The Real King of All – Humble, Not Seeking His Own Glory (Mat 21:1-13).Thursday September 11, 2025
Christ is THE King of Israel and every nation and tongue. So, He enacts His victorious approach and entrance to Jerusalem.
Just like Julius Caesar. When Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon to seize control of Rome, he did so with a battle hardened army behind him. Just like Alexander the Great who marched on Babylon uncontested with a seasoned army behind him. Just like William the Conqueror who landed in England and took the crown at the battle of Hastings, with a fleet and trained army. Just like Cortez whose cavalry and weapons overawed the Aztecs. All of these victoriously entered cities to rule with military force and strategic maneuvering.
If ever the world was to have a King, He must be a Savior, and so He must be like this - and not just the letter of its prophecy but in the spirit of it (Zec 9:9; Isa 62:11).
In Matthew, Jesus is presented as the King Messiah.
Who is Matthew writing to?
They would know the ties that the church has to Israel through Christ. All the events and teachings of Christ leading up to firm rejection of Him in Mat 12 and then the intercalation of the mystery age in Mat 13 would deepen their understanding of the life of the church age. It is not a life on hold, waiting for Messiah to return, nor has the Old Testament been forfeited.
A change in human history had occurred, a vast change.
Still in Mat 14-16 the disciples come to a recognition of Christ as Messiah and faith (deeper) in His coming kingdom.
However, they overlayed their own ideas of kingdom on to His. Jesus had to teach them differently.
We begin Mat 14 with a picture of the so-called king Herod and we end in Mat 20:24-28 with the true King.
Then on His way to give His life, He stops to ask 2 blind beggars what He can do for them. The crowd rebukes them.
Then we finally have the public presentation of the King.
He submits to the Word, in both letter and in spirit.
He does not question what He must do. He must suffer, pick up His cross, but first He must present Himself as the King to His city on a donkey.
The leadership think the city and the temple are theirs, but the real King is finally approaching (for the first time in the synoptics).
Matthew’s audience would appreciate the reference to Zec 9:9. They would readily see it as Jesus’ submission to authority, submission to the Word, to prophecy. They would see the connection – prophecy fulfilled means that the old covenants have not gone away.
Jesus fulfills the Law and the prophets. He doesn’t abolish them.
The crowd treats Him like a coming king (coats and branches).
They shout the end part of the hallel (Psa 113-118), which is sung frequently at feasts, and always sung at Passover.
Truth comes to those who seek it.
First, we should know that in these first 5 chapters of the final section (Mat 21-25), Matthew provides an extended and theological account of the confrontation that will proceed the final two days before the crucifixion (passion proper).
Matthew will allow Christ to teach us the doctrine of the royal authority of the Son of Man and set it in contrast to the failure of the existing regime and the temple on which its authority is centered.
In Mat 21-23 Jesus will debate with them, actually school them verbally. In Mat 24-25 Jesus will talk privately to His disciples about what is to come and what it all means in relation to the fulfillment of the OT vision of the kingdom of the Son of Man. These are not separate, for they all point to the authority of the King; Jesus Christ our Lord.
Back to the Hallel.
Truth comes to those who seek it, or at the very least pay attention.
The people shout Psa 118:25-26.
One wonders what that crowd referenced in the minds when on this Passover, at some point, they recited and sang Psa 118:19-29.
You approach a gate named righteousness (v. 19). Only the righteous enter (v. 20).
At this point in history, many in Israel think they are righteous because they are Israel and have the temple. Some have confidence in their righteousness because they think they keep the Law (Phi 3:8).
Hardly any, if any, know how righteousness will come to anyone.
The Lord Jesus Christ has all authority.
Dan 7:13-14; Psa 2:6-9; Isa 9:6-7; Isa 11:1-4; Psa 110:1-4; Mat 28:18; Joh 17:1-2; Phi 2:9-11; Col 1:15-20; Rev 1:5.
When did Jesus officially become the chief cornerstone? Resurrection and He set the foundation at Pentecost. The church, an interim age in which the kingdom power and way would be in the hearts of all members.
Those who submit to the authority of the King, in salvation we submit by faith in the Gospel, and after salvation we submit to His Word no matter what.
If ever the world was to have a King, He must be a Savior, and so He must be like this - and not just the letter of its prophecy but in the spirit of it (Zec 9:9; Isa 62:11).
Cleansing the temple:
He was humble but also had zeal for the truth of sacred things.
Jer 7
Application:
Submit to all the authority of the King.
He does not force you or pain you into it (unless necessary) because He is humble and meek.
Submit of your own will to the only One deserving to be called King. |