How does Psalm 24:7 connect to Jesus' triumphal entry in Matthew 21? A Glimpse of the King in Psalm 24:7 “Lift up your heads, O gates! Be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may enter!” • The psalm pictures the city gates flinging wide for a royal procession. • The “King of Glory” is none other than the LORD Himself (vv. 8–10). • Ancient Israel sang this psalm when the ark ascended Mount Zion—symbolizing God’s enthronement in the city (2 Samuel 6:12-15). The Jerusalem Scene in Matthew 21 “As they approached Jerusalem … they brought the donkey and the colt and laid their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them” (Matthew 21:1-7). • Crowds spread cloaks and branches, shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (v. 9). • The city is stirred—“Who is this?” (v. 10). • Jesus enters the temple, asserting divine authority by cleansing it (vv. 12-13). Point-by-Point Connections 1. The King Approaches • Psalm 24:7 calls for the gates to rise; Matthew 21 shows Jerusalem’s gates receiving Jesus. • Both scenes climax with a sovereign arrival on Mount Zion. 2. Divine Identity Affirmed • Psalm 24:8—“Who is this King of Glory? The LORD strong and mighty.” • Matthew’s crowd declares Jesus “Son of David,” a messianic title claiming divine kingship (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Isaiah 9:6-7). 3. Public Acclamation • Psalm 24 is a responsive song between gatekeepers and worshipers. • Matthew 21 echoes that dialogue: people cry “Hosanna,” the city asks “Who is this?”—a living fulfillment of the psalm’s call-and-response. 4. The Ark and the Temple • Psalm 24 celebrated the ark entering the sanctuary. • Jesus, God in the flesh (John 1:14), enters the temple and purifies it, matching Malachi 3:1—“the Lord you seek will suddenly come to His temple.” 5. Fulfilled Prophecy Layered Together • Psalm 24:7’s exalted gates pair with Zechariah 9:9’s gentle king on a donkey—both merge in Matthew 21. • The composite picture declares: the meek rider is also the conquering “LORD of Hosts.” Why It Matters for Us Today • Psalm 24 moves from literal gates to the gateway of every heart. Revelation 3:20 echoes, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” • Welcoming Jesus as Jerusalem once did means lifting our “ancient doors”—traditions, fears, self-rule—so the King of Glory may enter and reign. Key Takeaways • Psalm 24:7 prophetically anticipates Jesus’ triumphal entry. • Matthew 21 verifies that the promised King of Glory is Jesus Christ. • The call still stands: open wide and let Him rule unopposed within. |
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