Matthew 21:22

And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? For the exposition, see Luke 19:1 after 5:44; and the notes at Mark 11:12. Now commences, as Alford remarks, that series of parables and discourses of our Lord with His enemies, in which He develops, more completely than ever before, His hostility to their hypocrisy end iniquity: and so they are stirred up to compass His death....

18-22 This cursing of the barren fig-tree represents the state of hypocrites in general, and so teaches us that Christ looks for the power of religion in those who profess it, and the savour of it from those that have the show of it. His just expectations from flourishing professors are often disappointed; he comes to many, seeking fruit, and finds leaves only. A false profession commonly withers in this world, and it is the effect of Christ's curse. The fig-tree that had no fruit, soon lost its leaves. This represents the state of the nation and people of the Jews in particular. Our Lord Jesus found among them nothing but leaves. And after they rejected Christ, blindness and hardness grew upon them, till they were undone, and their place and nation rooted up. The Lord was righteous in it. Let us greatly fear the doom denounced on the barren fig-tree....

Verse Matthew 21:22. _ALL THINGS - YE SHALL ASK IN PRAYER, BELIEVING_] In order to get salvation, there must be, 1. a _conviction_ of the want of it: this begets, 2. _prayer_, or _warm desires_, in the heart: then 3. the person _asks_, i.e. makes use of _words_ expressive of his wants and wishes: 4. _believes_ the word of promise, relative to the fulfilment of his wants: and 5. _receives_, according to the merciful promise of God, the salvation which his soul requires....

This paragraph contains the account of the barren fig-tree, and of the cleansing of the temple. See also Mark 11:12; Luke 19:45. Matthew 21:12 AND JESUS WENT INTO THE TEMPLE OF GOD ... - From Mark 11:11, it is probable that this cleansing of the temple did not take place on the day that he entered Jerusalem in triumph, but on the day following. He came and looked round upon all things, Mark says, and went out to Bethany with the twelve. On the day following, returning from Bethany, he saw the fig-tree. Entering into the temple, he

EXPOSITION MATTHEW 21:1 _Triumphal entry into Jerusalem_. (Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29; John 12:12.) MATTHEW 21:1 We have come to the last week of our Lord's earthly life, when he made his appearance in Jerusalem as Messiah, and suffered the penalty of death. If, as is believed, his crucifixion took place on the fourteenth day of the month Nisan, the triumphal entry must be assigned to the ninth, which day was reckoned to commence at one sunset and to continue till the follow-lug evening. Th

AND ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER,.... Not only miracles, but any other thing which may be for the honour of God, the interest of religion, the spreading of the Gospel, the enlargement of the kingdom, of Christ, their own spiritual good, and the welfare of immortal souls, YE SHALL ASK IN PRAYER, BELIEVING. Munster's Hebrew Gospel reads it, "in prayer, and in faith"; and the Arabic version renders it, "in prayer with faith"; both to the same purpose, and aptly express the sense of the words, which design the prayer of faith; or that prayer which is put up in the strength of faith; and is of great avail with God: for whatever is asked in faith, agreeable to the will of God, which is contained in his covenant, word, and promises, and makes for his glory, and the good of his people, shall be given, be it what it will; though to carnal sense and reason it may seem impracticable and impossible: YE S...

9. THE KING ENTERS INTO JERUSALEM. The Parables of the Two Sons and the Householder and His Vineyard. CHAPTER 21 1. The King Enters Jerusalem. (Matthew 21:1 .) 2. The Second Cleansing of the Temple. (Matthew 21:12 .) 3. The Fig tree Cursed. (Matthew 21:18 .) 4. His Authority Impeached and His Question. (Matthew 21:23 .) 5. The Parable of the Two Sons. (Matthew 21:28 .) 6. The Parable of the Householder. (Matthew 21:33 .)

THE CURSING OF THE FIG TREE AND THE POWER OF FAITH (Mark 11:12 ff., Mark 11:20 *). What Mk. has severed, Mt. joins together. The miracle is enhanced by happening at once. The special mention of Peter is strangely omitted. In both Gospels the tree is condemned for falsity, not fruitlessness, and symbolises Jerusalem rather than the nation. Besides Luke 13:6 * _cf._ Hosea 9:10. The lesson Jesus points is the efficacy of believing prayer. This mountain would be Olivet; apart from the familiar metaphor Jesus may have had Zechariah 14:4 in mind. The saying is found

THE BEGINNING OF THE LAST ACT (Matthew 21:1-11)...

ASK. Greek. _aiteo._ App-134. RECEIVE. Supply the Ellipsis: "[it, if it he His will]", from Matthew 26:39.James 5:14; James 5:15; 1 John 5:14; 1 John 5:15. This is the one abiding condition of all prayer; and this Ellipsis must always be supplied....