Matthew 21 — “Behold, Your King Comes to You: The Kingdom Confronts the World”
Matthew 20 revealed the way of humble service.
Matthew 21 reveals the moment of royal arrival.
After teaching about the Cross,
Christ now enters the city where that Cross will be raised.
This chapter teaches one central truth:
The true King comes in humility, judges false religion, and calls for the fruits of repentance.
1. The Approach to Jerusalem
“When they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives…” (Matt 21:1)
Jerusalem is the city of promise and of prophets’ blood.
Christ enters it knowingly — not as victim of chance, but as Lord of destiny.
St Bede the Venerable writes:
“He goes up to Jerusalem not as one compelled, but as one offering Himself.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
The Mount of Olives is linked with the coming of the Lord in prophecy (Zech 14:4).
Thus the King comes where Scripture foretold.
2. The Colt Prepared
“Go into the village… you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her.” (v. 2)
Christ chooses His mount deliberately.
The donkey is the animal of peace, not of war.
St Jerome explains:
“He does not ride a horse like a conqueror, but a donkey like a king of peace.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
Power does not arrive with violence.
Salvation comes in meekness.
3. Fulfillment of Prophecy
“This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet…” (v. 4)
Zechariah’s words are fulfilled:
“Behold, your king comes to you, humble and riding on a donkey.”
St Augustine writes:
“He who fulfilled the prophecies shows that He did not come unannounced, but long awaited.”
(Sermons)
Christ is not improvising history —
He is completing it.
4. The Cloaks and Branches
“They spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees.” (v. 8)
Cloaks signify submission.
Branches signify joy and victory.
St Ambrose says:
“They laid their garments under His feet, because they placed their lives under His rule.”
(On Luke)
The road becomes a throne.
The dust becomes a court.
5. “Hosanna to the Son of David”
“Hosanna to the Son of David!” (v. 9)
Hosanna means “save now.”
They confess Him as Messiah
yet still imagine earthly rescue.
St John Chrysostom observes:
“They proclaim Him king, yet do not know His kingdom.”
(Homilies on Matthew)
Praise is true —
understanding is partial.
6. The City Stirred
“When He entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred.” (v. 10)
Christ’s presence divides:
• some rejoice
• some fear
• some question
St Gregory the Great writes:
“The coming of Christ troubles the city of the world, because truth disturbs false peace.”
(Homilies)
No one remains neutral before Him.
7. The Cleansing of the Temple
“He drove out all who sold and bought in the temple…” (v. 12)
Zeal follows entry.
The King purifies His house.
St Jerome comments:
“He cleanses the temple to show that worship must be free from greed.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
The Temple is for prayer, not profit.
St Augustine adds:
“He cast out sellers of doves, because even holy things were being sold for gain.”
(Sermons)
Religion corrupted becomes robbery.
8. “My House Shall Be Called a House of Prayer”
Christ quotes Isaiah and Jeremiah.
Prayer is communion, not commerce.
St Gregory the Great teaches:
“He reforms the temple before He offers Himself, that the sacrifice may be pure.”
(Homilies)
Judgment begins in God’s house.
9. The Blind and the Lame Are Healed
“The blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.” (v. 14)
Mercy follows purification.
The Temple becomes again what it was meant to be —
a place of restoration.
St Ambrose writes:
“Where sin is driven out, grace enters.”
(On Repentance)
Christ restores what corrupt religion had excluded.
10. The Children Cry Out
“‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’” (v. 15)
Children recognize what rulers resist.
St Bede says:
“The humble praise what the proud deny.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
Christ accepts their praise
because truth has no age.
11. The Indignation of the Priests
“Do You hear what these are saying?” (v. 16)
They object to worship.
St John Chrysostom remarks:
“They were angered not by falsehood, but by truth spoken by children.”
(Homilies on Matthew)
When authority rejects Christ,
the weak confess Him.
12. The Fig Tree Cursed
“May no fruit ever come from you again!” (v. 19)
The fig tree has leaves but no fruit.
It symbolizes Israel’s outward religion without repentance.
St Augustine explains:
“The leaves are words; the fruit is works.”
(Sermons)
Profession without conversion
invites judgment.
13. The Withered Tree
“It withered at once.” (v. 20)
The judgment is swift
to make the lesson clear.
St Jerome writes:
“The tree died so that the people might live.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
Warning is mercy in severe form.
14. Faith That Moves Mountains
“If you have faith and do not doubt…” (v. 21)
Faith uproots sterility
and plants fruitfulness.
St Gregory the Great says:
“Faith removes the mountain of pride and plants the tree of humility.”
(Homilies)
Prayer joined to trust
brings transformation.
15. The Authority Questioned
“By what authority are You doing these things?” (v. 23)
They demand credentials.
Christ exposes their blindness.
St Hilary of Poitiers writes:
“They asked for proof while refusing truth.”
(On Matthew)
Authority is not seized —
it is revealed by works.
16. The Question of John
“The baptism of John, from heaven or from men?” (v. 25)
They fear people
more than God.
St John Chrysostom says:
“They feared crowds, not conscience.”
(Homilies on Matthew)
Truth silences evasion.
17. The Parable of the Two Sons
“One said, ‘I will not,’ but later repented.” (v. 29)
Obedience is proved by action,
not by speech.
St Augustine comments:
“The penitent son is better than the flattering liar.”
(Sermons)
God desires deeds, not promises.
18. Tax Collectors and Harlots Enter First
“They believed John.” (v. 32)
Those least expected respond.
St Ambrose writes:
“Grace enters where pride has fled.”
(On Repentance)
The Kingdom opens to repentance,
not respectability.
19. The Wicked Tenants
“A man planted a vineyard…” (v. 33)
Israel is God’s vineyard.
The tenants are its leaders.
The servants are prophets.
The son is Christ.
St Bede explains:
“They killed the heir, thinking to keep the inheritance, but lost both vineyard and life.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
20. The Murder of the Son
“This is the heir; come, let us kill him.” (v. 38)
The Passion is foretold in parable.
St Augustine writes:
“They slew Him outside the vineyard because Christ suffered outside the gate.”
(Sermons)
Rejection becomes the means of salvation.
21. The Stone Rejected
“The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” (v. 42)
Christ is the rejected stone.
St Gregory the Great says:
“He who was cast out by men was made foundation by God.”
(Homilies)
The Church is built
on what the world despised.
22. The Kingdom Taken and Given
“The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing its fruits.” (v. 43)
Privilege without obedience is removed.
St Jerome explains:
“Not race but faith inherits the vineyard.”
(Commentary on Matthew)
The Church becomes the new vineyard
by fruit, not blood.
23. The Crushing Stone
“He who falls on this stone will be broken…” (v. 44)
Christ saves or judges
by the same truth.
St Augustine writes:
“He is gentle to the humble and heavy to the proud.”
(Sermons)
24. The Leaders’ Fear
“They sought to arrest Him, but feared the crowds.” (v. 46)
They fear men
more than God.
Thus judgment matures.
Christ in Matthew 21
Jesus is:
• the Humble King
• the Fulfillment of Prophecy
• the Lord of the Temple
• the Healer of the Excluded
• the Judge of Hypocrisy
• the Rejected Stone
• the True Heir
• the Cornerstone of the Church
Spiritual Application
Receive Christ as King.
Cleanse the temple of the heart.
Bear fruit, not leaves.
Repent rather than pretend.
Listen to prophets.
Build on the Cornerstone.
Fear God more than crowds.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
humble King who entered Jerusalem in peace
and was rejected by those You came to save,
cleanse the temple of our hearts
from pride, greed, and empty religion.
Teach us to bear fruit worthy of repentance,
to honor You not only with words but with lives,
and to build upon You as our cornerstone,
until the day when every false power falls
and Your Kingdom stands revealed in glory
and we reign with You forever.
Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 