Matthew 21
The Triumphal Entry
1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. References Lord: Ezra 1:5, 7:27, Psalms 24:1, 2 Corinthians 8:9. Parallel theme: John 3:35, 17:2, Acts 17:25 +2
4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. Kingdom: Matthew 2:2, Ezekiel 37:24. Parallel theme: Matthew 2:6, 11:29, Genesis 49:10, Isaiah 12:6, 40:9, 62:11, Ezekiel 34:24, Hosea 1:7 +5
6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the LordLord: Κύριος (Kurios). The Greek Kurios (Κύριος) means 'lord' or 'master,' used both for human masters and divinely for God the Father and Jesus Christ. Its application to Jesus affirms His deity, as it translates YHWH in the Septuagint.; Hosanna in the highest. Blessing: Matthew 23:39. References David: Matthew 9:27, 21:15. Parallel theme: Luke 2:14
10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? Related: Song of Solomon 3:6. Parallel theme: Ruth 1:19, 1 Samuel 16:4, Isaiah 63:1, Luke 5:21, 7:49, 9:9, Acts 9:5 +3
11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophetProphet: προφήτης (Prophētēs). The Greek prophētēs (προφήτης) denotes a prophet—one who speaks forth God's message. Jesus was recognized as 'a prophet mighty in deed and word' (Luke 24:19), fulfilling and surpassing the prophetic office. of Nazareth of Galilee.
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, Temple: Exodus 30:13, Leviticus 12:6, Mark 11:11. Parallel theme: Leviticus 1:14, 5:7, 12:8, 14:22, 14:30, Luke 2:24 +4
13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. Prayer: Isaiah 56:7, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46. Parallel theme: Psalms 93:5, Jeremiah 7:11
14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,
16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? References Jesus: Matthew 11:25. Parallel theme: Matthew 12:3, 19:4, Psalms 8:2, Mark 2:25
17 And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there. Parallel theme: Matthew 16:4, Mark 11:11, 11:19, Luke 24:50, John 11:1, 11:18
The Fig Tree Withers
18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. Parallel theme: Mark 11:14, Luke 3:9, John 15:2, 15:6, 2 Timothy 3:5, Titus 1:16, Jude 1:12, Revelation 22:11 +3
20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. Faith: Matthew 17:20, 1 Corinthians 13:2, James 1:6
22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
The Authority of Jesus Questioned
23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? Faith: Luke 20:5, John 3:18. References John: John 1:6, 1:15. Parallel theme: 1 John 3:20
26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophetProphet: προφήτης (Prophētēs). The Greek prophētēs (προφήτης) denotes a prophet—one who speaks forth God's message. Jesus was recognized as 'a prophet mighty in deed and word' (Luke 24:19), fulfilling and surpassing the prophetic office..
27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
The Parable of the Two Sons
28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. Parallel theme: Matthew 20:1, 21:33, Mark 13:34, Luke 13:4, 1 Corinthians 10:15, 15:58
29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of GodGod: Θεός (Theos). The Greek Theos (Θεός) refers to deity, used both for the one true God and false gods. Context determines whether it denotes the Father specifically or the Godhead generally. before you.
32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Parallel theme: Matthew 5:12, Nehemiah 9:26, Acts 7:52
36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. Parallel theme: Matthew 22:4
37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. Parallel theme: Luke 20:14, Hebrews 1:2
39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. Parallel theme: Acts 2:23
40 When the lordLord: Κύριος (Kurios). The Greek Kurios (Κύριος) means 'lord' or 'master,' used both for human masters and divinely for God the Father and Jesus Christ. Its application to Jesus affirms His deity, as it translates YHWH in the Septuagint. therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. Kingdom: John 3:3. Parallel theme: Matthew 21:41, 1 Peter 2:9
44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. Parallel theme: Matthew 26:24, 27:25, Psalms 2:9, Zechariah 12:3, Luke 20:18, Romans 9:33, 1 Thessalonians 2:16, 1 Peter 2:8 +3
45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. Parallel theme: Luke 11:45, 20:19
46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophetProphet: προφήτης (Prophētēs). The Greek prophētēs (προφήτης) denotes a prophet—one who speaks forth God's message. Jesus was recognized as 'a prophet mighty in deed and word' (Luke 24:19), fulfilling and surpassing the prophetic office.. Prophecy: Matthew 21:11, 21:26