OVERVIEW:
The King’s judgments (chapter 21:1-22:14); the King’s defense (chapter 22:15-46); the King’s denunciation (chapter 23).
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
As we move into today’s reading, chapter 21 begins with three signs given to the nation of Israel. (21:1-22) These three signs are then followed by three parables. (22:23-22:14)
Note: Between Matthew 13 and Matthew 25 there are 12 parables on the kingdom of heaven, corresponding to the 12 tribes of Israel. They all deal with Israel’s rejection of her Messiah, and from a doctrinal standpoint, have no application to a Christian in the church age.
The FIRST SIGN Matthew presents is the COMING of the KING. (21:1-11)
This is what we typically refer to as the “Triumphal Entry”, and is the fulfillment of the prophecy found in 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.” In Matthew 21:9, the people quote Psalm 118:26, “Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” Note that this passage is an exact fulfillment of what will take place at Christ’s Second Coming, keeping in mind that at this point, all of the Old Testament conditions and promises could have been fulfilled without the “parenthesis” of the church age. The “mystery of the church” was something that wasn’t revealed until Ephesians 3, and all Old Testament prophecies, as Peter indicated in 1st Peter 1:10-11, saw no intervening period (i.e. Church Age) between the “sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow.”
Note: Through this sign, our Lord revealed Israel’s SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS.
The SECOND SIGN Matthew presents is the CLEANSING of the TEMPLE. (21:12-16)
The fact that the temple had become a place of merchandise will give you an idea of Israel’s inward spiritual condition. In God’s eyes, Israel had become a “den of thieves.” Note also that Jesus quotes Isaiah 56:7 in 21:13, calling the temple “My house”, which, of course, is a tremendous claim of His deity. You gotta love it, when the chief priests and scribes accuse Him of receiving the accolades intended for the Messiah, Jesus quotes Psalm 8:2, a Messianic Psalm!
Note: In this sign, our Lord revealed Israel’s inward SPIRITUAL CORRUPTION.
The THIRD SIGN Matthew presents is the CURSING of the FIG TREE. (21:17-22)
The fig tree, of course, is clearly a picture of Israel (see Matthew 24:32-33; Luke 13:6-10). Notice in this sign, that the fig tree had leaves, but no fruit. The parallel passage in Luke 13:6-10 reveals that the tree actually had three years to bear fruit, but didn’t. By this time in His ministry, Jesus had revealed Himself to Israel for a period of three years, but all they had was an outward show of religion (leaves), but no reality (no fruit).
Note: In this sign, our Lord revealed Israel’s OUTWARD FRUITLESSNESS.
In 21:23-29, Jesus comes into the temple to teach when, while He’s teaching, the chief priests and elders come and question His authority. He answers by pointing them to a question of John the Baptist’s authority. They understood that if they said John’s authority was from heaven, Jesus would ask them why they didn’t get baptized. If they said that John’s authority was from men, the people would have beat the devil out of them (which is exactly what they needed!) The people politely kept their mouths shut, and Jesus politely followed their lead.
Jesus then proceeds into three parables that have to do with the nation of Israel.
Parable #1 – The Parable of the Two Sons. (21:28-32)
The point is, Israel rejected GOD the FATHER!
Parable #2 – The Parable of the Vineyard and the Husbandman. (21:33-46)
The point is, Israel rejected GOD the SON!
Note: Do recognize, however, the future reality of 21:37, “They WILL reverence my Son!” Philippians 2:10-11 says, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”
Parable #3 – The Marriage Feast. (22:1-14)
The point is, Israel rejected GOD the HOLY SPIRIT! (Acts 7:51)
The remainder of chapter 22 (22:15-46) can be broken down by four key questions that are asked:
- A POLITICAL question about TAXES. (22:15-22)
- A DOCTRINAL question about the RESURRECTION. (22:23-33)
- An ETHICAL question about the LAW. (22:34-40)
- A PERSONAL question about the MESSIAH. (22:41-46)
As we then come into chapter 23, Jesus takes the first 12 verses to explain some things to His disciples and the multitude about the scribes and Pharisees who are sitting right there in the temple with all of the folks he is addressing! Then in verses 14-33, He speaks directly to the scribes and Pharisees. As you read what He says to them, brace for impact! He delivers a series of eight “woes”, or judgments. These “woes” are best seen in comparison and contrast with the eight “Beatitudes” Christ laid down, in chapter 5, in the Sermon on the Mount.
Woe #1 (23:13) – The proud “shut up” the kingdom.
Beatitude #1 (5:3) – The “poor in spirit” inherit the kingdom.
Woe #2 (23:14) – “Devourers” receive “damnation”.
Beatitude #2 (5:4) – “Mourners” receive “comfort”.
Woe #3 (23:15) – The proud send people to “hell”.
Beatitude #3 (5:5) – The meek inherit the “earth”.
Woe #4 (23:16-22) – Those who hunger and thirst for material gain are found empty.
Beatitude #4 (5:6) – Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are filled.
Woe #5 (23:23-24) – The proud reject mercy because of insignificant details and are judged (i.e. woe!)
Beatitude #5 (5:7) – The merciful shall obtain mercy.
Woe #6 (23:25-28) – The outwardly pure but inwardly rotten will be judged.
Beatitude #6 (5:8) – The inwardly pure (i.e. “pure in heart”) “shall see God.”
Woe #7 and #8 (23:29-33) – Murderers and persecutors of the righteous are “children of them which killed the prophets.” (i.e. the “devil!”)
Beatitude #7 and #8 (5:9-12) – Peacemakers and those who are persecuted for righteousness are called “children of God.”
Chapter 23 closes with Jesus’ heartfelt lamentation over Jerusalem. Notice the last verse! “For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me hence forth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (23:39) In other words, as a nation, they won’t see Him again until the time of Jacob’s trouble (Daniel 21:1; Jeremiah 30:7), when in one day (Hosea 6:1-3; Isaiah 26:12-21), the nation of Israel will be converted and healed (Romans 11:26-27; Hebrews 8:8-12) as they recognize that He is, in fact, the Messiah (Acts 2:36), and will cry out for His return. (Psalm 44, 68, 74, 79, 83)