Mateo 21

1 Entrada triunfal de Jesús
Mientras Jesús y los discípulos se acercaban a Jerusalén, llegaron a la ciudad de Betfagé, en el monte de los Olivos. Jesús mandó a dos de ellos que se adelantaran.

2 —les dijo—.

3 Si alguien les pregunta qué están haciendo, simplemente digan: “El Señor los necesita”, entonces les permitirá llevárselos de inmediato».

4 Eso ocurrió para se cumpliera la profecía que decía:

5 «Dile a la gente de Jerusalén:
“Mira, tu Rey viene hacia ti.
Es humilde y llega montado en un burro:
montado en la cría de una burra”»
.

6 Los dos discípulos hicieron tal como Jesús les había ordenado.

7 Llevaron la burra y su cría, pusieron sus prendas sobre la cría, y Jesús se sentó allí.

8 De la multitud presente, la mayoría tendió sus prendas sobre el camino delante de él, y otros cortaron ramas de los árboles y las extendieron sobre el camino.

9 Jesús estaba en el centro de la procesión, y toda la gente que lo rodeaba gritaba:
«¡Alaben a Dios
por el Hijo de David!
¡Bendiciones al que viene en el nombre del Señor
!
¡Alaben a Dios en el cielo más alto!»
.

10 Toda la ciudad de Jerusalén estaba alborotada a medida que Jesús entraba. «¿Quién es este?», preguntaban.

11 Y las multitudes contestaban: «Es Jesús, el profeta de Nazaret de Galilea».

12 Jesús despeja el templo
Jesús entró en el templo y comenzó a echar a todos los que compraban y vendían animales para el sacrificio. Volcó las mesas de los cambistas y las sillas de los que vendían palomas.

13 Les dijo:

14 Los ciegos y los cojos se acercaron a Jesús en el templo y él los sanó.

15 Los principales sacerdotes y los maestros de la ley religiosa vieron esos milagros maravillosos y oyeron que hasta los niños en el templo gritaban: «Alaben a Dios por el Hijo de David».
Sin embargo, los líderes estaban indignados.

16 Le preguntaron a Jesús:
—¿Oyes lo que dicen esos niños?
—contestó Jesús—.

17 Luego regresó a Betania, donde pasó la noche.

18 Jesús maldice la higuera
Por la mañana, cuando Jesús regresaba a Jerusalén, tuvo hambre

19 y vio que había una higuera junto al camino. Se acercó para ver si tenía higos, pero solo había hojas. Entonces le dijo:
De inmediato, la higuera se marchitó.

20 Al ver eso los discípulos quedaron asombrados y le preguntaron:
—¿Cómo se marchitó tan rápido la higuera?

21 Entonces Jesús les dijo:

22 Ustedes pueden orar por cualquier cosa, y si tienen fe la recibirán.

23 Desafían la autoridad de Jesús
Cuando Jesús regresó al templo y comenzó a enseñar, se le acercaron los principales sacerdotes y los ancianos.
—¿Con qué autoridad haces todas estas cosas? —le reclamaron—. ¿Quién te dio el derecho?

24 —respondió Jesús—.

25 Ellos discutieron el asunto unos con otros: «Si decimos que provenía del cielo, nos preguntará por qué no le creímos a Juan;

26 pero si decimos que era meramente humana, la multitud se volverá contra nosotros porque todos creen que Juan era un profeta».

27 Entonces finalmente contestaron:
—No sabemos.
Y Jesús respondió:

28 Parábola de los dos hijos

29 El hijo le respondió: “No, no iré”, pero más tarde cambió de idea y fue.

30 Entonces el padre le dijo al otro hijo: “Ve tú”, y él le dijo: “Sí, señor, iré”; pero no fue.

31 Ellos contestaron:
—El primero.
Luego Jesús explicó el significado:

32 Pues Juan el Bautista vino y les mostró a ustedes la manera correcta de vivir, pero ustedes no le creyeron, mientras que los cobradores de impuestos y las prostitutas sí le creyeron. Aun viendo lo que ocurría, ustedes se negaron a creerle y a arrepentirse de sus pecados.

33 Parábola de los agricultores malvados

34 Llegado el tiempo de la cosecha de la uva, envió a sus siervos para recoger su parte de la cosecha.

35 Pero los agricultores agarraron a los siervos, golpearon a uno, mataron a otro y apedrearon a un tercero.

36 Entonces el dueño de la tierra envió a un grupo más numeroso de siervos para recoger lo que era suyo, pero el resultado fue el mismo.

37 »Finalmente, el dueño envió a su propio hijo porque pensó: “Sin duda, respetarán a mi hijo”.

38 »Sin embargo, cuando los agricultores vieron que venía el hijo, se dijeron unos a otros: “Aquí viene el heredero de esta propiedad. Vamos, matémoslo y nos quedaremos con la propiedad”.

39 Entonces lo agarraron, lo arrastraron fuera del viñedo y lo asesinaron.

40 Jesús preguntó:

41 Los líderes religiosos contestaron:
—A los hombres malvados les dará una muerte horrible y alquilará el viñedo a otros que le darán su porción después de cada cosecha.

42 Entonces Jesús les preguntó:

43 »Les digo que a ustedes se les quitará el reino de Dios y se le dará a una nación que producirá el fruto esperado.

44 Cualquiera que tropiece con esa piedra se hará pedazos, y la piedra aplastará a quienes les caiga encima.

45 Cuando los principales sacerdotes y los fariseos oyeron esa parábola, se dieron cuenta de que contaba esa historia en contra de ellos, pues ellos eran los agricultores malvados.

46 Querían arrestarlo, pero tenían miedo de las multitudes, que consideraban que Jesús era un profeta.

Mateo 21 Commentary

Chapter 21

Christ enters Jerusalem. (1-11) He drives out those who profaned the temple. (12-17) The barren fig-tree cursed. (18-22) Jesus' discourse in the temple. (23-27) The parable of the two sons. (28-32) The parable of the wicked husbandmen. (33-46)

Verses 1-11 This coming of Christ was described by the prophet Zechariah, ( Zechariah 9:9 ) . When Christ would appear in his glory, it is in his meekness, not in his majesty, in mercy to work salvation. As meekness and outward poverty were fully seen in Zion's King, and marked his triumphal entrance to Jerusalem, how wrong covetousness, ambition, and the pride of life must be in Zion's citizens! They brought the ass, but Jesus did not use it without the owner's consent. The trappings were such as came to hand. We must not think the clothes on our backs too dear to part with for the service of Christ. The chief priests and the elders afterwards joined with the multitude that abused him upon the cross; but none of them joined the multitude that did him honour. Those that take Christ for their King, must lay their all under his feet. Hosanna signifies, Save now, we beseech thee! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord! But of how little value is the applause of the people! The changing multitude join the cry of the day, whether it be Hosanna, or Crucify him. Multitudes often seem to approve the gospel, but few become consistent disciples. When Jesus was come into Jerusalem all the city was moved; some perhaps were moved with joy, who waited for the Consolation of Israel; others, of the Pharisees, were moved with envy. So various are the motions in the minds of men upon the approach of Christ's kingdom.

Verses 12-17 Christ found some of the courts of the temple turned into a market for cattle and things used in the sacrifices, and partly occupied by the money-changers. Our Lord drove them from the place, as he had done at his entering upon his ministry, ( John 2:13-17 ) . His works testified of him more than the hosannas; and his healing in the temple was the fulfilling the promise, that the glory of the latter house should be greater than the glory of the former. If Christ came now into many parts of his visible church, how many secret evils he would discover and cleanse! And how many things daily practised under the cloak of religion, would he show to be more suitable to a den of thieves than to a house of prayer!

Verses 18-22 This cursing of the barren fig-tree represents the state of hypocrites in general, and so teaches us that Christ looks for the power of religion in those who profess it, and the savour of it from those that have the show of it. His just expectations from flourishing professors are often disappointed; he comes to many, seeking fruit, and finds leaves only. A false profession commonly withers in this world, and it is the effect of Christ's curse. The fig-tree that had no fruit, soon lost its leaves. This represents the state of the nation and people of the Jews in particular. Our Lord Jesus found among them nothing but leaves. And after they rejected Christ, blindness and hardness grew upon them, till they were undone, and their place and nation rooted up. The Lord was righteous in it. Let us greatly fear the doom denounced on the barren fig-tree.

Verses 23-27 As our Lord now openly appeared as the Messiah, the chief priests and scribes were much offended, especially because he exposed and removed the abuses they encouraged. Our Lord asked what they thought of John's ministry and baptism. Many are more afraid of the shame of lying than of the sin, and therefore scruple not to speak what they know to be false, as to their own thoughts, affections, and intentions, or their remembering and forgetting. Our Lord refused to answer their inquiry. It is best to shun needless disputes with wicked opposers.

Verses 28-32 Parables which give reproof, speak plainly to the offenders, and judge them out of their own mouths. The parable of the two sons sent to work in the vineyard, is to show that those who knew not John's baptism to be of God, were shamed by those who knew it, and owned it. The whole human race are like children whom the Lord has brought up, but they have rebelled against him, only some are more plausible in their disobedience than others. And it often happens, that the daring rebel is brought to repentance and becomes the Lord's servant, while the formalist grows hardened in pride and enmity.

Verses 33-46 This parable plainly sets forth the sin and ruin of the Jewish nation; and what is spoken to convict them, is spoken to caution all that enjoy the privileges of the outward church. As men treat God's people, they would treat Christ himself, if he were with them. How can we, if faithful to his cause, expect a favourable reception from a wicked world, or from ungodly professors of Christianity! And let us ask ourselves, whether we who have the vineyard and all its advantages, render fruits in due season, as a people, as a family, or as separate persons. Our Saviour, in his question, declares that the Lord of the vineyard will come, and when he comes he will surely destroy the wicked. The chief priests and the elders were the builders, and they would not admit his doctrine or laws; they threw him aside as a despised stone. But he who was rejected by the Jews, was embraced by the Gentiles. Christ knows who will bring forth gospel fruits in the use of gospel means. The unbelief of sinners will be their ruin. But God has many ways of restraining the remainders of wrath, as he has of making that which breaks out redound to his praise. May Christ become more and more precious to our souls, as the firm Foundation and Cornerstone of his church. May we be willing to follow him, though despised and hated for his sake.