Matthew 21
People's New Testament
And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
21:1 Christ Entering Jerusalem

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 21:

The Lord Leaves Bethany to Enter Jerusalem. The Charge to the Two Disciples. The Fulfillment of Prophecy. The Great Multitude Who Prepare the Way. Hosanna to the Son of David. Jesus Enters the Temple. The Money-Changers Cast Out. The Barren Fig Tree. The Controversy with the Rulers. John's Baptism. The Parable of the Two Sons. The Parable of the Vineyard and the Husbandmen. The Stone That the Builders Rejected.

When they drew nigh unto Jerusalem. Jesus passed through Jericho, where be bestowed sight on Bartimaeus and salvation on Zaccheus, came up the mountain pass from Jericho to Jerusalem, stopping over the Sabbath in the congenial home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, in Bethany, and so on Sunday morning made his entry into Jerusalem. Compare Mr 11:1-11 Lu 19:29-44 Joh 12:12-19. As they drew nigh to Jerusalem they ascended the Mount of Olives. There were three paths over the Mount of Olives: (1) on the north, in the hollow between the two crests of the hill; (2) over the summit; and (3) on the south, between the Mount of Olives and the Hill of Offence--still the most frequented and the best. Along this Jesus advanced.

To Bethphage. Bethphage and Bethany were suburban villages near to one another, and lying on the direct line of road that led to Jerusalem from the east.

Mount of Olives. A hill just east of Jerusalem, so called from the olive trees upon it. It was about a mile from the city. It was their open ground--for pleasure, for worship; the Park of Jerusalem; the thoroughfare of any going or coming in the direction of the great Jordan valley.

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.
21:2 Into the village over against you. Bethphage is in view, over against them, perhaps separated from them by a valley.

Ye shall find an ass tied. In the East the ass is in high esteem. Every Jew expected, from the words of one of the prophets (Zec 9:9), that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem riding on an ass.

And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
21:3 The Lord hath need of them. It is probable that the owner was a disciple.
All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
21:4,5 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet. See Isa 62:11 Zec 9:9. The prophet here describes him as riding upon one of the humblest of animals, and in the fulfillment we find, (1) that the animal was borrowed; (2) that he rode without a saddle on borrowed garments; (3) that it was a colt on which no man had ever before rode. Only animals hitherto unused were regarded fit for sacred uses. See Nu 19:2 De 21:3 1Sa 6:7. This is the only instance reported in which the Lord ever rode on any animal.
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.
21:4,5 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet. See Isa 62:11 Zec 9:9. The prophet here describes him as riding upon one of the humblest of animals, and in the fulfillment we find, (1) that the animal was borrowed; (2) that he rode without a saddle on borrowed garments; (3) that it was a colt on which no man had ever before rode. Only animals hitherto unused were regarded fit for sacred uses. See Nu 19:2 De 21:3 1Sa 6:7. This is the only instance reported in which the Lord ever rode on any animal.
And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
21:7 They set him thereon. Hitherto he had entered the holy city on foot; this day he would enter as David and the judges of Israel were wont--riding on an ass.
And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
21:8 And a very great multitude spread their garments. Vast multitudes were gathered at Jerusalem at the Passover. The Law required the assembling of the Jewish nation. Josephus says that several millions were wont to gather. Among these were thousands of Galileans who had heard of Jesus, seen his miracles, and believed in him as their Messiah King. When the people of Bethlehem, during the war between Turkey and Egypt in 1836, sought the protection of the British consul, they spread their garments in the way of his horses, in order to do him honor.

Cut down branches from the trees. John says that these were the branches of palm trees (Joh 12:13); rather, the wide, spreading, branch-like leaves of the palm tree, well fitted to form a soft, level carpet. The only branches of the palm tree are its leafy crown.

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.
21:9 Hosanna. A Greek modification of the Hebrew words rendered, Save now, I beseech thee, in Ps 118:25, the next verse of which formed part of their song, Blessed, etc. It is used as an expression of praise, like hallelujah.

He that cometh in the name of the Lord. The words are taken in part from Ps 118:25,26, a hymn which belonged to the great hallelujah chanted at the end of the Paschal Supper and the Feast of Tabernacles. The people were accustomed to apply it to the Messiah.

And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
21:10 All the city was moved. The procession burst into full view of Jerusalem as it appeared on the Mount of Olives, 200 feet higher than the temple mount. There, as the city appeared in all its splendor, according to Luke, he stopped and wept over its coming sorrows (Lu 19:41-44). As the procession descended, it was in plain view of all Jerusalem, and its magnitude, shouts and songs excited the wonder of the whole city.
And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
21:11 Jesus the prophet of Nazareth. The inquiry arose everywhere, Who is this ? to which the Galileans who composed so large a part of the procession, responded: It is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth, of Galilee. Of this they were sure; of his real character none but his own disciples knew, and they imperfectly. The Galileans regarded him the prophet named by Moses in De 18:18.
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,
21:12 And Jesus went into the temple. According to Mark, on this day, after the triumphal entry, he entered the temple, looked around, perhaps to note the abuses, and then at eventide went out to Bethany (Mr 11:11). The next day, returning, he again entered the temple, and wrought the cleansing that is here recorded. He went into the temple, not as a worshiper, but as its Lord.

Cast out all them. This casting of the traders out of the temple is not to be confounded with that recorded in John, at the commencement of Christ's ministry. See notes on Joh 2:13-17.

Them that sold and bought in the temple. A Market was held there for the sale of animals and those things necessary for the temple service. Not the less a desecration because so great a convenience. The part of the temple occupied by the traders was not in the temple proper, but the Court of the Gentiles. In the accompanying plan of the temple, the open space next to the outer walls is the court.

Tables of the moneychangers. Money would be required, (1) to purchase materials for the offerings; (2) to present as free-offerings to the temple treasury (Mr 12:41 Lu 21:1); (3) to pay the yearly temple tax of half a shekel due from every Jew, however poor. All this had to be paid in native coin called the temple shekel, which was not generally current. Strangers, therefore, had to change their Roman, Greek, or Eastern money, at the stalls of the money-changers, to obtain the coin required. This trade gave ready means for fraud, which was only too common. Christ's act was a defiance to those who sought his death.

Of them that sold doves. Required for poor women coming for purification (Le 12:6,8 Lu 2:24) from all parts of the country, and for other offerings.

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.
21:13 It is written. In Isa 56:7.

A house of prayer. A place of sacred worship.

A den of thieves. A cave or den of robbers. The language indicates that it was a corrupt and fraudulent traffic, which a corrupt and fraudulent priesthood had permitted to encroach on the worship of God. It is a desecration of religious institutions to use them for worldly gain.

And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
And 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,
21:15 Chief priests and scribes... were sore displeased. These inveterate enemies were displeased, not only at the authority he had assumed over the temple, but at the acclamations of approval, the cries of the children, and the evident favor of the people.
And 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?
21:16 Hearest thou what these say? Christ's answer to the priests is a rebuke to all who would check religious enthusiasm on the part of children.

Out of the mouths of babes, etc. The quotation is from Ps 8:2. The praise of the innocent child is the perfection of praise.

And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.
21:17 Went out of the city into Bethany. Two miles east of Jerusalem. During the eventful week, he seems to have passed his nights, until Thursday, at the congenial home of Lazarus.
Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
21:18 Now in the morning. Compare Mr 11:12-19 Lu 19:45-48. This was Monday.
And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
21:19 He saw a fig tree. On the route from Bethany to the city. The fig is common in Palestine.

Found nothing thereon, but leaves. Mark adds that the time of figs was not yet (Mr 11:13); that is, of ripe figs. The green figs ought to have appeared among the leaves in April, though the fruit began ripening in June.

Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. Peter calls this a cursing. It was doomed to death and withered. On the next morning (Tuesday) it was dried up from the roots (Mr 11:21,20). It was a parable in action, illustrating how the fruitless Jewish nation should wither away. It had leaves, but no fruit.

And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
21:21,22 If ye have faith. See PNT Mt 17:19.
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
21:21,22 If ye have faith. See PNT Mt 17:19.
And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
21:23 When he was come into the temple. Compare Mr 11:27 Lu 20:1. This was on Tuesday, after the discourse on the fig tree, which occurred the morning after the curse was pronounced.

The chief priests and the elders. Mark and Luke add the scribes. These three classes made up the Sanhedrin, and this was probably a deputation from that body.

By what authority doest thou these things? Such acts as driving the money-changers and traders out of the temple, done the day before.

And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
21:24 I also will ask you one thing. A malicious question is often best answered by a question which will expose the questioners.
The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?
21:25,26 The baptism of John. Though the people generally had obeyed John, they had rejected his baptism. Yet they dared not say it was of men, for fear of the people; nor that it was of heaven, because they had disobeyed it. They therefore say, We cannot tell (Mt 21:27).
But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
21:25,26 The baptism of John. Though the people generally had obeyed John, they had rejected his baptism. Yet they dared not say it was of men, for fear of the people; nor that it was of heaven, because they had disobeyed it. They therefore say, We cannot tell (Mt 21:27).
And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
21:27 We cannot tell. Hence the Lord refuses to answer their question, but immediately addresses them in a parable. As his death approaches, his parables are unusually solemn.
But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
21:28-31 A certain man had two sons. The two sons represent the priests, elders and scribes on the one hand, and the publicans and harlots, the sinners, on the other (Mt 21:31). Both classes were bidden to work in the Lord's vineyard. The publicans and sinners had refused, but repented at the preaching of John. The others professed to obey, but did not. The design of the parable is to show that the publicans and harlots, whom they so much despised, were morally superior to his questioners.
He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
21:28-31 A certain man had two sons. The two sons represent the priests, elders and scribes on the one hand, and the publicans and harlots, the sinners, on the other (Mt 21:31). Both classes were bidden to work in the Lord's vineyard. The publicans and sinners had refused, but repented at the preaching of John. The others professed to obey, but did not. The design of the parable is to show that the publicans and harlots, whom they so much despised, were morally superior to his questioners.
And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
21:28-31 A certain man had two sons. The two sons represent the priests, elders and scribes on the one hand, and the publicans and harlots, the sinners, on the other (Mt 21:31). Both classes were bidden to work in the Lord's vineyard. The publicans and sinners had refused, but repented at the preaching of John. The others professed to obey, but did not. The design of the parable is to show that the publicans and harlots, whom they so much despised, were morally superior to his questioners.
Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
21:28-31 A certain man had two sons. The two sons represent the priests, elders and scribes on the one hand, and the publicans and harlots, the sinners, on the other (Mt 21:31). Both classes were bidden to work in the Lord's vineyard. The publicans and sinners had refused, but repented at the preaching of John. The others professed to obey, but did not. The design of the parable is to show that the publicans and harlots, whom they so much despised, were morally superior to his questioners.
For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
21:32 Repented not afterward. The Greek word here translated repent, is not the one which is used in all commands as, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mt 3:2), Repent and be baptized (Ac 2:38), Repent and be converted (Ac 3:19), etc. This term metamellomai means, rather, regret or sorrow; the word in the other passages, metanoeo, means change your minds or hearts. The regret, or sorrow, for sin leads to repentance (2Co 7:10). The scribes and Pharisees did not regret their course, when they saw sinners repenting, so that they could come into a penitent belief.
Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
21:33 Hear another parable. Compare Mr 12:1-12 Lu 20:9-19. The second parable is also a rebuke of the ruling classes that were seeking his death.

There was a certain householder. The head of a family is here selected to represent God. In what follows is portrayed the blessings he had bestowed and the care he had taken of Israel.

Which planted a vineyard. Our Lord draws, as was his wont, his illustration from common life and familiar objects. Palestine was emphatically a vine-growing country.

And hedged it around. God in his care not only planted Israel, but hedged the nation around by the law which separated it from the Gentiles.

Digged a winepress in it. The wine-press consisted of two parts: (1) the press, or trough, above, in which the grapes were placed and there trodden by the feet; (2) a smaller trough, into which the expressed juice flowed through a hole. Here the smaller trough, which was digged out of the earth or rock and then lined with masonry, is put for the whole apparatus, and is called a wine FAT.

Built a tower. Towers were erected in vineyards for the accommodation of keepers, who defended the vineyards from thieves and from troublesome animals. The hedge and wine-press and tower represent the various advantages conferred by God upon the Jewish people (Ro 9:4).

Let it out to vinedressers. Representing the rulers of the Jews, and also the people as a whole, a nation, are included.

Went into a far country. Better, into another country, as in the Revised Version. For a long while (or time), adds Lu 20:9 It means that God left Israel to itself to see what use it would make of the favors he had bestowed.

And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
21:34 When the time of the fruit drew near. Probably no definite time, but whenever any special duty was to be done, or special call to repentance made, as by the prophets.

He sent his servants. The prophets.

That they might receive his fruits. The householder's share. The rent was to be paid in a stipulated portion of the produce. The fruits were obedience, love, righteous living, teaching the true God to the nations, etc.

And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
21:35 And the husbandmen took his servants. According to the obvious design of the whole parable, this is a lively figure for the undutiful and violent reception often given to the prophets or other divine messengers, and the refusal to obey their message. See Mt 23:29-31 23:34,37 Lu 11:47-50 13:33,34. Compare 1Th 2:15 Re 16:6 18:24.

Killed another. Some of the prophets were not merely maltreated, but actually put to death.

Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
21:37 Last of all he sent unto them his son. This was the last and crowning effort of divine mercy; after which, on the one side, all the resources, even of heavenly love, are exhausted; on the other, the measure of sins is perfectly filled up.
But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
21:38 This is the heir. He for whom the inheritance is meant, and to whom it will in due course rightfully arrive. Christ is heir of all things (Heb 1:2).

Come, let us kill him. The very words of Ge 37:20 where Joseph's brethren express a similar resolution. This resolution had actually been taken (Joh 11:53).

Let us seize on his inheritance. If Christ prevailed, Judaism must fall; if they could destroy Christ they could maintain their hold on the vineyard; or, in other words, seize the inheritance. Such was their hope.

And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
21:39 Cast him out of the vineyard. This may involve an allusion to Christ suffering without the gate (Heb 13:12,13 Joh 19:17).

Slew him. This is a prophecy of his own death at the hands of the men whom he was addressing.

When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
21:40 When the lord therefore... cometh, what will he do? This question is addressed to the Jews, who seem to have been so carried away by the vivid description that they answered without seeing that they pronounced their own sentence. See Mt 21:41.
They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
21:41 They say unto him, etc. Their answer is not only their own decree of judgment upon themselves, but an unconscious prediction. The nation was nearly destroyed in the Roman war; 1,100,000 perished in the siege of Jerusalem; the Jewish polity was destroyed, and another people, the Church of Christ, mostly Gentile aliens before, received the inheritance and the kingdom.
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
21:42 The stone which the builders rejected. The Scripture that speaks of this stone is Ps 118:22,23--a psalm which the Jews applied to the Messiah. Peter twice applied it to him (Ac 4:11 1Pe 2:7). The figure represents a stone rejected by the builders as worthless, and then found to be the chief corner-stone of the building. The stone is Christ, rejected by the Jewish nation, but the chief corner-stone, for this is what is meant by the head of the corner. The corner-stone joined two walls. Alford thinks this is a reference to the union of Jews and Gentiles in the church.

Marvellous. That the rejected stone should become the chief corner-stone, elect and precious, on which the whole structure of the spiritual temple rests (1Pe 2:6 Isa 28:16).

Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
21:43 Given to a nation bringing forth the fruits. The kingdom was taken from the Jews and given to the chosen nation; not any particular nation, but those chosen out of the nations to be a peculiar people (1Pe 2:9).
And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
21:44 Whoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken. Two fates are named for opposers in this verse: (1) those who fall on the stone shall be broken; (2) those on whom the stone shall fall shall be ground to powder. While the principle is general, the special application is to the Jewish opposers. Their falling upon the Stone (Christ) was the ruin of their nation. When the Stone fell upon them, in the judgment he had predicted because they rejected him, they were ground to powder in the awful desolation that occurred about thirty-seven years later.
And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
21:45 When the chief priests and Pharisees had heard, etc. When the application of the parable was made, they perceived that they were meant and that they had condemned themselves.
But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
21:46 When they sought to lay hands on him. Jerusalem was filled with people, and the demonstration, two days before, on Sunday, showed that thousands of Galileans, at least, regarded him a prophet. Hence, they find some darker and safer way than an open assault in the day. None can oppose Christ without injury. Even the silent opposition of indifference will cause us to be broken unless repented of. To continue our opposition until the day of grace is over will result in irretrievable ruin. Those who are ground to powder are beyond hope.
The People's New Testament by B.W. Johnson [1891]

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