“The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES DAY 1: Hosanna In The Highest Matthew 21: Behold He Comes: Jesus Our Savior Present Day View of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives Present Day View of the Mount of Olives from Jerusalem Did you know… The Mount of Olives is 240 feet above the Temple Mount. They are separated by the Kidron Valley. There is a Jewish cemetery (the largest and oldest in the world) located just below the Mount of Olives. Many modern day Jews who are still looking for their Messiah (not believing in Jesus), believe that He will come first to the Mt. of Olives before appearing in the temple. Because of this reasoning, it is a great honor to be buried on this mount. At the base of the Mount of Olives is situation the Garden of Gethsemane, which means the garden of the wine press. Luke 19:41-42 “As he [Jesus] approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said “if you, even you, had known on this day what would bring you peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes.” This section of Matthew is often called the triumphant entry, however because the cross was still before Christ, His final triumphant reign will not truly begin until He touches down upon the Mount of Olives at His second coming. When Jesus entered into Jerusalem, in Matthew 21, He entered to become a sacrifice for you and for me. Hebrews 9:28 tells us “so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” When Jesus entered the city riding on a colt, Jerusalem was looking for a political Messiah, not a personal Savior. Jesus knew this and wept for the city that He could not gather unto Himself because they had rejected Him, yet for the joy of our salvation set before Him, He rode on. Let’s open to Matthew 21 and join some in the crowd who did recognize their Savior riding into Jerusalem. Let’s worship Him as our “Hosanna in the Highest” who saves now! R RECEIVING God’s Word Open in Prayer Read Matthew 21:1-46 Today’s Scripture Focus: Matthew 21:1-11 © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Matthew • Chapter 21 • Day 1 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES E EXPERIENCING God’s Word 1. Where is Jesus coming from and where is He heading according to verse 1? There is some debate over which gate Jesus entered when He came riding into Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday. Some commentators say the sheep gate and others say the Eastern Gate. When this question was asked of a knowledgeable guide in Israel, He responded that he believed it was the Eastern Gate because there is no mention of Jesus traveling by the Jericho Road (which leads to the sheep gate). The Bible mentions Jesus coming down the Mount of Olives through the Kidron Valley and into Jerusalem. In addition, Ezekiel 44:1-2 says “Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and it was shut. The Lord said to me ‘This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it’.” It is presumed that the Eastern Gate was probably the entrance used by Jesus. 2. What specific directions does Jesus give the two disciples in verses 2-3. 3. Read Zechariah 9:9 and Matthew 21:5. Notice some phrases are missing. Compare the two and fill in the phrases Matthew does not include from the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9: ________________________________________________________________! _________________________________________________________________! See, your king comes to you, __________________________________________________________________ Gentle and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey A . At what time will Jerusalem truly be rejoicing and Jesus enters again victorious? © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Matthew • Chapter 21 • Day 1 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES The picture below is one that was taken when I was in Israel and walked what is now called the Palm Sunday road. For a small fee you could take this man’s picture. I am sure he strategically stood there in order for people to remember how Jesus rode into Jerusalem a long time ago. However, what does Matthew 21:7 tell us about the number of animals that were brought to Jesus? Typicallly a mother donkey followed her offspring very closely and we know that this colt had never been ridden before. Matthew is the only gospel account to mention two animals. 4. What was the reaction of the crowds to Jesus’ entrace on the colt? What do you think this act signified for them as they did it? 5. The word Hosanna means “Save now!”. Rewrite this phrase from verse 9 inserting the words “save now” wherever you see the word Hosanna. ______________________________ the Son of David Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! ______________________________ in the highest! © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Matthew • Chapter 21 • Day 1 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES By saying these phrases, what was the crowd both acknowledging and requesting of Jesus? 6. Verses 10 and 11 tell us that the crowd called Jesus a prophet from Nazareth. How would He save them if He were only a prophet to them? What kind of salvation were they looking for? 7. Read Zechariah 14:4. What location will Jesus return to according to this prophecy? 8. Revelation 19:11. When Jesus returns what will He be riding? “Jesus comes in humility, yet with appropriate dignity. Instead of coming on a horse as a conquering general, He comes on a colt, as was customary for royalty. He comes as the Prince of Peace.” (Guzik) A ACTING on God’s Word Have you ever been in a situation where you expected something from God but when He answered you it was not as you expected? The crowds expected something from Jesus. They wanted Him to bring peace and to rule and reign as a great King right then! They wanted salvation (Hosanna = save now!) however, what they could not understand was that in order to eventually rule and reign forever as the perfect King he would first need to go to the cross so they could be reconciled to God. Sometimes God must take us through something difficult first before the request we are seeking is answered. Can you think of a time in your life that God’s plan unfolded later than you anticipated and what you learned from it? © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Matthew • Chapter 21 • Day 1 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES D DELIGHTING in God’s Word Hebrews 12:2 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” We are the joy set before Him and the reason He endured the cross! Jesus would answer the plea of the crowd to save them in His timing and His perfect way. Praise the Lord today for the fact that He loved us enough to die for us and that He will rule and reign on earth as our faultless King someday. Close in Prayer NOTES © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Matthew • Chapter 21 • Day 1 “The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES DAY 2: Justice And Mercy Matthew 21: Behold He Comes: Jesus Our Savior Today we will see a side of Jesus that has not yet been recorded, His anger. We will find Jesus disgusted with the money changers and those selling the animals to be sacrificed. Why this indigna- tion and such public display of wrath? The lesson today will delve into that but I want you to see something very important that may be missed because the focus is on Jesus’ irritation rather than His display of mercy. Take a look at verse 14 which says, “The blind and the lame came to him at the temple and He healed them.” Jesus chased away those who were making His house a den of robbers but lovingly and with great compassion continued to heal those in need. Jesus is the perfect blend of justice and mercy. He will not sit idly by while there is wrong being done before Him and yet, has the most perfect and amazing love toward those who humbly come to Him with their need. R RECEIVING God’s Word Open in Prayer Read Matthew 21:1-46 Today’s Scripture Focus: Matthew 21:12-17 E EXPERIENCING God’s Word 1. Read Malachi 3:1-4. How is the prophecy in this passage fulfilled in Matthew 21:12-13? 2. Why do you think Jesus overturned the tables in the temple court area? Base your answer on what Jesus says in verse 13.