Why did Jesus choose to ride a donkey and a colt when entering Jerusalem?

Jesus chose to ride a donkey and its colt to come into Jerusalem in a humble way and to fulfill what had been written long before about a king coming to Zion gentle and riding on a donkey. Instead of arriving like a war leader on a horse, He came in peace and lowliness. This showed that His kingdom is not about earthly power or show, but about meekness and service. It also marked Him out as the promised King God had spoken about, so people could see that God was keeping His word.

What is the meaning of the crowd shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David”?

When the crowd shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were crying out for salvation and praising Jesus as the promised King from David’s line. “Hosanna” is a prayer that means, “Save, please.” By calling Him “Son of David” and blessing the one who comes in the name of the Lord, they were treating Him like the long-awaited Messiah. Their spreading of garments and branches on the road showed honor, like people would give to a king, even though many did not yet fully understand His kind of kingship.

Why did Jesus drive out the money changers and sellers from the temple?

Jesus drove out those who bought and sold in the temple because they had turned a place meant for prayer into a place of trade and greed. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves and reminded them that God had called His house a house of prayer. By calling it a “den of thieves,” He showed that they were misusing holy space for selfish gain. This was a clear act of judgment on corrupt worship and a call to return the temple to true devotion to God.

What does the cursing and withering of the fig tree teach about faith and fruitfulness?

When Jesus cursed the fig tree that had leaves but no fruit, and it quickly withered, it was a picture of outward show without real fruit. It exposed the kind of empty religion that looks alive but does not truly respond to God. Jesus then used it to teach His disciples about faith, telling them that if they believe and do not doubt, they can see God work in great ways. He linked this to prayer, saying that whatever they ask in prayer, believing, they will receive. Faith is meant to bear real fruit, not just look good on the outside.

Why did the chief priests and elders question Jesus’ authority in the temple?

The chief priests and elders questioned Jesus’ authority because His actions threatened their control and exposed their hearts. He taught openly, cleansed the temple, and received praise that belonged to the Messiah. Instead of rejoicing at God’s work, they demanded to know who gave Him the right to do these things. Jesus answered by asking about John’s baptism, showing they were more afraid of people’s opinions than of God. Since they would not honestly answer about John’s authority, He refused to explain His own to them on their terms.

What is the lesson of the parable of the two sons in this passage?

In the parable of the two sons, one son first refuses to work in his father’s vineyard but later changes his mind and goes. The other politely says he will go but never does. Jesus asks which did the father’s will, and they answer, “The first.” He then says tax collectors and prostitutes are going into God’s kingdom before the religious leaders, because they believed the call to repent, while the leaders did not. The lesson is that real obedience is shown in doing, not just in words, and that those who repent and believe are received by God.

What does the parable of the wicked tenants teach about God’s kingdom and judgment?

The parable of the wicked tenants tells of a landowner who planted a vineyard and rented it out. When he sent servants to collect fruit, the tenants beat, stoned, and killed them. Finally he sent his son, and they killed him too, hoping to seize the inheritance. Jesus agrees with His listeners that the owner will destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others. This points to how God’s messengers and His Son were rejected. It warns that God will take His kingdom from those who refuse to bear its fruit and entrust it to others who will.

What does it mean that the stone the builders rejected became the head of the corner?

The saying about the stone the builders rejected becoming the head of the corner shows how the one cast aside by leaders becomes the main support of God’s building. The “builders” picture those who should have recognized and received God’s chosen One, but instead rejected Him. Yet God makes that rejected stone the chief cornerstone that holds the whole structure together. Jesus then warns that whoever trips over this stone will be broken, and whoever it falls on will be crushed. It shows both the honor God gives His Son and the danger of rejecting Him.

How should believers today respond to Jesus’ teaching on faith and prayer in this passage?

Believers should take Jesus’ words on faith and prayer seriously, without turning them into a blank check for selfish desires. He links answered prayer with faith that does not doubt and with a life that truly belongs to God. The context shows He is correcting empty religion and calling for real fruit. So today, this points us to trust God wholeheartedly, ask in line with His will, and expect Him to work. It also calls us to examine our lives, so that our prayers rise from hearts that honor Him, not from mere outward show.

Matt.21.1

Matthew 21:1

KJV

And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

The Triumphal Entry

1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.

15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,

16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

17 And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.

The Barren Fig Tree

18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.

19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Jesus’ Authority Challenged

23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

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.

29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.