The Joyous Triumphal Entry (All Seems Well!) To Radical Rebuke: Why?

Main Text: Matthew 21:1-17

Jesus approaches His final hour by parading towards Jerusalem with His followers in the midst of explosive reactions by the large crowd chanting “Hosanna to the Son of David” (Matthew 21:9-11).

The chapter started with a prophetic act to acclimate His disciples (verses 1-3). He foreknows where the donkeys are and the fact that the owners would lend them. The disciples participated in obedience to the prophetic action in verse 4, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9.

The owners complied and the disciples obeyed because … ”The Lord needs them (verse 3).” The prophetic spectacle unfolds before a very large crowd who showed them adulation by “spreading their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them along the road while they cried out words of acknowledgment and worship, identifying Jesus, the miracle worker, as the Messiah, the Blessed Son of David (verses 8-11).

The whole city was affected with both exuberance and interest (verses 10-11). After all of this triumphant procession, they arrive at the court of the gentiles in the outer court of the holy temple. Here, Jesus in contrast, Jesus uses some violence to demonstrate His rebuke. What turned His celebrating disposition to one of vivid displeasure (verse 13).

The temple became a demonstration of false holiness that was hallow when it comes to those in need of God’s help: The people, especially those considered “unclean” in the Old Testament law.

Verses 12 – 17
His uncharacteristic violent behavior of Jesus (gentle Shepard) verse 12.

His message verse 13.

The religious establishment were making the house built for prayer and spiritual benefit to a den of robbers (the focus on Commerce and “overcharging” (dishonest money changers?), etc.

Not only greedy dishonest commerce but leaving out of their ministry considerations, those considered “unclean” in the Old Testament (“blind, lame, 2 Samuel 5:8; those with physical abnormality (Leviticus 21:7-12) and even children, Matthew 18:1-5, Matthew 21:14-16(.

The house of prayer statement in Jesus’ rebuke covers more than just praying but also ministering to those spiritually and physically disenfranchised from religious society (21:14-16). Remember when Jesus healed on the Sabbath (the law) Jesus was rebuked by some in the religious leadership; So, the temple was abused by secular minded leadership priesthood, etc. (read Mark 2:23-28).

This false holiness was evidenced in some, if not more of the religious leadership: especially the Priests and Scribes.

When the chief priests and teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did (for the lame, blind, diseased and poor persons and even the children) … “They became angry” (verse 15). And in contrast the children, not the religious hierarchy, recognized, along with the crowd and His disciples (verses 8-11): They exclaiming “Hosanna in the Highest”; what a radical change!

This triumphal entry picture illustrates clearly that even religion given by God on Mt. Sinai can develop wrong priorities: The focus on using religion, even Christianity, for primarily commerce, power, and status. They developed a false idea of holiness without compassion and buildings and related practices without the presence of God, who is love.

Even in the Old Testament, this is expounded in Isaiah 58 – What is true fasting (read it).

2 Timothy 3:5, producing even Christians that only have a form or an appearance of holiness/godliness but resisting or denying its power to change them. Have nothing to do with them! (unless they repent, Galatians 6:1-2).

Finally materialistic commerce focused political and religious priorities are the characteristics of the religious, political economic practices of the Antichrist system, to be destroyed by the Parousia of Jesus: described in Revelation 17, 18, & 19.

This is what Matthew’s version of Jesus triumphal entry in Matthew 21:1-17 illustrates: Joy, victory transformed by commercially oriented religious people who are then rebuked by Jesus. (See also the church of Laodicea in 3:14-21. But in His rebuked, there is always hope for restoration.


AMEN