March 30, 2014 Triumphant and Victorious Bible Background ZECHARIAH 9:9-10; MATTHEW 21:1-11 Printed Text ZECHARIAH 9:9; MATTHEW 21:1-11 Devotional Reading PSALM 47 Aim for Change By the end of the lesson, we will: EXPLAIN why so many gathered to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and King; EXPRESS a willingness to always honor Jesus through our everyday actions; and REPENT of the times when we have not given Jesus the honor due to Him. In Focus The crisp, cool air of January hit Jennifer s face as she stood on Pennsylvania Avenue with her girlfriends. They had made the cross-country trip from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., to attend the inauguration of the President of the United States. The group of friends was certain that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Though they didn t agree with all of the presidentelect s policies, the country had just elected its first African American president, and they couldn t pass up the chance to see this historic event. Around noon, the crowd began to swell. Jennifer suggested, Let s move closer to the street. I want to get a better view. The women craftily moved through the audience. A few minutes later, a group of black SUVs slowly crept by. Jennifer screamed, Mr. President! We love you! And just like that, the moment was over. After a long pilgrimage, they had experienced what they wanted to experience a life-transforming event and a story they could share with generations to come. Events like this are generally reserved for prominent figures. In today s lesson, we learn the importance of Jesus entry into Jerusalem and how it fulfilled a prophetic message from years past. Keep in Mind And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest (Matthew 21:9).
Focal Verses: KJV Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. Matthew 21:1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. 10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. NLT Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey riding on a donkey s colt. Matthew 21:1 As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 Go into the village over there, he said. As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, The Lord needs them, and he will immediately let you take them. 4 This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, 5 Tell the people of Jerusalem, Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey riding on a donkey s colt. 6 The two disciples did as Jesus commanded.
7 They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. 8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Praise God in highest heaven! 10 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. Who is this? they asked. 11 And the crowds replied, It s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee. The People, Places, and Times: Bethphage. Literally the house of figs, Bethphage was a small village located near the Mount of Olives. Located east of Jerusalem on the way to Jericho, it was surrounded by a wall. Each of the Synoptic Gospels mentions this location in their respective Triumphal Entry accounts. It was there where Jesus disciples obtained the donkey and colt for Him to ride into Jerusalem. Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives is one of three peaks of a mountain ridge bordering Jerusalem to the east. Its name derives from the fact that it is covered in olive trees. The peak is approximately two hundred feet higher than the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, which sits across the Kidron Valley, thus giving it a great view of Jerusalem. It was from this perspective that Jesus gave His discourse on the doomed city below (Mark 13:3). Some scholars believe this was the high mountain where the devil took Jesus to show Him all of the kingdoms of the world (Luke 4:5). It also served as the place where Jesus agonized over the task before Him prior to going to Calvary (Luke 22:39-46). Messiah. Transliteration of the Hebrew word meaning anointed one ; translated into Greek as Christos or the Christ. Since apostolic times, the name Christ has become the proper name of Jesus, the person whom Christians recognize as the God-given Redeemer of Israel and the church s Lord. Christ, or Messiah, is therefore a name suited to express both the church s link with Israel through the Old Testament and the faith that sees in Jesus Christ the worldwide scope of the salvation in Him. The Jews, however, thought that their Messiah would be a warrior-prince who would expel the hated Romans and usher in a kingdom in which Israel would be promoted to world dominion.
Background A contemporary of Haggai, Zechariah began his prophetic career around 520 B.C., during the reign of King Darius. At fourteen chapters, the book of Zechariah is the longest book among the minor prophets. Though the first eight chapters of the book are dated, the ninth chapter mentions no dates. Most scholars believe a significant amount of time passed between the eighth and ninth chapters. Zechariah 9 begins a section of the text where God providentially saves and restores His people. Matthew s Gospel is a theologically rich text, for Matthew was very intentional about pointing out the theological implications of Jesus actions. The text in Matthew 21 follows this distinct pattern. In Matthew s account, this is Jesus first appearance in the city of Jerusalem, though the city is mentioned earlier in the text (see Matthew 2:3). In that instance, King Herod and the inhabitants were troubled by the birth of Jesus. By the time we get to the later chapters in Matthew s Gospel, Jesus reputation was growing. At the end of chapter 20, Jesus healed two blind men as a great crowd followed Him on His journey toward Jerusalem. Given this increased popularity, the lesson text now describes what has been deemed Jesus Triumphal Entry. At-A-Glance 1. A New King (Zechariah 9:9) 2. A Donkey for a King (Matthew 21:1-3) 3. The Prophecy Fulfilled (vv. 4-5) 4. The Crowds Worship the King (vv. 6-11) In Depth 1. A New King (Zechariah 9:9) The author began by exhorting the daughter of Zion and daughter of Jerusalem to rejoice (Zechariah 9:9). Here the former represented the inhabitants of Jerusalem, while the latter represented the nation of Israel as a whole. The prophet informed them that their King is on the way. And the King has three prevailing character traits: He is just, [has] salvation, and arrives humbly (from v. 9). The messianic and eschatological properties of this passage are evident. Note that the King comes to Jerusalem after God s reign was established in surrounding Gentile communities, including Syria, Phoenicia, and Philistia. The King had one characteristic that most would not associate with regal authority humility. The new King would be meek and lowly as opposed to proud and haughty. He also would ride in on a donkey as opposed to a well-armored war horse. The Israelites were instructed not to trust in majestic war horses (see Isaiah 31:1).
2. A Donkey for a King (Matthew 21:1-3) As Jesus and His disciples descended upon Jerusalem, they came to a small village called Bethphage (Matthew 21:1). It was here that Jesus made what probably seemed like strange requests. He asked two unnamed disciples to go into the village and retrieve a donkey and colt for him. When the owner of the donkey and the colt learned that Jesus requested them, he gave them freely and joyfully. Jesus chose to ride on a colt, a symbol of humility, which made His Triumphal Entry and Crucifixion forever memorable. But the presence of a King on a colt did not keep the people from praising Him. They perceived a prophet among them and greeted Him as a King. 3. The Prophecy Fulfilled (vv. 4-5) The previous verses in this passage complete the plan for Jesus Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. The prophet Zechariah s words foretold God s promise to fallen humanity. Historically, these words ran completely counter to the people s understanding of a kingly entrance. Kings were supposed to arrive with legions of bodyguards, officers, great riches, property, pomp, and circumstance. Chariots were the usual mode of transportation, or a king might ride on a mighty war horse. But the words of this prophecy gave the people a glimpse of the one to come, the one Matthew referenced in his text, a King who comes meekly. 4. The Crowds Worship the King (vv. 6-11) As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowd threw down their coats and branches along the road and shouted praises to Him. Their actions honored Him, and they greeted Jesus with shouts and singing of the hallel psalms (Psalms 113-118) that were customary greetings to people journeying to Jerusalem for the Passover. However, the people knew Jesus was much more than just another traveler; they were honoring Him for the miracles they had seen Him perform. The throngs of people, the furor that the Messiah had come, and the deafening shouts of praise created a palpable momentum in the city. Leading the procession were children, not soldiers, who sang His praises and shouted His glory. As the momentum grew, local religious leaders counseled Him to quiet the people. However, knowing His end was near, Jesus told them, If these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out (from Luke 19:40). This peculiar response indicated that Jesus kingship was not based on recognition from the people but on the foundations of the city and the temple which would declare His glory. Jesus was prophecy fulfilled, and no human proclamation could ultimately confirm or deny that truth. The people of Jerusalem were excited and asked about Jesus identity. Before this time, Jesus had not allowed anyone to publicly acknowledge Him as the Messiah. Most of Jesus ministry had been done outside of Jerusalem to avoid agitating the Jewish leaders. But now these
same people to whom He had ministered were leading the procession into the city, and the city dwellers wanted to know about this King who sat on a colt and not on a throne. The crowd replied that He was the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee. Some joined in the praise; others were disappointed when they saw Jesus enter the city without the majestic fanfare. Search the Scriptures 1. How does the prophet Zechariah describe Jesus Triumphal Entry (Zechariah 9:9)? 2. A grand entry into the city was common among those claiming to be the Messiah. How did Jesus entry differ from what the Jews had previously witnessed (v. 9)? 3. What did the people say and do as Jesus entered Jerusalem? What was the significance of their words and actions (Matthew 21:8-9)? 4. What was the difference between the people of Jerusalem and the multitude who went before and after Jesus (vv. 10-11)? Discuss the Meaning 1. In fulfilling His mission, Jesus was careful to look and act different from others professing to be Messiah. What character elements did Jesus possess that believers should imitate? 2. Jesus made a strange request of two of His disciples. When they arrived, everything was as He had said. How might the disciples faith inform us when we face tough decisions? Lesson in Our Society In today s society, it is very easy to be swept up in celebrity culture. We have a tendency to treat celebrities with a level of veneration that should be reserved for Jesus alone. We spend more time on gossip websites than we do in the Word of God. We concern ourselves with our follower count on social media websites. Getting a glimpse of the President of the United States at his inauguration brings a feeling of exhilaration. Unfortunately, church culture may not be exempt from this phenomenon. We treat special guests to special seats in our sanctuary, even though James warned against this (James 2:1). We show up in larger numbers when a celebrity pastor takes the platform at our church but are absent from other weekly services. Today s lesson should demonstrate that there is one King in our lives. He is to be worshiped and lifted above all others. If that isn t the case, then we should make the proper adjustment. Make It Happen Make an effort this week to remove something from your life that can become idolatrous. How many hours a day do you spend tracking cultural news? How about time spent online? Take
a break from it. Set aside some time to reflect on whether it has hindered or enhanced your relationship with Jesus. Follow the Spirit What God wants me to do: Remember Your Thoughts Special insights I have learned: More Light on the Text Zechariah 9:9 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. After proclaiming a prediction against the nations in 9:1-8, Zechariah turned to the fate of Israel. In verses 9-17, he declared that the Lord will save His people by protecting them in battle and establishing peace among the nations. Whether the king who brings victory for Israel is a human king or the Lord Himself is unclear from the prophecy, but in either case, God is involved in delivering Israel and establishing peace. The addresses to the daughter of Zion and daughter of Jerusalem are synonymous because Zion was located in the southeastern part of Jerusalem. Lowly is aniy (ah-nee) in Hebrew and can mean poor, humble, or even oppressed, indicating that this King is both just and righteous but also humble in status and attitude, as riding a work animal indicates. Matthew 21:1-11 1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. Jesus ministry was coming to a close, and He and His disciples were about to enter Jerusalem for His final days. In the opening scene, they were in Bethphage on the Mount of Olives to the east of Jerusalem. The Mount of Olives figures in the Gospel as the location where Jesus prepared for His Triumphal Entry and the place where He was arrested (26:30). Although it was located outside the city, the temple was visible (The Harper Collins Bible, 783). In preparation for His entry into Jerusalem, Jesus told two disciples to get a donkey and its colt that they would find tied up in the village nearby, a reference to Zechariah 9:9, which prophesied that
Israel s King would come riding on a donkey s colt. Jesus explained that the disciples should tell the owner of the donkeys that the Lord needed them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. Matthew interrupted the scene momentarily in order to explain that this event was a fulfillment of Zechariah s prophecy. Matthew both explicitly claimed this and provided a quotation blending Isaiah 62:11 and Zechariah 9:9 to remind the readers that the details of the scene were in alignment with the prophetic words. The New Testament writers often blended several verses or passages from different portions of Scripture in order to reveal that the events of the New Testament were fully in line with God s salvation history as prophesied. The significance of Jesus as God s chosen Savior is magnified by the fact that every word of the prophecy was fulfilled, including the appearance of both a donkey and its colt. Jesus, the Son of David, arrived in Jerusalem meek and riding a donkey. The Greek word praus (prah-oos) can mean humble, meek, or gentle. The King James Version s rendering as meek probably best captures both nuances of gentleness and humility, indicating that the chosen Messiah is a King who is neither a warrior nor an arrogant ruler who had to show off His power. Though royal and God s chosen, He did not display behavior associated with a royal Messiah. 6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. Matthew revealed that both Jesus instructions to the disciples and Zechariah s prophecy were fulfilled. Jesus the Messiah was mounted on a donkey s colt as He was about to enter Jerusalem. Although this scene is also narrated by Mark and Luke (Mark 11:110; Luke 19:29-40), only Matthew indicated that there were two donkeys. Mark and Luke state that there was one donkey. It is possible that they were reading Zechariah 9:9 as it was intended in Hebrew poetic form, seeing the parallelism that puts two or more synonymous words or phrases parallel to each other but referring to one thing. This poetic device was often used throughout the books of Psalms and Proverbs to intensify or clarify a description, statement, or event. In this case, Zechariah mentioned a male donkey (Gk. hamor, ha-more) and a young male donkey or foal (Gk. ayir, AH-year), noting that it is the offspring of a female donkey (Gk. atonot, ah-toe- NOTE). The point of the repetition was to intensify and clarify by referring to the same animal with synonymous words. In Zechariah 9:9, it was not just any donkey, but a young one, the offspring of a female donkey. This intensifies the humility of the royal Messiah, who will not appear on a horse or chariot but a donkey, a regular work animal, even on a donkey s foal, which would not be as strong as a fully mature donkey. This messianic figure, though royal, will stand
out from other royal figures in His humility. Although it may seem that Matthew was misinterpreting Zechariah, he in fact was following the prophet s words to the letter in order to show that everything prophesied about the royal Messiah comes about in Jesus. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. Zechariah did not mention the crowd s response to God s King entering Jerusalem, but for Matthew, the crowds were important. In 15:39, the crowds were sent away and had not been very active, but now in 21:8-11 they became active again, honoring Jesus as they spread their garments and branches in His path and blessing Him as the Son of David (The New Interpreter s Bible, 403). A similar response to a king happened in 2 Kings 9:13, when Jehu was anointed king of Israel. The crowds echoed Psalm 118:26 in their shout. This psalm is part of the Passover liturgy, an association with particular relevance since Jesus and His disciples celebrated the Passover together in Matthew 26:17-30 just before He was arrested. Hosanna is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew hoshiahna (hoe-shee-ah-nah), which means Please save! It is a regular part of the liturgy in the praise psalms (Hallel) and became a common way of expressing joy by Jesus time (403). The crowds responded with exultation as they recognized that Jesus was the Son of David and chosen by God, despite the fact that Jesus did not behave in particularly royal ways. 10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. Now that Jesus had entered Jerusalem, the response was quite different. Instead of showing honor, the crowd was shaken and asked who He was. Because some of Jerusalem s inhabitants had not encountered Jesus before, His entry caused them great fear. Matthew used the Greek word seio (SAY-oh), which can refer to both physical trembling (even an earthquake) and emotional disturbance. Douglas Hare notes that in Matthew, seio refers to supernatural events, as in 8:24, 24:7, 27:54 and 28:2 (Matthew, 239). Then when the people of the city asked whom Jesus was, the crowds proclaimed that He was a prophet. This identification was not incorrect (see 13:57, 23:37). Nevertheless, the response to Jesus in Jerusalem was not fitting for one of God s prophets, for the city responded to His teachings by arresting and crucifying Him. Jesus is not a human King with an earthly throne, despite being the Son of David. In this passage, He fulfilled the prophetic vision of Zechariah, which promised that God would provide a King from David s descendants who would do away with violence and oppression. This King will be victorious but also meek and will provide salvation to Israel and the nations. Despite Jesus
promise of salvation, the people misunderstood. Even Jesus own disciples did not understand who He was, so it should not be surprising that the crowds were shaken and confused. Say It Correctly: Zechariah. zek-uh-rye-ah. Bethphage. BETH-fayge. Daily Bible Readings: MONDAY The Lord Enthroned as King (Psalm 29) TUESDAY The Lord Protects (Zechariah 9:10-15) WEDNESDAY The Lord Gives Victory (Psalm 20) THURSDAY Loud Songs of Joy (Psalm 47) FRIDAY Your Salvation Comes! (Isaiah 62:8-12) SATURDAY Coming in the Lord s Name (Psalm 118:21-29) SUNDAY The Triumphal Entry (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:1-11)