Matthew 21
CHAPTER 21
Matthew 21:1-9 . CHRIST'S TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK. ( = 11:1-11 Luke 19:29-40 John 12:12-19 ).
For the exposition of this majestic scene--recorded, as will be seen, by all the
Matthew 21:10-22 . STIR ABOUT HIM IN THE CITY--SECOND CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE, AND MIRACLES THERE--GLORIOUS VINDICATION OF THE CHILDREN'S TESTIMONY--THE BARREN FIG TREE CURSED, WITH LESSONS FROM IT. ( = 11:11-26 Luke 19:45-48 ).
Matthew 21:23-46 . THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS QUESTIONED AND THE REPLY--THE PARABLES OF THE TWO SONS, AND OF THE WICKED HUSBANDMAN. ( = mark 11:27-12 mark 11:12 Luke 20:1-19 ).
Now commences, as ALFORD remarks, that series of parables and discourses of our Lord with His enemies, in which He develops, more completely than ever before, His hostility to their hypocrisy and iniquity: and so they are stirred up to compass His death.
The Authority of Jesus Questioned, and the Reply ( Matthew 21:23-27 ).
23. By what authority doest thou these things!--referring particularly to the expulsion of the buyers and sellers from the temple, and who gave thee this authority?
24. And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, &c.
25. The baptism of John--meaning his whole mission and ministry, of which baptism was the proper character.
whence was it? from heaven, or of men?--What wisdom there was in this way of meeting their question will best appear by their reply.
If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?--"Why did ye not believe the testimony which he bore to Me, as the promised and expected Messiah?" for that was the burden of John's whole testimony.
26. But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people--rather, "the multitude." In Luke ( Luke 20:6 ) it is, "all the people will stone us."
for all hold John as a prophet--Crooked, cringing hypocrites! No wonder Jesus gave you no answer.
27. And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell--Evidently their difficulty was, how to answer, so as neither to shake their determination to reject the claims of Christ nor damage their reputation with the people. For the truth itself they cared nothing whatever.
Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things--What composure and dignity of wisdom does our Lord here display, as He turns their question upon themselves, and, while revealing His knowledge of their hypocrisy, closes their mouths! Taking advantage of the surprise, silence, and awe produced by this reply, our Lord followed it up immediately by the two following parables.
Parable of the Two Sons ( Matthew 21:28-32 ).
28. But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first and said, Son, go work to-day in my vineyard--for true religion is a practical thing, a "bringing forth fruit unto God."
29. He answered and said, I will not--TRENCH notices the rudeness of this answer, and the total absence of any attempt to excuse such disobedience, both characteristic; representing careless, reckless sinners resisting God to His face.
30. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir--"I, sir." The emphatic "I," here, denotes the self-righteous complacency which says, "God, I thank thee that I am not as other men" ( Luke 18:11 ).
and went not--He did not "afterward repent" and refuse to go; for there was here no intention to go. It is the class that "say and do not" ( Matthew 23:3 )--a falseness more abominable to God, says STIER, than any "I will not."