Matthew 21 Commentary
“The kingdom of heaven” is one important phrase dotted throughout the gospel of Matthew. Yes, the kingdom, but who and where is the king?
Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem is not exactly the king’s inauguration ceremony. It is a play displaying the realities of more important matters at play in the background. The King is here! The kingdom is here. Jesus is the King!
Matthew defines as well as describes the kingdom of heaven.
Back in the Garden of peace and tranquility, the LORD God blessed mankind to increase in number, to prosper, and to rule. It is a well-known story; Adam failed to rule. Immediately after the fall, the LORD God announced the coming of another Son who would rule as per the original plan. Isaiah describes the Son as one with the government on His shoulders. He is the King!
His authority is seen when He orders the ‘release’ of a donkey to himself. “The Master has need of him”. The Creator God doesn’t need permission to use His own creation as He sees fit! The earthly keeper (owner) gladly releases the animal. No further questions! The authority at the temple is different. Stubborn businessmen are driven out of the temple by force.
Let it represent the clearing of the real temple of the Holy Spirit! There is more to these events here. The LORD Jesus comes and orders antagonistic objects out of the saint’s life. The saint remains a house of prayer. The kingship is a screenplay and so is the clearing of the temple.
Further, we see His authority when the fig tree withers at his word. Natural elements respond to His orders!
“By what authority are doing these things? And who gave you this authority.” These needless questions don’t deserve an answer. The LORD won’t provide it. There are times when Heaven keeps quiet because we have asked stupid questions – probably because we already have an answer or are simply looking for a different answer. When senselessness irks Heaven!
The Pharisees and the priests never want to walk the talk. They represent the first son.
Of course, they can. But they don’t. Instead, they reject God’s plan of salvation including its means.
This chapter is interesting because of the pending trial and consequent death of Jesus. It is all deliberate. The authority that dries up a fig tree can easily prevent an arrest. But the kingdom of heaven isn’t anything close to that. We are still learning. He is the authority by Himself and of Himself! The government is on His shoulders.
But He is also the Servant – the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. How can mortals understand all of this?
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