Let the Parade Begin
I. What is the Historical Background?
A. Alexander the Great dies.
1. His generals kill off his heirs.
2. His 5 generals divide the empire.
B. Wars between Syria & Egypt.
1. First war between Antiochus III & Ptolemy V: Syria wins, but leaves Egypt autonomous. Syria takes Palestine as a vassal state. This keeps Rome happy.
2. Second war between Antiochus IV & Ptolemy VI is averted by Roman intervention.
C. On the way home angry Antiochus is told about a Jewish conflict in Jerusalem.
1. Conservative Pharisees vs. liberal, pro Greek, Hellenizers.
2. Crucified pro Egyptian Jews & the rebellious traditionalists.
3. ILL: The abomination of desolation - Dan 11:31; 12:11 - His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation . . . From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.
4. Lord Jesus mentions this in reference to the Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. (Matt 24:15 & Mk 13:14)
D. Maccabeans cleanse the temple.
1. In 164 BC the Maccabeans take back the temple, cleansed it & rededicated it.
2. Joyous people flock to Jerusalem with palm branches to clean the city & the temple. (I Maccabees 13:51)
3. Hanukkah, the Jewish Feast of Lights, is observed to this day!
Matthew 21:1-14
II. The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
A. v1-11 - Lord Jesus presents Himself as the Messiah.
1. v7 - Riding on the donkey colt.
a. Fulfillment of Zech 9:9 - Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foul of a donkey.
* The subject here is the king. In this context he is the Messiah King!
* Righteous & having salvation is omitted in Matthew but is what the Messiah would provide for us!
b. It was miraculous. Can you imagine riding on an unbroken colt!
c. v7 - Gentle = Humble (πραΰς). Not proud riding a war house, but humbly riding a donkey. Jesus is a king of peace, not war.
2. v8 - The crowd received Lord Jesus as a king by spreading their cloaks before Him.
a. This happened when Jehu was proclaimed king (II Kgs 9:13).
b. This happened when Simon Maccabaeus entered triumphantly into Jerusalem. (I Maccabees 13:51)
3. v9 - The crowd received Lord Jesus as a king by shouting Hosanna - “Save us now!”
a. This is a cry for help addressed to a king or god. (Ps 118:25)
b. Here, the cry is addressed to the Son of David - a king!
c. He is in the highest - a cry addressed to God in heaven.
B. v12-14 - Lord Jesus presents Himself as the authorized cleanser of the Temple.
1. Scripture predicted the Lord would come to His temple. Mal 3:1 - Suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to His temple, the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come, says the Lord Almighty.
2. v8 - Remember, the Maccabean Jews joyfully brought palm branches to help clean the city & the temple. (I Maccabees 13:51)
3. v13 - Lord Jesus’ reason for cleansing the temple was to fulfill scripture.
a. Is 56:7 - Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
b. Jer 7:11 - Has this house, which bears my name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord.
III. Let’s Join the Parade!
A. v10-11 - When the people who were not in the parade asked, “Who is this guy?”, the people in the parade told them!
1. Mk 16:15 says, Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
2. Obedience to the Lord leads to righteousness. (Rom 6:16) That’s what you want to have!
3. Jam 2:24 - You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
So - Do what the word of God says!
B. v12-13 - Just as Lord Jesus cleansed the temple, He can cleanse you!
1. The Psalmist asked the Lord, Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. - Ps 51:2.
2. Through the cross, Lord Jesus has done that for you! Heb 9:14 - How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
3. So, you are now free! Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience . . . - Heb 10:22.
Let’s join the parade!
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