Matthew 21:1._Then Jesus sent two disciples _Jesus _sends _his _disciples _to bring _an ass _to him, not because he was wearied with the journey, but for a different reason; for, in consequence of the time of his death being at hand, he intended to show, by a solemn performance, what was the nature... [ Continue Reading ]
2._Go into the village. _As he was _at Bethany_, he did not ask for _an ass _to relieve the fatigue of traveling; for he could easily have performed the rest of the journey on foot. (714) But as kings are wont to ascend their chariots, from which they may be easily seen, so the Lord intended to turn... [ Continue Reading ]
5._Say to the daughter of Zion. _This is not found, word for word, in Zechariah; but what God commanded one Prophet to proclaim, the Evangelist justly and appropriately applies to all godly teachers; for the only hope, on which the children of God ought both to build and to rely, was, that the Redee... [ Continue Reading ]
6._And the disciples went _It was just now remarked, that the zeal and readiness of _the disciples _to obey are here mentioned with commendation; for the influence of Christ was not so great, that his name alone would be sufficient to produce an impression on unknown persons; and besides, there was... [ Continue Reading ]
8._And a very great multitude. _Here the Evangelists relate that Christ was acknowledged as a king by the people. It might, indeed, appear to be a ludicrous exhibition, (718) that a multitude of obscure persons, by _cutting down trees, and strawing their garments_, bestowed on Christ the empty title... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Hosanna to the Son of David. _This prayer is taken from Psalms 118:25. Matthew relates expressly the Hebrew words, in order to inform us, that these applauses were not rashly bestowed on Christ, and that the disciples did not utter without consideration the prayers which came to their lips, but t... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 21:10._When he entered into Jerusalem. _Matthew says that _the city was moved, _in order to inform us that the transaction did not take place secretly, or by stealth, but in the presence of all the people, and that the priests and scribes were not ignorant of it. Under this despicable aspect... [ Continue Reading ]
12._And Jesus entered into the temple. _Though Christ frequently ascended _into the temple, _and though this abuse continually met his eye, twice only did he stretch out his hand to correct it; once, at the commencement of his embassy, (13) and now again, when he was near the end of his course. But... [ Continue Reading ]
13._It is written. _Christ quotes two passages taken out of two Prophets; the one from Isaiah 56:7, and the other from Jeremiah 7:11. What _was written _by Isaiah agreed with the circumstances of the time; for in that passage is predicted the calling of the Gentiles. Isaiah, therefore, promises that... [ Continue Reading ]
14._And the blind and lame came to him. _That the authority which Christ had claimed for himself out of the usual course might not be suspected of rashness, he supported it by miracles. He therefore _cured the blind and lame in the temple, _in order to proclaim that the rights and honor of Messiah t... [ Continue Reading ]
15._When the chief priests and scribes saw. _Luke relates that the Pharisees began to grumble, while he was still on the road. (17) It was the disciples that were then crying out: the others wished to have them silenced. Christ replied, that it was in vain for them to make opposition; because God wo... [ Continue Reading ]
16._And have you never read? _The scribes and priests seize on this as an opportunity of calumniating Christ, that he allows himself to be called a King by _children; _as it is always the custom of wicked people haughtily to despise the mean condition of the disciples of Christ. This malicious desig... [ Continue Reading ]
18._And returning in the morning. _Between that solemn entrance of Christ, of which we have spoken, and the day of the Passover, he had passed the night in Bethany; and during the day he appeared in the temple for the purpose of teaching. Matthew and Mark relate what happened during that interval, t... [ Continue Reading ]
19_Let no fruit grow on thee henceforth. _Let us learn from this what is the meaning of the word _curse, _namely, that the tree should be condemned to barrenness; as, on the other hand, God _blesses, _when by his voice he bestows fertility. It appears more clearly from Mark _, _that the fig-tree did... [ Continue Reading ]
21_And Jesus answering. _The use of the miracle is still farther extended by Christ, in order to excite his disciples to faith and confidence. By Mark _, _the general exhortation is placed first, _to have faith in God; _and then follows the promise, that they would obtain by faith whatever they aske... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 21:23._By what authority doest thou these things. _As the other schemes and open attempts to attack Christ had not succeeded, the _priests and scribes _now attempt, by indirect methods, if they may possibly cause him to desist from the practice of teaching. They do not debate with him as to... [ Continue Reading ]
25_Whence was the baptism of John? _Christ interrogates them about _the baptism of John, _not only to show that they were unworthy of any authority, because they had despised a holy prophet of God, but also to convict them, by their own reply, of having impudently pretended ignorance of a matter wit... [ Continue Reading ]
This conclusion shows what is the object of the parable, when Christ prefers to the scribes and priests those who were generally accounted infamous and held in detestation; for he unmasks those hypocrites, (33) that they may no longer boast of being the ministers of God, or hold out a pretended zeal... [ Continue Reading ]
30._I, Sir. _(35) This phrase is borrowed from the Hebrew language; for, when the Hebrews wish to offer their services, and to declare that they are ready to obey, they speak in this manner, “Here I am, Sir,” It is a laudable virtue in itself, as soon as God has spoken, to yield to Him ready and che... [ Continue Reading ]
32._For John came. _As _John _was a faithful servant of God, whatever he taught Christ ascribes to God himself. It might have been more fully expressed thus: God came pointing out _the way of righteousness _by the mouth of _John; _but as _John _spoke in the name of God, and not as a private individu... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 21:33._Hear another parable. _The words of Luke are somewhat different; for he says that Christ _spoke to the people, _while here the discourse is addressed to the priests and scribes. But the solution is easy; for, though Christ _spoke against them, _he exposed their baseness in the presenc... [ Continue Reading ]
35._And wounded one, and killed another. _Here Mark andLuke differ a little from Matthew _; _for while Matthew mentions many servants, all of whom were ill-treated and insulted, and says that _afterwards other servants were sent more numerous than the first, Mark _and Luke mention but one at a time,... [ Continue Reading ]
37._They will reverence my son. _Strictly speaking, indeed, this thought does not apply to God; for He knew what would happen, and was not deceived by the expectation of a more agreeable result; but it is customary, (47) especially in parables, to ascribe to Him human feelings. And yet this was not... [ Continue Reading ]
42._Have _you _never read in the Scriptures? We _must remember what we said a little before, that, as _the priests and scribes _kept the people devoted to them, it was a principle current among them, that they alone were competent to judge and decide as to the future redemption, so that no one ought... [ Continue Reading ]
43._Therefore I say to you. _Hitherto Christ directed his discourse to rulers and governors, but in presence of the people. Now, however, he addresses in the same manner the people themselves, and not without reason, for they had been the companions and assistants of the priests and scribes in hinde... [ Continue Reading ]
44._And he who shall fall on this stone. _Christ confirms more fully the former statement, that he suffers no loss or diminution when he is rejected by the wicked, because, though their obstinacy were like a stone or like iron, yet by his own hardness he will break them, and therefore he will be the... [ Continue Reading ]
45._They knew that he spoke of them. _The Evangelists show how little success Christ had, that we may not wonder if the doctrine of the Gospel does not bring all men, in the present day, to yield obedience to God. Let us also learn that it is impossible but that the rage of ungodly men will be more... [ Continue Reading ]