Read your Bible through in a year: Matthew 21, 22, 23: Yesterday we left off with two blind men receiving their sight. Today we pick up with the triumphal entry. Jesus and His disciples were near Jerusalem and Jesus sent His disciples to the nearby village in order to get a colt and donkey. This was to fulfill the prophecy that the Messiah would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. The disciples set their clothes on the donkey and colt, then a great multitude spread out garments and tree branches on the road singing the Hosanna chorus. After this, Jesus went to the temple and drove out all the moneychangers and merchants. It is written that God’s house is a house of prayer, but the merchants and moneychangers had made it a den of thieves. Then Jesus healed all the blind and lame who came to Him. Because of all this, the chief of priests and the scribes were indignant and asked Jesus if he saw what all was happening. Jesus and His disciples went to Bethany to stay the night. In the morning, Jesus found a fig tree which had no fruit so He cursed it and it withered. The disciples questioned it and Jesus told them if they have even the smallest of faith anything can be done. The chief priests and the alders of the people confronted Jesus as He taught and asked Him by what authority He did all these things. Jesus asked them if the baptism of John was from heaven or from men. This confounded those who asked so they said they didn’t know to which Jesus said that He would not tell them the authority by which He taught and performed miracles. Then Jesus gave the parable of the two sons, likening the scribes and elders to the second son who did not do as the father asked, and likening the tax collectors and sinners to the first son who did as the father asked after saying he would not. Also, Jesus gave the parable of the wicked vinedressers. The chief priests and Pharisees heard the parables and knew Jesus was talking about them, but they were afraid to do anything because of the multitude of people. Jesus gave the parable of the wedding feast. The wedding feast was prepared and all those who had been invited did not want to come, so the master of the feast sent his servants out to bring in anyone who would come. There was one person at the feast who did not have wedding clothes on, so he was cast out of the feast. Many are called, but few are chosen. The Pharisees tried to entangle Jesus in His words in asking about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus asked them to show Him a piece of money, asked whose picture was on it, and declared that all should give Caesar what is due to Caesar and to God what is due to God. This caused the men to marvel and they went their way. Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, asked Jesus concerning the resurrection and marriage. Jesus told them that in the resurrection there is no marriage among people but all are like the angels. Also, Jesus told them that God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, therefore He is the God of the living and not the dead. All who heard these teachings marveled. When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, a lawyer from among them asked about the greatest commandment of all. Jesus replied that it is to love the Lord God with the whole being, and the second greatest commandment is like it, to love one’s neighbor as oneself. On these two commandments hang the entire law. Then Jesus asked the Pharisees and Sadducees whose son is the Christ. They said that the Christ is the Son of David. Then Jesus asked how David could call the Christ Lord. No one was able to answer Him. Then Jesus addressed the multitudes, telling them to obey the words of the Pharisees and Sadducees but to avoid doing as they do. All their works are done to be seen by people, and they block the way to eternal life because they refuse to accept it themselves. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who are humble will be exalted. Woe to the Pharisees and Sadducees and scribes because of all the works they do in opposition to God’s heart. They tithed on their income, but they left the weightier matters of the law undone: justice, mercy, and faith. How can any of them escape eternal condemnation? Jesus lamented over Jerusalem because they killed the prophets. God wanted to gather them under His wings but they were not willing. Read this section for yourself!
Posted on: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 13:37:47 +0000
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