Scripture - Matthew 21:1-11
21 When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples, 2 telling them, “Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied there with her colt. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them at once.”
4 This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:
5 Tell Daughter Zion,
“See, your King is coming to you,
gentle, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt,
the foal of a donkey.”
6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt; then they laid their clothes on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their clothes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. 9 Then the crowds who went ahead of him and those who followed shouted:
Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is he who comes in the name
of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!
10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in an uproar, saying, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.
Key Point
Misguided expectations happen when we put our own wants, beliefs, or plans onto God instead of accepting His truth, timing, and purpose.
5 Misguided Expectations
1. We Expect God to Fix Our Problems, Not Our Hearts
Text: Matthew 21:9
“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
- The people cried out for political rescue, not spiritual redemption.
- “Son of David” symbolized national deliverance, but Jesus came for eternal transformation.
Commentary
They waved palm branches—symbols of national pride and military hope. They wanted freedom from Rome, but Jesus came to set them free from sin.
Just like in Exodus, the real enemy wasn’t Egypt—it was the heart’s rebellion.
Application
Don’t ask God to fix your situation while resisting His work in your soul.
He didn’t come to improve your environment—He came to transform your identity.
2. We Expect Instant Power, Not Patient Process
Text: Matthew 21:8
“A very large crowd spread their clothes on the road…”
- The people treated Jesus like a conquering king.
- But Jesus came riding a donkey—symbolizing peace and humility, not power.
Commentary
Jesus fulfilled Zechariah 9:9—a prophecy of a gentle King.
They wanted force and dominance, but Jesus brought quiet strength and sacrifice.
He rejected worldly hype in favor of godly obedience.
Application
God’s victory often begins in humility, not hype.
Trust that what feels slow or small may be the start of something eternal.
3. We Expect God to Follow Our Plans
Text: Matthew 21:10
“When He entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred, saying, ‘Who is this?’”
- Everyone had a different expectation: healer, rebel, miracle-worker.
- But when Jesus didn’t meet those expectations, their praise turned to rejection.
Commentary
Like Pharaoh in Exodus, they resisted God’s will when it didn’t match their desires.
The same people who shouted “Hosanna” would later cry “Crucify Him.”
Application
True faith is surrender, not scripting.
Following Jesus means letting go of control—even when the outcome isn’t what we wanted.
4. We Expect God to Think Like Us
Text: Matthew 21:11
“This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
- They accepted Jesus as a prophet but struggled to receive Him as Messiah and Lord.
- They wanted a God who would affirm their worldview, not challenge it.
Commentary
They projected their preferences and politics onto Jesus. But He challenged both sides.
Just as in the Exodus, trusting God meant accepting His way of deliverance, not ours.
Application
Jesus didn’t come to echo your opinions—He came to transform your heart.
Let God reshape you instead of trying to remake Him in your image.
5. We Expect the Crown Without the Cross
Text: Matthew 21:5
“See, your King is coming to you, gentle and mounted on a donkey…”
- The people wanted a King to celebrate—not a Lamb to be sacrificed.
- They wanted the throne without the tree.
Commentary
Jesus was examined like a Passover lamb, found blameless, and then crucified.
The cross was not a failure—it was the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan.
“Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” – Hebrews 9:22
Application
You can’t receive resurrection without first going through death.
The path to glory always runs through surrender.
Conclusion
Jesus entered Jerusalem as King, but not the kind of King they expected.
He didn’t come to overthrow Rome—He came to overthrow sin and death.
Just like in the Exodus, salvation didn’t come through revolution, but through the blood of the Lamb.
“Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed.” – 1 Corinthians 5:7
Response Invitation
- Are your expectations of God shaped more by your desires or His Word?
- What assumptions about God do you need to release?
- Will you trust and follow the Lamb of God, even when the road leads through the cross before the crown?
Personal Notes
Devotionals
Monday: The Unexpected King
Matthew 21:1–5
“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your King is coming to you, gentle and mounted on a donkey…’”
Jesus didn’t enter Jerusalem on a war horse, but on a donkey—symbolizing peace, not power. The crowd expected a conqueror, but God sent a Savior. He rarely comes the way we imagine—but always exactly as we need.
Prayer:
Lord, help me recognize You even when You come in unexpected ways. Teach me to trust Your plans over my preferences.
Action Step:
Write down one area where you need to surrender your expectations to God this week.
Personal Reflection:
What expectations am I holding that might be blinding me from seeing what God is really doing?
Tuesday: When Worship Is Real
Matthew 21:6–9
“The crowds shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’”
The people shouted with joy—but many were praising a version of Jesus that fit their agenda. When He didn’t deliver what they wanted, their praises turned to rejection. Real worship is rooted in who Jesus is, not in what we want Him to do.
Prayer:
Jesus, may my praise be genuine and consistent—based on Your character, not my circumstances.
Action Step:
Spend 5 quiet minutes today worshiping Jesus for who He is—no requests, just praise.
Personal Reflection:
Does my praise depend on what Jesus does for me, or is it grounded in who He is?
Wednesday: The City That Missed It
Matthew 21:10–11
“When He entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in an uproar, saying, ‘Who is this?’”
Jerusalem was filled with noise, but not recognition. People were caught in the hype but missed the Holy One. We can be around church, religion, and even Jesus-talk—and still miss Jesus Himself.
Prayer:
Lord, quiet the noise in my heart so I can truly know You and not just know about You.
Action Step:
Take a 10-minute “tech break” to sit in silence and reflect on how Jesus is present in your life today.
Personal Reflection:
Am I more familiar with the idea of Jesus than the actual presence of Jesus?
Thursday: From Celebration to Confrontation
Matthew 21:12–13
“Jesus went into the temple and threw out all those buying and selling…”
Jesus doesn’t just want to be welcomed—He wants to clean house. His love isn’t just accepting, it’s transforming. When He steps into our lives, He also overturns what doesn’t belong.
Prayer:
Jesus, I invite You to confront anything in me that keeps me from wholehearted worship. Cleanse me in love.
Action Step:
Name one habit or attitude that needs to be “overturned” in your life—and ask God to begin that work today.
Personal Reflection:
What have I allowed in my heart that Jesus might want to drive out?
Friday: The Path to the Cross
Matthew 21:1–11 (Reflection)
Jesus knew the cheers would fade, and the cross was coming. Yet He kept going—for you. The cross wasn’t a surprise; it was the mission. We’re invited not just to cheer, but to carry our own cross and follow Him in love and obedience.
Prayer:
Thank You, Jesus, for choosing the cross. Give me courage to follow You—not just in celebration, but in sacrifice.
Action Step:
Write a one-sentence prayer of surrender to Jesus today.
Personal Reflection:
What does it look like for me to follow Jesus—not just when it’s easy, but when it costs me something?