Where will YOU be on that day? Will you be among Jesus’ disciples shouting “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord?” Or will you be awaiting the reunion of your soul and body to be presented before the Lord for judgment? Perhaps you will be cowering in fear at the sight of the Christ whom you have rejected all your life? Matthew 21 does not describe Christ’s Triumphal Entry.
I think you will find over the next few months, that I am bending my personal rule in this study of Matthew. My intention has not been to study the life of Christ, bringing together the testimony of all of the gospels. But now that we are approaching the cross, and we have Jesus’ final week before us, I probably will be making more references to events recorded in the other gospels. Things which I think are significant, or which tie closely to what Matthew tells us.
Let me remind you that this was the Passover season. Not all Israel obeyed, but it was expected that every son of Jacob was to be in Jerusalem for this festival. That means there were a great many people on the road from Jericho to Jerusalem. The more religious people of Galilee would have journeyed south along the Jordan River and then come up from Jericho towards the capital. There could have been a continual stream of men and families on the road at this time, surrounding Christ and His disciples, whether they had intended that or not. As Jesus’ and His twelve approached Bethphage on the east side of the Mount of Olives, Christ ordered two of His men to bring Him a divinely prepared ass and her colt. Then as Jesus crested the hill, riding that young donkey, and looking down through the olive trees onto the city with its magnificent Temple, four things took place. Let’s consider the stones, the tears, the tremors and the confusion.
Think once again about Jesus’ STATEMENT in regard to the SPEAKING STONES.
This is not to be found in Matthew, but rather only in Luke 19:39-40 – Many in the crowd were shouting – “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” Even though some were saying that Jesus is “the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee,” these people were ascribing to Jesus – descendence from David, the great former king. And it was to David that God promised a special son – the Messiah. In other words, these people were saying that Jesus is the Christ. And they were ascribing salvation to Him – which is the meaning of “Hosanna.” It was a noisy bunch of people descending down into the Kidron Valley with Christ that day. But “some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”
Why were those Pharisees there? We’ll never know for sure. Probably some of them were just travelers like most everyone else. But I have no doubt that some of them had imbedded themselves in the crowd to observe Christ. We know from other scriptures that they often came to the Lord with every intention of trapping Him in His own words so that they could destroy Him. The enemies of Christ have been doing that from the very beginning, and they are still doing that today. Hasn’t this church had theological and philosophical spies among us? As those Pharisees heard the praise of the people that day, some of them just couldn’t contain themselves – “Master, rebuke thy disciples.”
I won’t repeat all that I said last week about Jesus’ reply. But if the infinite God – who ordained Balaam’s ass to speak – could also order these stones to speak. They might have cried out in protest at the silencing of the crowd. Or they might have cried out in their own recognition of the Son of God and Creator of the Universe. I have no problem believing such things, even though it is considered foolishness by the unbeliever.
Has it come to your mind that there is a scriptural parallel to this thought earlier in Matthew 3:1-9? “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” Some commentators suggest that John was thinking about Gentiles when he spoke of “stones.” They were not natural children of Abraham, and they often worshiped stocks and stones. Then, too, their hearts were as hard as granite. But the pronoun “these stones” suggest that John was actually pointing at something, and it is unlikely that there were Gentiles present that day.
As understood by most Bible commentators, I believe that John was speaking literally. He pointed to some of the rocks along the bank of the Jordan where he had been baptizing. He believed in the omnipotence of God – as I do. Jehovah could have made those stones into men, as easily as He made Adam the first man. And then too, not only Gentiles’ hearts, but Jewish hearts too are as hard as granite. It takes a miracle of God to turn any sinner into a believer – into a descendent of the faith of Abraham. Believers in Christ are partakers of God’s grace. And “if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29).
Christ didn’t NEED the praise of these people coming into Jerusalem for the Passover. If the Creator, who fashioned the human body out of the dust of the ground, ordered the stones at the side of the road to glorify His Name, there would have been another chorus of praise to Lord besides that of the disciples. He didn’t need the praise of those people, but He didn’t silence them either. Rather than rebuking the people and their praise, He rebuked the Pharisees and their criticism.
But then as His eyes fell once again on Jerusalem, those eyes filled with TEARS and He began to WEEP.
Luke 19:41-44 – “And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.” I am told that there are two Greek words translated “to weep.” One is where tears fill the eyes and then silently run down the cheeks. The other – this one – involves sobbing, outward grieving and moaning. One of my favorite Greek experts suggests that our Lord burst into tears.
What sort of things bring tears to eyes of the Son of God? Doesn’t He tell us? First, He was well aware of what was soon to fall upon the wicked city. We know from history that within a generation, the Roman General Titus utterly destroyed Jerusalem. First there was a siege and then the streets ran with the slaughter and blood of her citizens. The anger of the Romans brought about the leveling of most of her buildings. As Christ says, if the people of the city had known what was going to happen soon, they, too, would have been shrieking out in grief and mourning. Most of us – most human beings look at their lives and think about how much better things could be. “If I had a little more money; if the wicked Romans weren’t governing us; if my health was a bit better…” Rarely do we consider that we could easily have less money, more wicked government and worse health. Christ could see that things were going to get infinitely worse for Israel.
And these thoughts could be applied to that nation yet today. Some in Israel may moan and groan about the enemy and the hatred which currently surrounds them – perhaps rightly so. There once was a day when that nation had a few allies around the world. But those of us who once supported that country are now only interested in what we can get from them. I don’t know that Israel has a true friend or ally in the world. But that country hasn’t even begun to see the problems which will fall on her. At any time, the Biblical Tribulation could be poured out upon Israel and the destruction of Jerusalem under Titus will seem like nothing more than a rough tickle.
But more than what the omniscient Christ saw in Israel’s future, was what He saw at that moment. “If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.” Despite their “hosannas” – in a matter of hours the true spiritual condition of those people will come pouring out like an infected boil accidentally ripped opened. The eternal King has come into their midst, but they will turn on Him like surprised rattlesnakes. Christ was not weeping for Himself, but for Israel’s rejection of the grace and blessing of Jehovah.
Some of the events which will take place during the next few days are inexplicable naturally. For example – the mood of the people swinging from exaltation to condemnation. From “Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in th name of the Lord.” To “Crucify him, Crucify him; we will not have this man to reign over us”. And to “He saved others; himself he cannot save.” They will say, “If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.” No, they must believe and receive Him as He hangs there on the cross – they need a Saviour as well as a King. Jesus, perceiving their rejection and their upcoming judgment, wept for those foolish people. And I am sure there is a sense in which He weeps over some of you for the same reasons.
Returning to our scripture in Matthew, we feel the first of several EARTHQUAKES.
“And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?” The word translated “moved” is “seio” (si’-o) from which the modern word “seismology” is derived. “Seismology” is “the geophysical science of earthquakes and the mechanical properties of the earth.” This word is found two more times in the Book of Matthew once in regard to the crucifixion and then again with Jesus’ resurrection. “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.” “And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.”
If I may extend our Lord’s comment about the stones shouting out His praise – when Christ, their Creator, was crucified the stones under Jerusalem shuddered. I don’t know what emotion to ascribe to those rocks – was it terror? Fear? Confusion? The entry of Christ into the city was an much an earthquake as His crucifixion, but this one was among the people – “all the city was moved.” All the city should have been moved, just as we should be moved every time we come into the presence of the King of kings. We should live in a constant state of “revival” – for the lack of a better word. Sometimes we should be filled with tears, and at other times – perhaps more often – we should be flooded with joy. What is wrong with us? Blame your weak pastor if you like, but you won’t answer for me when you stand before Christ at the Bema judgment. “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.”
Finally this morning, we come to the CONFUSED CONFESSION.
“And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.” This is absolutely true – the multitude had this correct. Nicodemus “came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” The miracles of Christ declared Him to be a man of God, like Elijah and Elisha. He preached and taught the Word of God as one with authority, unlike any of the rabbis of the day. And He was also a prophet in the sense that He could accurately declare future events. Indeed, “this is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.”
But what a terrible spiritual disaster to stop right there on that truth. The Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet of Nazareth. Most of the New Age Movement and their occult ancestors believe that Jesus was a prophet. The Mormons believe that He was a prophet and even more – that He was the brother of Lucifer. The Deists of early American history believed that Christ was a prophet and the things which He taught are worthy of study and implementation. And the Deists, the moralists, the secular philosophers of today will almost say the same thing. They are not unwilling to declare Jesus of Nazareth to be a teacher of fine and important principles. But if these people stop at that point they will all be eternally lost.
Jesus, lately of Nazareth is the eternal Son of God. The Bible clearly teaches that the stones could have shouted out that Christ was their Creator. He and the Father are one – they are Jehovah. Christ could speak of the future, because He was omniscient. He could heal the sick and raise the dead, not because He was a prophet, but because He is omnipotent.
I hesitate to use the words “more importantly” – But in a practical sense, in the light of our eternal needs, “more importantly” – Jesus of Nazareth is also the Lamb of God, the Saviour of sinners like me. Again, Christ wasn’t riding an ass into Jerusalem in order to further His prophetic ministry as Messiah. He wasn’t coming to the city in order to drive out the Romans and to sit upon David’s throne. He wasn’t there seeking the approval of the High priest, the Sanhedrin and the Pharisees. He was there to give His live a ransom for many. He was there to observe the Passover with His disciples, but to observe it in a way that it had never been observed before.
In about a week’s time, Christ will be nailed to a cross planted on the top of the small hill called “Golgotha.” He will shed His blood there as if it was God’s most holy altar – and it was. He will give His life and His blood as an atonement – a covering of the sins of all those whom He would ultimately save. “This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee” – yes, but – this is the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. The people of Jerusalem, as well as the people of this valley here in Idaho, need to repent before God and believe on this Christ, as their Lord and Saviour. We need to give up any hope within ourselves of driving out the Romans within us and around us. We need to enthrone Christ Jesus, by entrusting our hearts and souls to Him. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Do not waste the time that you spend in the House of God – meet and trust the God of this place.