Reflections on the King Who Serves
Matthew 21:1–17
To summarize this text, Jesus was warmly received into Jerusalem while riding a donkey and accompanied by fishermen, rural Galileans, and a former tax collector. The townspeople cry out “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” Instead of getting caught up in the people’s praises, He goes straight to the temple to drive out people who bought and sold animals for sacrifices. Using a braided cord and flipping over tables and chairs, He drove out those who would make a business out of sacrificing to God, which would disproportionately affect the poor. Then after whipping and flipping in the temple, He invited the blind and lame to be healed.
Something interesting that I noticed: the disciples put their own clothes on the donkey for Jesus to sit on, and the townspeople laid their clothes and palm tree branches on the road as Jesus headed into Jerusalem. I learned that all of this was an echo of when Jehu was anointed king (2 Kings 9:13) and when there was the Feast of Tabernacles for the Israelites (Leviticus 23:40). They were recognizing Jesus’ kingship and His heavenly lordship.
And even the children were praising Him, saying the same thing: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” The religious leaders were indignant, but Jesus reminded them of Psalm 8:2, that God has…
