5 minutes Scripture Insight | Matthew Chapter 21

 

5 minutes Scripture Insight | Matthew Chapter 21

https://youtu.be/Z974_v8dt98?si=Zw3uV1X3e2DPMX9_

Sermon: The Entry of the King – Matthew 21:1-46

Introduction

● Good morning, dear brothers and sisters in Christ! Today, we are going to look at an important and exciting passage in the Gospel of Matthew, specifically Matthew 21:1-46. This passage captures the moment when Jesus enters Jerusalem and begins His journey toward the cross. It is filled with rich lessons about who Jesus is, what He came to do, and how we are called to respond to Him. Let us open our hearts and minds to what the Spirit has to say to us today!

Overview of Matthew 21:1-46

Matthew 21 can be divided into several parts:

1. The Triumphal Entry (verses 1-11)

2. Jesus Cleanses the Temple (verses 12-17)

3. The Fig Tree Cursed (verses 18-22)

4. The Authority of Jesus Questioned (verses 23-27)

5. The Parable of the Two Sons (verses 28-32)

6. The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (verses 33-46)

● Each of these sections reveals something important about Jesus and His mission. Let’s dive deeper into these lessons.

Lesson 1: The King Has Arrived (Verses 1-11)

● In the first part of this chapter, Jesus makes a deliberate and public entry into Jerusalem, fulfilling prophecy as He rides on a donkey. The crowds shout, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” They recognize Jesus as their King, but they have a limited understanding of what kind of king He is. They want a military leader to save them from oppression.

Application:

- Recognizing Our King: Just like the crowd, we often have our own expectations of who Jesus should be in our lives. Is He just a helper in times of trouble, or are we recognizing Him as our Lord and King? Let’s allow the Spirit to open our eyes to the true nature of Jesus.

Lesson 2: Cleansing the Temple (Verses 12-17)

Upon entering the temple, Jesus sees how it has been turned into a marketplace, filled with buying and selling. In righteous anger, He drives out those who are profiting and declares that the temple should be a house of prayer.

Application:

- Cleaning Our Temples: Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).* Are there areas in our lives that need cleansing? Perhaps distractions, sins, or unholy habits? Let’s invite Jesus to clean our temples today, so we can be pure vessels for Him.

Lesson 3: Faith that Moves Mountains (Verses 18-22)

Next, Jesus curses a barren fig tree, teaching a powerful lesson about faith. He reminds His disciples that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains.

Application:

- The Power of Faith: Are we living with the faith that Jesus calls us to? We might feel small and insignificant, but God can use our faith to do great things. Whether it's in our families, our jobs, or in our community, let’s pray and believe that God can move mountains through our faith!

Lesson 4: Authority Questioned (Verses 23-27)

The religious leaders challenge Jesus, asking Him about the source of His authority. Instead of answering directly, He poses a question to them about John the Baptist. They cannot answer, so Jesus does not reveal His authority to them.

Application:

- Submitting to His Authority: The question of authority is still relevant today. Are we willing to submit our lives to Jesus, recognizing His authority over all aspects of our lives? Let’s pray for the grace to surrender to His will.

Lesson 5: The Parable of the Two Sons (Verses 28-32)

Jesus tells a story about two sons: one who initially says he will not work in the vineyard but later goes, and another who says he will go but doesn’t. This parable teaches us that actions speak louder than words.

Application:

- *Being Doers of the Word: It’s easy to say we believe, but do we follow through with our actions? Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us live out our faith, not just in words but in deeds.

Lesson 6: The Parable of the Wicked Tenants *(Verses 33-46)

In this parable, the landowner represents God, and the tenants represent the religious leaders. They reject the landowner’s servants and even kill his son. This illustrates how the leaders rejected Jesus and His message. Jesus warns that the kingdom of God will be taken away from them and given to others who will bear fruit.

Application:

- Bearing Fruit for the Kingdom: As followers of Christ, we are called to bear fruit. What does that look like in our lives? It means sharing the Gospel, loving our neighbors, and living out the values of the Kingdom. Let’s commit to being fruitful servants of the Lord.

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, as we reflect on Matthew 21, let us remember that Jesus is our King who came to save us. He cleanses our hearts, teaches us to have faith, challenges us to recognize His authority, and calls us to bear fruit in His kingdom. 

Let us pray together:

Prayer Points

1. Acknowledgment of Christ’s Kingship: Lord, help us to recognize and submit to Your authority in our lives.

2. Personal Cleansing: Father, search our hearts and cleanse us of anything that is not pleasing to You.

3. Faith to Move Mountains: Increase our faith, Lord, so that we can trust You to work in impossible situations.

4. Living Out Our Faith: Help us to not just be hearers of Your word but doers who bear fruit for Your kingdom.

5. Boldness in Sharing the Gospel: Grant us courage to share the good news of Jesus with those around us.

May the Lord bless you and keep you as you go forth, living out the truths of His Word. Amen!

Reverend TD Kasuku