Matthew 21
21
The Entry into Jerusalem.#Jesus’ coming to Jerusalem is in accordance with the divine will that he must go there (cf. Mt 16:21) to suffer, die, and be raised. He prepares for his entry into the city in such a way as to make it a fulfillment of the prophecy of Zec 9:9 (Mt 21:2) that emphasizes the humility of the king who comes (Mt 21:5). That prophecy, absent from the Marcan parallel account (Mk 11:1–11) although found also in the Johannine account of the entry (Jn 12:15), is the center of the Matthean story. During the procession from Bethphage to Jerusalem, Jesus is acclaimed as the Davidic messianic king by the crowds who accompany him (Mt 21:9). On his arrival the whole city was shaken, and to the inquiry of the amazed populace about Jesus’ identity the crowds with him reply that he is the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee (Mt 21:10, 11). 1#Mk 11:1–11; Lk 19:28–38; Jn 12:12–15. When they drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage#Bethphage: a village that can no longer be certainly identified. Mark mentions it before Bethany (Mk 11:1), which suggests that it lay to the east of the latter. The Mount of Olives: the hill east of Jerusalem that is spoken of in Zec 14:4 as the place where the Lord will come to rescue Jerusalem from the enemy nations. on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her.#An ass tethered, and a colt with her: instead of the one animal of Mk 11:2, Matthew has two, as demanded by his understanding of Zec 9:9. Untie them and bring them here to me. 3And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, ‘The master has need of them.’ Then he will send them at once.” 4#The prophet: this fulfillment citation is actually composed of two distinct Old Testament texts, Is 62:11 (Say to daughter Zion) and Zec 9:9. The ass and the colt are the same animal in the prophecy, mentioned twice in different ways, the common Hebrew literary device of poetic parallelism. That Matthew takes them as two is one of the reasons why some scholars think that he was a Gentile rather than a Jewish Christian who would presumably not make that mistake (see Introduction). This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:
5#Is 62:11; Zec 9:9. “Say to daughter Zion,
‘Behold, your king comes to you,
meek and riding on an ass,
and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”
6The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them. 7#Upon them: upon the two animals; an awkward picture resulting from Matthew’s misunderstanding of the prophecy. They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them, and he sat upon them. 8#Spread…on the road: cf. 2 Kgs 9:13. There is a similarity between the cutting and strewing of the branches and the festivities of Tabernacles (Lv 23:39–40); see also 2 Mc 10:5–8 where the celebration of the rededication of the temple is compared to that of Tabernacles. #2 Kgs 9:13. The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. 9#Ps 118:25–26. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying:
“Hosanna#Hosanna: the Hebrew means “(O Lord) grant salvation”; see Ps 118:25, but that invocation had become an acclamation of jubilation and welcome. Blessed is he…in the name of the Lord: see Ps 118:26 and the note on Jn 12:13. In the highest: probably only an intensification of the acclamation, although Hosanna in the highest could be taken as a prayer, “May God save (him).” to the Son of David;
blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord;
hosanna in the highest.”
10And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken#Was shaken: in the gospels this verb is peculiar to Matthew where it is used also of the earthquake at the time of the crucifixion (Mt 27:51) and of the terror of the guards of Jesus’ tomb at the appearance of the angel (Mt 28:4). For Matthew’s use of the cognate noun, see note on Mt 8:24. and asked, “Who is this?” 11And the crowds replied, “This is Jesus the prophet,#The prophet: see Mt 16:14 (“one of the prophets”) and 21:46. from Nazareth in Galilee.”
The Cleansing of the Temple.#Matthew changes the order of (Mk 11:11, 12, 15) and places the cleansing of the temple on the same day as the entry into Jerusalem, immediately after it. The activities going on in the temple area were not secular but connected with the temple worship. Thus Jesus’ attack on those so engaged and his charge that they were making God’s house of prayer a den of thieves (Mt 21:12–13) constituted a claim to authority over the religious practices of Israel and were a challenge to the priestly authorities. Mt 21:14–17 are peculiar to Matthew. Jesus’ healings and his countenancing the children’s cries of praise rouse the indignation of the chief priests and the scribes (Mt 21:15). These two groups appear in the infancy narrative (Mt 2:4) and have been mentioned in the first and third passion predictions (Mt 16:21; 20:18). Now, as the passion approaches, they come on the scene again, exhibiting their hostility to Jesus. 12#Mk 11:15–19; Lk 19:45–48; Jn 2:14–22. Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those engaged in selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.#These activities were carried on in the court of the Gentiles, the outermost court of the temple area. Animals for sacrifice were sold; the doves were for those who could not afford a more expensive offering; see Lv 5:7. Tables of the money changers: only the coinage of Tyre could be used for the purchases; other money had to be exchanged for that. #Lv 5:7. 13#Is 56:7; Jer 7:11. And he said to them, “It is written:
‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’#‘My house…prayer’: cf. Is 56:7. Matthew omits the final words of the quotation, “for all peoples” (“all nations”), possibly because for him the worship of the God of Israel by all nations belongs to the time after the resurrection; see Mt 28:19. A den of thieves: the phrase is taken from Jer 7:11.
but you are making it a den of thieves.”
14#2 Sm 5:8 LXX. The blind and the lame#The blind and the lame: according to 2 Sm 5:8 LXX the blind and the lame were forbidden to enter “the house of the Lord,” the temple. These are the last of Jesus’ healings in Matthew. approached him in the temple area, and he cured them. 15When the chief priests and the scribes saw the wondrous things#The wondrous things: the healings. he was doing, and the children crying out in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant 16#‘Out of the mouths…praise’: cf. Ps 8:3 LXX. #Ps 8:2 LXX; Wis 10:21. and said to him, “Do you hear what they are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes; and have you never read the text, ‘Out of the mouths of infants and nurslings you have brought forth praise’?” 17And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany, and there he spent the night.
The Cursing of the Fig Tree.#In Mark the effect of Jesus’ cursing the fig tree is not immediate; see Mk 11:14, 20. By making it so, Matthew has heightened the miracle. Jesus’ act seems arbitrary and ill-tempered, but it is a prophetic action similar to those of Old Testament prophets that vividly symbolize some part of their preaching; see, e.g., Ez 12:1–20. It is a sign of the judgment that is to come upon the Israel that with all its apparent piety lacks the fruit of good deeds (Mt 3:10) and will soon bear the punishment of its fruitlessness (Mt 21:43). Some scholars propose that this story is the development in tradition of a parable of Jesus about the destiny of a fruitless tree, such as Lk 13:6–9. Jesus’ answer to the question of the amazed disciples (Mt 21:20) makes the miracle an example of the power of prayer made with unwavering faith (Mt 21:21–22). 18#Mk 11:12–14, 20–24. When he was going back to the city in the morning, he was hungry. 19#Jer 8:13; Lk 13:6–9. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went over to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again.” And immediately the fig tree withered. 20When the disciples saw this, they were amazed and said, “How was it that the fig tree withered immediately?” 21#See Mt 17:20. #17:20; Lk 17:6. Jesus said to them in reply, “Amen, I say to you, if you have faith and do not waver, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done. 22#7:7; 1 Jn 3:22. Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.”
The Authority of Jesus Questioned.#Cf. Mk 11:27–33. This is the first of five controversies between Jesus and the religious authorities of Judaism in Mt 21:23–22:46, presented in the form of questions and answers. 23#Mk 11:27–33; Lk 20:1–8. When he had come into the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people approached him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things?#These things: probably his entry into the city, his cleansing of the temple, and his healings there. And who gave you this authority?”#Jn 2:18. 24Jesus said to them in reply, “I shall ask you one question,#To reply by counterquestion was common in rabbinical debate. and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. 25Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 26#We fear…as a prophet: cf. Mt 14:5. #14:5. But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.” 27So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” He himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.#Since through embarrassment on the one hand and fear on the other the religious authorities claim ignorance of the origin of John’s baptism, they show themselves incapable of speaking with authority; hence Jesus refuses to discuss with them the grounds of his authority.
The Parable of the Two Sons.#The series of controversies is interrupted by three parables on the judgment of Israel (Mt 21:28–22:14) of which this, peculiar to Matthew, is the first. The second (Mt 21:33–46) comes from Mark (12:1–12), and the third (Mt 22:1–14) from Q; see Lk 14:15–24. This interruption of the controversies is similar to that in Mark, although Mark has only one parable between the first and second controversy. As regards Matthew’s first parable, Mt 21:28–30 if taken by themselves could point simply to the difference between saying and doing, a theme of much importance in this gospel (cf. Mt 7:21; 12:50); that may have been the parable’s original reference. However, it is given a more specific application by the addition of Mt 21:31–32. The two sons represent, respectively, the religious leaders and the religious outcasts who followed John’s call to repentance. By the answer they give to Jesus’ question (Mt 21:31) the leaders condemn themselves. There is much confusion in the textual tradition of the parable. Of the three different forms of the text given by important textual witnesses, one has the leaders answer that the son who agreed to go but did not was the one who did the father’s will. Although some scholars accept that as the original reading, their arguments in favor of it seem unconvincing. The choice probably lies only between a reading that puts the son who agrees and then disobeys before the son who at first refuses and then obeys, and the reading followed in the present translation. The witnesses to the latter reading are slightly better than those that support the other. 28“What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ 29He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. 30The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. 31#Entering…before you: this probably means “they enter; you do not.” Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. 32#Cf. Lk 7:29–30. Although the thought is similar to that of the Lucan text, the formulation is so different that it is improbable that the saying comes from Q. Came to you…way of righteousness: several meanings are possible: that John himself was righteous, that he taught righteousness to others, or that he had an important place in God’s plan of salvation. For the last, see note on Mt 3:14–15. #Lk 7:29–30. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.
The Parable of the Tenants.#Cf. Mk 12:1–12. In this parable there is a close correspondence between most of the details of the story and the situation that it illustrates, the dealings of God with his people. Because of that heavy allegorizing, some scholars think that it does not in any way go back to Jesus, but represents the theology of the later church. That judgment applies to the Marcan parallel as well, although the allegorizing has gone farther in Matthew. There are others who believe that while many of the allegorical elements are due to church sources, they have been added to a basic parable spoken by Jesus. This view is now supported by the Gospel of Thomas 65, where a less allegorized and probably more primitive form of the parable is found. 33#Mk 12:1–12; Lk 20:9–19. “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,#Planted a vineyard…a tower: cf. Is 5:1–2. The vineyard is defined in Is 5:7 as “the house of Israel.” put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.#Is 5:1–2, 7. 34When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants#His servants: Matthew has two sendings of servants as against Mark’s three sendings of a single servant (Mk 12:2–5a) followed by a statement about the sending of “many others” (Mk 12:2, 5b). That these servants stand for the prophets sent by God to Israel is clearly implied but not made explicit here, but see Mt 23:37. His produce: cf. Mk 12:2 “some of the produce.” The produce is the good works demanded by God, and his claim to them is total. to the tenants to obtain his produce. 35But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. 36Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. 37Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38#Acquire his inheritance: if a Jewish proselyte died without heir, the tenants of his land would have final claim on it. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ 39#Threw him out…and killed him: the change in the Marcan order where the son is killed and his corpse then thrown out (Mk 12:8) was probably made because of the tradition that Jesus died outside the city of Jerusalem; see Jn 19:17; Heb 13:12. #Heb 13:12. They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” 41They answered#They answered: in Mk 12:9 the question is answered by Jesus himself; here the leaders answer and so condemn themselves; cf. Mt 21:31. Matthew adds that the new tenants to whom the vineyard will be transferred will give the owner the produce at the proper times. him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.” 42#Cf. Ps 118:22–23. The psalm was used in the early church as a prophecy of Jesus’ resurrection; see Acts 4:11; 1 Pt 2:7. If, as some think, the original parable ended at Mt 21:39 it was thought necessary to complete it by a reference to Jesus’ vindication by God. #Ps 118:22–23; Is 28:16; Acts 4:11; 1 Pt 2:7. Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the scriptures:
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes’?
43#Peculiar to Matthew. Kingdom of God: see note on Mt 19:23–24. Its presence here instead of Matthew’s usual “kingdom of heaven” may indicate that the saying came from Matthew’s own traditional material. A people that will produce its fruit: believing Israelites and Gentiles, the church of Jesus. Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit. 44[#The majority of textual witnesses omit this verse. It is probably an early addition to Matthew from Lk 20:18 with which it is practically identical. The one who falls on this stone will be dashed to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.]” 45When the chief priests and the Pharisees#The Pharisees: Matthew inserts into the group of Jewish leaders (Mt 21:23) those who represented the Judaism of his own time. heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them. 46And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.
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Matthew 21: NABRE
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Matthew 21
21
The Triumphal Entry
1 And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, “Go into the village before you, and right away you will find a donkey tied and a colt with her. Untie them#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“untie”) has been translated as a finite verb bring them#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation to me. 3And if anyone says anything to you, you will say, ‘The Lord needs them,’#Literally “has need of them” and he will send them at once.” 4Now this took place so that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled, saying,
5“Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
and#Or “even” on a colt, the foal of a pack animal.’ ”#A quotation from Zech 9:9
6So the disciples went#*Here the participle (“went”) is translated as a finite verb because of English style and did#*Here the participle (“did”) is translated as a finite verb because of English style just as Jesus directed them, 7and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participles (“went” and “did” in the previous verse) have been translated as finite verbs brought the donkey and the colt and put their#*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8And a very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation on the road. 9And the crowds who went ahead of him and the ones who followed were shouting, saying,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!#A quotation from Ps 118:25–26
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”#*Here “heaven” is understood
10And when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“entered”) he entered into Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee!”
The Cleansing of the Temple
12And Jesus entered the temple courts#*Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself and drove out all those who were selling and buying in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those who were selling doves. 13And he said to them, “It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’#A quotation from Isa 56:7 but you have made it a cave of robbers!”
14And the blind and the lame came up to him in the temple courts#*Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself and he healed them. 15But when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children shouting in the temple courts#*Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant. 16And they said to him, “Do you hear what these children#*The word “children” is not in the Greek text but is implied are saying?” So Jesus said to them, “Yes, have you never read, ‘Out of the mouths of children and nursing babies you have prepared for yourself praise’?”#A quotation from Ps 8:2 17And leaving them, he went outside of the city to Bethany and spent the night there.
A Barren Fig Tree Cursed
18Now early in the morning, as he#*Here “as” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was returning”) which is understood as temporal was returning to the city, he was hungry. 19And seeing a single fig tree by the road, he went to it and found nothing on it except leaves only. And he said to it, “May there be no more fruit from you forever,#Literally “to the age” and the fig tree withered at once. 20And when they#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal saw it,#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation the disciples were astonished, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” 21And Jesus answered and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will do not only what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,” it will happen! 22And whatever you ask in prayer, if you#*Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“believe”) which is understood as conditional believe, you will receive.”
Jesus’ Authority Challenged
23And after#*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“arrived”) he arrived at the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him while he#*Here “while” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was teaching”) which is understood as temporal was teaching, saying, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” 24And Jesus answered and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said to them, “I also will ask you one question. If you tell the answer#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation to me, I also will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25From where was the baptism of John—from heaven or from men?” And they began to discuss#*The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to discuss”) this#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation among themselves, saying, “If we say ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the crowd, because they all look upon John as a prophet.” 27And they answered and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said to Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
The Parable of the Two Sons
28“Now what do you think? A man had two sons. He approached#Some manuscripts have “And he approached” the first and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“approached”) has been translated as a finite verb said, ‘Son, go work in the vineyard today.’ 29And he answered and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said, ‘I do not want to!’ But later he changed his mind and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“changed his mind”) has been translated as a finite verb went. 30And he approached the second#Some manuscripts have “the other” and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“approached”) has been translated as a finite verb said the same thing. So he answered and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said, ‘I will, sir,’ and he did not go. 31Which of the two did the will of his#Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going ahead of you into the kingdom of God! 32For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did believe him. And when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal you saw it,#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation you did not even change your minds later so as to believe in him.
The Parable of the Tenant Farmers in the Vineyard
33“Listen to another parable: There was a man—a master of a house—who planted a vineyard, and put a fence around it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower, and leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey. 34And when the season of fruit drew near, he sent his slaves to the tenant farmers to collect his fruit. 35And the tenant farmers seized his slaves, one of whom they beat, and one of whom they killed, and one of whom they stoned. 36Again, he sent other slaves, more than the first ones, and they did the same thing to them. 37So finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38But when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal the tenant farmers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance!’ 39And they seized him and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“seized”) has been translated as a finite verb threw him#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation out of the vineyard and killed him.#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation 40Now when the master of the vineyard arrives, what will he do to those tenant farmers?” 41They said to him, “He will destroy those evil men completely and lease the vineyard to other tenant farmers who will give him the fruits in their season.” 42Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures,
‘The stone which the builders rejected,
this has become the cornerstone.#Literally “the head of the corner”
This came about from the Lord,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?#A quotation from Ps 118:22–23
43For this reason, I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and will be given to a people#Or “nation” who produce its fruits. 44And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls—it will crush him!” 45And when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them, 46and although they#*Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“wanted”) which is understood as concessive wanted to arrest him, they were afraid of the crowds, because they looked upon him as a prophet.
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