Matthew - Day 27: Jesus’ Entry Into Jerusalem

The triumphal entry is glorious and exciting; people were excited to see Jesus ride into the city and shouted, throwing their cloaks and waving palm branches. It looked like He would be crowned king which was a happily-ever-after ending to the story. They have received their king. As you read through the next couple of days, you will find this same crowd begin to realize this was not a smooth road. The way to being a king was through the cross and death. Unfortunately, the crowd was fickle. The same crowd that came to the city to celebrate Him being king were probably involved in the arrest and trial of Jesus. Many of them were at the cross as scoffers – faith was at an all-time low because God’s plan did not meet their mental image of what should happen. No one realized through these chapters that there would be a resurrection. We read with the benefit of knowing the end of the story; they lived not being able to see around the corner. This happiness at the triumphal entry was brief and the beginning of a road of doubt and sorrow.

Read Matthew 21:1-11

Q: How long does my worship last?

Q: Is God only good when he does what I want or is he equally good when he gives an adverse outcome?

Read Matthew 21:12-17

Q: How does this picture of Jesus impact you?

Q: Why do you think Jesus was so frustrated at the absence of prayer?

Read Matthew 21:18-45

Q: Who did Jesus say the two sons represented? Why was this hard for the religious leaders of the time to hear Him say this?

Q: What does it sound like the tenants believed, that ultimately led them to kill the son?

Q: Why did the Jews ultimately reject and kill Jesus? In what ways do we reject him still today?

For Further Study: Mark 12:1-12, Luke 20:9-19