Matthew — Chapter 21

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1And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

2Saying 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.

3And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

4All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

5Tell 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.

6And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

7And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

8And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

9And 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.

10And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

11And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

12And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

13And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

14And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.

15And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,

16And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

17And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.

18Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.

19And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

20And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

21Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

22And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

23And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

24And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

25The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

26But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

27And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

28But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

29He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

30And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

31Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

32For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

33Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

34And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

35And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

36Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

37But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

38But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

39And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

40When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

41They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

42Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

43Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

44And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

45And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

46But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

1And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

2saying unto them, Go into the village that is over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose [them], and bring [them] unto me.

3And if any one say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

4Now this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying,

5Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, Meek, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass.

6And the disciples went, and did even as Jesus appointed them,

7and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their garments; and he sat thereon.

8And the most part of the multitude spread their garments in the way; and others cut branches from the trees, and spread them in the way.

9And the multitudes that went before him, 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.

10And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, Who is this?

11And the multitudes said, This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.

12And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of he money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves;

13and he saith unto them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer: but ye make it a den of robbers.

14And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.

15But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children that were crying in the temple and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were moved with indignation,

16and said unto him, Hearest thou what these are saying? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea: did ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou has perfected praise?

17And he left them, and went forth out of the city to Bethany, and lodged there.

18Now in the morning as he returned to the city, he hungered.

19And seeing a fig tree by the way side, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only; and he saith unto it, Let there be no fruit from thee henceforward for ever. And immediately the fig tree withered away.

20And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How did the fig tree immediately wither away?

21And Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do what is done to the fig tree, but even if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea, it shall be done.

22And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

23And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

24And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one question, which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

25The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why then did ye not believe him?

26But if we shall say, From men; we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet.

27And they answered Jesus, and said, We know not. He also said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

28But what think ye? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in the vineyard.

29And he answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented himself, and went.

30And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I [go], sir: and went not.

31Which of the two did the will of his father? They say, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

32For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye saw it, did not even repent yourselves afterward, that ye might believe him.

33Hear another parable: There was a man that was a householder, who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country.

34And when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, to receive his fruits.

35And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

36Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them in like manner.

37But afterward he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

38But the husbandmen, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance.

39And they took him, and cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him.

40When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

41They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will let out the vineyard unto other husbandmen, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

42Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; This was from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes?

43Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

44And he that falleth on this stone shall be broken to pieces: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.

45And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

46And when they sought to lay hold on him, they feared the multitudes, because they took him for a prophet.

1Now when they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,

2telling them, “Go to the village ahead of you. Right away you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.

3If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”

4This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:

5“Tell the people of Zion, ‘Look, your king is coming to you, unassuming and seated on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

6So the disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.

7They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them, and he sat on them.

8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

9The crowds that went ahead of him and those following kept shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

10As he entered Jerusalem the whole city was thrown into an uproar, saying, “Who is this?”

11And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”

12Then Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those who were selling and buying in the temple courts and turned over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves.

13And he said to them, “It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are turning it into a den of robbers!”

14The blind and lame came to him in the temple courts, and he healed them.

15But when the chief priests and the experts in the law saw the wonderful things he did and heard the children crying out in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant

16and said to him, “Do you hear what they are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouths of children and nursing infants you have prepared praise for yourself’?”

17And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and spent the night there.

18Now early in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry.

19After noticing a fig tree by the road he went to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. He said to it, “Never again will there be fruit from you!” And the fig tree withered at once.

20When the disciples saw it they were amazed, saying, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”

21Jesus answered them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.

22And whatever you ask in prayer, if you believe, you will receive.”

23Now after Jesus entered the temple courts, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”

24Jesus answered them, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things.

25Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from people?” They discussed this among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’

26But if we say, ‘From people,’ we fear the crowd, for they all consider John to be a prophet.”

27So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

28“What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’

29The boy answered, ‘I will not.’ But later he had a change of heart and went.

30The father went to the other son and said the same thing. This boy answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but did not go.

31Which of the two did his father’s will?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, tax collectors and prostitutes will go ahead of you into the kingdom of God!

32For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe. Although you saw this, you did not later change your minds and believe him.

33“Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went on a journey.

34When the harvest time was near, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his portion of the crop.

35But the tenants seized his slaves, beat one, killed another, and stoned another.

36Again he sent other slaves, more than the first, and they treated them the same way.

37Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

38But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and get his inheritance!’

39So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

40Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”

41They said to him, “He will utterly destroy those evil men! Then he will lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his portion at the harvest.”

42Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

43“For this reason I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

44The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.”

45When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them.

46They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds because the crowds regarded him as a prophet.

1When they came near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethsphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

2saying to them, “Go into the village that is opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them, and bring them to me.

3If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and immediately he will send them.”

4All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying,

5“Tell the daughter of Zion, behold, your King comes to you, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

6The disciples went, and did just as Jesus commanded them,

7and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their clothes on them; and he sat on them.

8A very great multitude spread their clothes on the road. Others cut branches from the trees, and spread them on the road.

9The multitudes who went in front of him, and those who followed, kept shouting, “Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

10When he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?”

11The multitudes said, “This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

12Jesus entered into the temple of God, and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves.

13He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers!”

14The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.

15But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children who were crying in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the son of David!” they were indignant,

16and said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes. Did you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing babies you have perfected praise?’”

17He left them, and went out of the city to Bethany, and camped there.

18Now in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry.

19Seeing a fig tree by the road, he came to it, and found nothing on it but leaves. He said to it, “Let there be no fruit from you forever!” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

20When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree immediately wither away?”

21Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, if you have faith, and don’t doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you told this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it would be done.

22All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

23When he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?”

24Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, which if you tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

25The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?” They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

26But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.”

27They answered Jesus, and said, “We don’t know.” He also said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

28But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, ‘Son, go work today in my vineyard.’

29He answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind, and went.

30He came to the second, and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I’ m going, sir,’ but he didn’t go.

31Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into God’s Kingdom before you.

32For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn’t even repent afterward, that you might believe him.

33“Hear another parable. There was a man who was a master of a household, who planted a vineyard, set a hedge about it, dug a wine press in it, built a tower, leased it out to farmers, and went into another country.

34When the season for the fruit came near, he sent his servants to the farmers, to receive his fruit.

35The farmers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another.

36Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they treated them the same way.

37But afterward he sent to them his son, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

38But the farmers, when they saw the son, said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and seize his inheritance.’

39So they took him, and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

40When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?”

41They told him, “He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will lease out the vineyard to other farmers, who will give him the fruit in its season.”

42Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner. This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes?’

43“Therefore I tell you, God’s Kingdom will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation producing its fruit.

44He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it will fall, it will scatter him as dust.”

45When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke about them.

46When they sought to seize him, they feared the multitudes, because they considered him to be a prophet.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

Jesus enters Jerusalem triumphantly on a donkey fulfilling Zechariah's prophecy, cleanses the temple of money-changers, curses the barren fig tree, and challenges the religious leaders' authority with pointed parables.

Authorship & Background

Author: Matthew (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 21 begins the final week of Jesus' life — often called "Passion Week." It records the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (vv.1-11), the second cleansing of the Temple (vv.12-17), the cursing of the fig tree (vv.18-22), the challenge to Jesus' authority (vv.23-27), and two parables of judgment (vv.28-46).
The Triumphal Entry: Jesus enters Jerusalem as King, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9. He rides a donkey — a symbol of peace, not a warhorse. The crowd shouts "Hosanna to the Son of David" — a messianic acclamation. Within five days, many of these same people will cry "Crucify Him."
The Temple Cleansing: This is the second time Jesus cleansed the Temple (the first was at the beginning of His ministry, John 2:13-17). The Court of the Gentiles — the only place non-Jews could worship — had been turned into a marketplace. Jesus' anger was directed at those who made worship impossible for outsiders.
The Fig Tree: A prophetic sign-act. The fig tree represents Israel — full of leaves (outward religion) but bearing no fruit (genuine righteousness). Jesus' cursing of the tree is a warning of judgment on fruitless religion.

Map & Geography

  • Bethphage and Bethany: Two villages on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, about 2 miles east of Jerusalem. The triumphal entry begins here.
  • The Mount of Olives: The hill directly east of Jerusalem, overlooking the Temple. Jesus descended from here into the city.
  • Jerusalem and the Temple: Jesus entered the city and went directly to the Temple, cleansing it of the money changers. The Temple was the religious and geographic center of Jewish life.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the Triumphal Entry's fulfillment of prophecy, the Temple cleansing's significance, the fig tree as a symbol of Israel, and the two parables of judgment.
  • Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "The Triumphal Entry" on vv.1-11 (MTP Vol. 37, No. 2212) "He came meek, riding on a donkey. Not a warhorse, not a chariot — a donkey. The King of kings entered His capital city on a borrowed animal. That is the nature of His kingdom — power clothed in humility, authority expressed through gentleness." Sermon: "The Rejected Stone" on v.42 (MTP Vol. 10, No. 562) "The builders rejected Him — the religious experts, the theologians, the priests. They examined Him and said 'This stone does not fit our building.' And God made Him the cornerstone — the most important stone of all."

Reflection

  • 1. Jesus entered Jerusalem as King — but on a donkey, not a warhorse. His kingdom operates through humility, not force. As a man, how do you exercise authority and influence? Through force and dominance, or through humble service?
  • 2. The Temple had become a marketplace — the place of worship corrupted by commerce. Is there anything in your life that has crowded out genuine worship? What "tables" need to be overturned in your heart?
  • 3. The fig tree had leaves but no fruit — the appearance of life without the reality. Is your spiritual life producing genuine fruit, or just the appearance of religion? What fruit is visible in your life right now?
  • 4. The son who said "I will not" but later repented and went (v.29) entered the kingdom before the son who said "I go, sir" but didn't (v.30). God values genuine obedience over religious promises. Where are you saying "yes" to God with your mouth but "no" with your life?
  • 5. The crowd shouted "Hosanna" on Sunday and "Crucify Him" on Friday. What does this tell you about the danger of emotional, crowd-driven faith? How do you ensure your commitment to Christ is deeper than emotion?
  • 6. Jesus cleansed the Temple because it had become a barrier to worship for outsiders (Gentiles). Are there ways your church or your personal faith creates barriers for people trying to come to God? What would it look like to remove those barriers?
  • 7. The religious leaders asked "By what authority do you do these things?" (v.23). They wanted credentials. Jesus pointed to fruit and faith. How do you evaluate spiritual authority — by credentials and position, or by fruit and faithfulness?
  • 8. The parable of the wicked tenants (vv.33-46) shows God's patience — He sent servant after servant before sending His Son. How patient has God been with you? How does His patience motivate your obedience?
  • 9. "The stone which the builders rejected" (v.42). The religious experts rejected Jesus. Have you ever rejected something God was doing because it didn't fit your expectations? How do you stay open to God working in unexpected ways?