THE KING IS COMING!    Matthew 21:1-16

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the two main hinges upon which the door of salvation turns. He came into the world on purpose to give his life a ransom; so he had lately said,

Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

And therefore the history of his sufferings, even unto death, and his rising again, is recorded by all more than any other part of his story; and to that this evangelist now hastens a pace. For at this chapter begins the passion-week.

 

He had said to his disciples more than once, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and there the Son of man must be betrayed.

 

A great deal of good work he did by the way, and now at length he is come up to Jerusalem; and here we have HIS…..

  • Public Entry Into Jerusalem, Upon The 1st Day Of The Passion-Week, Mt 21:1-11.
  • Power & Authority Cleansing The Temple, & Driving Out Buyers & Sellers-Mt 21:12-16.
  • Preparation Was Sudden And Offhand. It Was Very Mean. He Sent Only For An Ass And Her Colt, Matthew 21:2.

 Asses were much used in that country for travel; horses were kept only by great men, and for war.  

CHRIST COULD HAVE SUMMONED A CHERUB TO CARRY HIM (Psalms 18:10 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.)

  • Though By His Name Jah, Which Speaks Him God, He Rides Upon The Heavens,
  • Yet Now By His Name Jesus, Immanuel, God With Us, In His State Of Humiliation, He Rides Upon An Ass.
  • Yet Some Think That He Had Herein An Eye To The Custom In Israel For The Judges To Ride Upon White Asses (Judges 5:10 Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.), and their sons on ass-colts, Jdgs 12:14 And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.

 

And Christ would thus enter, not as a Conqueror, but as the Judge of Israel, who for judgment came into this world.

 

It was not his own, but borrowed. Though he had not a house of his own, one would think he might have had an ass of his own, to carry him about; but us he became in all respects poor,

2 Corinthians 8:9  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

 It is commonly said, "They that live on borrowing, live on sorrowing;"  in this therefore, as in other things, Christ was a man of sorrows--that he had nothing of this world's goods but what was given him.

The disciples who were sent to borrow this ass are directed to say, The Lord has need of him. Those that are in need, must not be ashamed to own their need, nor say, as the unjust steward, To beg I am ashamed, Luke 16:3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.

I.          THE ARRIVAL OF THE KING - Vs. 1-11

 

            A-THE PLAN OF JESUS vs. 1-3

            B-THE PROPHECY TO BE FULFILLED Vs. 4-5

            C-THE PARTICIPATION OF THE DISCIPLES Vs. 6-1

 

1-They Obeyed Vs. 6

2-They Gave Vs. 7-8

3-They Praised Vs. 9-11

 

II.        THE AUTHORITY OF THE KING - Vs. 12-14

 

A-OVER HIS DWELLING - Vs. 12-13

B-OVER DISEASE - Vs. 1

C-TO GIVE DIRECTIONS

 

1-THE LORD'S DIRECTIONS ARE SPECIFIC - Vs. 1-3 Jesus told the disciples where to go, what to do, and what to say. Through the Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

 

2-THE LORD'S DIRECTIONS ARE SCRIPTURAL-Vs. 4-5-Jesus was out to fulfill Scripture and to do God's will. John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. We should do the same!

 

3-THE LORD'S DIRECTIONS ARE SURE - Vs. 6-7 The disciples found things to be just as Jesus told them.

 

4-THE LORD'S DIRECTIONS ARE SPECIAL - Vs. 8-11 Because Jesus directions were followed the disciples were part of a great day and a day when God's word was fulfilled.  Whenever we follow God's directions, the results will be special. Sinners will be challenged and saved. Saints will be edified.

 

III.      THE ACCLAMATION OF THE KING - Vs. 15-16

           

            A- INSTRUCTIONS–Vs. 1-3

            B- INTENT–Vs. 4-5

            C- INQUIRY–Vs. 10-11