:1-3 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.”

The Mount of Olives is still in Jerusalem to this day.

In Fact there is a tree that dates back 2000 years. I wonder if that tree was a witness during the time that Jesus visited?

Vs. 2 directions were given that was very specific.

The reason is very clear in our next point and verse.

II. The Path Of Ordination

Matthew 21:4-5 “All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell 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.”

I am amazed that even today we can look back at times in our lives and say, “only God could have done that.”

Such is true in this verse, “Only God could have done that.”

III. The Path Of Obedience

Matthew 21:6-7 “And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.”

In this set of verses we are reminded; that as a disciple of the Lord we are called to follow His directions and it is our duty, and privilege to follow.

IV. The Path Of Ovation

Matthew 21:8-9 “And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And 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 Bible does not tell us why the crowd was shouting, only they were saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.”

I would speculate that during the occupation from the Romans that most desired to be free from the foreign rule and Jesus seemed to be on the path that would make them free.

That path is true but not in the way in which they thought of.

They wanted freedom from the Romans and Christ had come that they would be made free from the penalty of sin

Free from the sacrifice of the Law because He would be that sacrifice.

It is so true even today; we look to religion for freedom and are entangled in rituals until we call upon the only one who can truly make us free, Jesus

V. The Path Of Openness (Revelation)

Matthew 21:10-11 “And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.”

Little did they know or fully understand what was being said.

All the city was moved, saying, Who is this? - This is the prophet Jesus.

He is so much more because Jesus is the only one that ever fulfilled all three (3) offices in one person; Prophet, Priest, & King.

VI. The Path Of Obstruction

Matthew 21:12-14 “And 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, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. 14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.”