What I Noticed Today (Matthew 20-21)
Matthew 20
In verses 1-16, Jesus continues the teaching with the parable of the laborers in the vineyard. A landowner hired men for a specific wage, and throughout the day, he hired more men. But at the end of the day, all of the men, even those who worked only part of a day, received the same wage as those who worked all day.
Jesus said the men hired early should not be envious of those who were hired later because it was the master’s money to do with what he wished. The lesson of the parable is it is God’s sovereignty to reward those whom He wishes to reward.
In verses 17-19, Jesus, now on His way to Jerusalem, predicts his death a third time. But He reminds the disciples that He will rise again on the third day.
In verses 20-23, the mother of James and John (the sons of Zebedee) asked Jesus for her sons to be seated at his right and left side when He came into His kingdom. Apparently, James and John were with her because Jesus responds, asking James and John if they are able to drink the cup he was about to drink (suffer like Jesus). They said they were, and Jesus agreed they would suffer as he would suffer. However, the positions of who would sit where, was up to the Father.
Note: James and John (and their mother) are still more concerned with positions of prominence, authority, and power than the humility that Jesus had taught about previously.
In verses 24-28, when the other ten disciples heard about this, they were upset, but Jesus warned them not to lord their authority over one another as the Gentiles and leaders do. Greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven comes from serving not from ruling so they should seek to serve one another.
Jesus concluded using himself as an example. He came to serve not to be served and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Note: The reference to giving His life as a ransom for many speaks to Jesus paying for our sins in His substitutionary death on the cross.
In verses 29-34, as Jesus and the disciples left Jericho, they passed by two blind men who recognized Jesus’ voice and begged to be healed, referring to Jesus as Lord, and Son of David.
Note: Their reference to Jesus as Lord, Son of David, is a clear recognition of Jesus as Messiah.
Jesus had compassion on them, healed them, and they followed Him.
Some thoughts for further consideration:
- Several times the disciples seek positions of prominence, power, and authority despite Jesus teaching in God’s economy it is the humble servant who is greatest.
- God expects us to forgive other believers, who repent of their sins against us because He has forgiven us much more.
- Marriage is a sacred covenant between a man, a woman, and God. Too often, we forget that God is a partner in our marriages.
- God will reward us for the service we perform for others in His name, but at the same time, we should not be envious of the rewards God chooses to bestow on others.
Matthew 21
In verses 1-5, Jesus and the disciples are on their way to Jerusalem. When they reach the town of Bethphage on the eastern side of the Mount of Olives, Jesus sends two of the disciples into the town to find a donkey and a colt. This took place to fulfill the prophecies of Zechariah 9:9 and Isaiah 62:11.
Note: It was the time of the Passover so many people were traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate.
In verses 6-8, the disciples got the donkey and the colt as directed and put their cloaks over the animals to form a saddle. As Jesus rode, some people laid the cloaks on the road while others placed palm branches on the road. They were singing Psalm 118:26 and Psalm 118:25.
Note: Covering the road with robes and branches was typical for how kings entered the city (2 Kings 9:13).
In verses 10-11, as Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem, crowds of people asked who he was. The crowd with Jesus answered this is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee.
Note: The crowd referred to Jesus not as “a” prophet but “the” prophet promised by Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15). Jesus was arriving in Jerusalem just as Daniel had predicted some 500 years before (Daniel 9:25-26).
In verses 12-13, Jesus entered the temple and drove out the money-changers and those who sold animals accusing them of making the house of the Lord, a den of robbers rather than a place of prayer.
Note: The money-changers insisted people exchange their money for temple money for a fee and then use the temple money to purchase animals for sacrifice at highly inflated prices.
In verses 14-17, The blind and lame gathered around Jesus, and He healed them. The chief priests and scribes saw this and heard the children crying out “Hosanna to the Son of David, ” and they were mad.
Note: Hosanna (Hoshana) in Hebrew means “I beg you to save” or “Please deliver us.”
Jesus answered them quoting Psalm 8:2: “out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise.”
With that, Jesus left them and journeyed to Bethany and stayed there.
In verses 18-22, Jesus was returning to Jerusalem when He saw a fruit tree that was not bearing fruit, so he cursed it, and it withered immediately. Jesus explained to his disciples that if they have faith, they can do such things and more if they ask God in prayer and have faith.
In verses 23-27, when Jesus entered the temple courts, the chief priests and elders challenged Jesus asking by what authority he did these things. Jesus promised to answer their question if they answered his, did the authority for John’s baptism come from heaven or man. The chief priests and elders realized if they said from heaven, then the question would be why you didn’t believe him. If they answered from man, the people would be upset because they regarded John as a great prophet. Ultimately, the chief priests and elders said they didn’t know, so Jesus refused to answer their question.
In verses 28-32, Jesus taught the parable of the two sons. The father told one son to go work in the vineyard. He said he would not but later changed his mind and did. The other son said he would go but did not. Jesus asked which son had done the will of the father. Jesus explained the parable relating it to the chief priests and elders saying they had promised to do the will of God and had heard the message of John the Baptist but rejected him, yet tax collectors and prostitutes had not made the promise, but when they heard the message, they believed and repented.
In verses 33-41, Jesus taught the parable of the vineyard owner and the tenants. The vineyard owner sends his servants to collect the rent from the tenants at harvest time. The tenants beat one of the servants, killed one, and stoned another. The owner sent more servants, and the tenants did the same to the next servants. Finally, the vineyard owner sent his own son, but the tenants killed the son thinking they would then inherit the vineyard.
In verses 42-46, Jesus quoting Psalm 118:22-23 explained the land would be taken away from these tenants and given to tenants who would produce fruit.
Note: There are several interpretations of this parable. The most likely is that because the nation of Israel had rejected Jesus, the message would be given to Gentiles who would believe, and there will come a time when the nation of Israel will accept the message of Jesus.
When the chief priests and Pharisees heard these parables, they knew Jesus was talking about them, and they wanted to arrest him, but they didn’t because they were afraid of the reaction of the crowds.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
