Victory Fellowship Bible Study
273 23rd St. S.W., Barberton, OH 44203
Wednesdays at 7pm
Rev. Roderick D. Grabski (330) 858-0223
WEBPAGE: victoryfellowshipministries.com
CLASS TWENTY-TWO: The Triumphal Entry
I. ANNOUNCEMENTS and PRAYER CONCERNS
II. READ / LISTEN to MATTHEW 21:1–46
a. What are your initial impressions or questions? Notable translation differences?
III. Old Testament References
a. A notable feature of Matthew 21 (and 22) is the frequent use of Old Testament Scripture, either in conversation or as fulfilled prophesy:
i. In vs. 5 Jesus fulfilled another prophesy. (Isaiah 62:11; Zechariah 9:9)
ii. In vs. 9 the crowd quoted the Old Testament in praise of King Jesus. (Psalm 118:25-26)
iii. In vv. 13 and 42-44 Jesus used the Old Testament to warn evil Jewish leaders about God’s judgment. (Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11; Psalm 118:22-23)
iv. In vv. 15-16 Jesus used OT Scripture to answer challenges from His opponents. (Psalm 8:2)
v. In vs. 33 Jesus used Old Testament imagery to set up a parable about Israel and its leaders. (Isaiah 5:1-7)
IV. Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (vv. 1-11)
a. See map of the area
b. Bethphage (beth-fa-gee) means “House of Unripe Figs.”
c. The Mount of Olives is important in terms of Messianic prophesy.
d. Jesus either pre-arranged for the donkeys, or He had supernatural knowledge of them.
e. (vs. 7) “He sat on them” refers to the robes and not the two donkeys.
f. (vs. 9) Hosanna means, please save!
V. Jesus Cleanses the Temple Complex (vv. 12-13)
a. John’s gospel (2:13-22) records a similar event that seems to have happened prior to the other Gospel writer’s accounts. (Mark 11:15-18; Luke 19:45-48)
b. Why moneychangers? Roman coinage was only 80% silver, the purer (94% or more) Tyrian shekels were required to pay the temple tax in Jerusalem. Tyrian shekels, tetradrachms, or tetradrachmas were coins of Tyre, which in the Roman Empire took on an unusual role as the medium of payment for the Temple tax in Jerusalem, and subsequently gained notoriety as a likely mode of payment for Judas Iscariot.
VI. The Children Praise Jesus (vv. 14-17)
a. (vs. 14) The handicapped, blind, and lame were prohibited from entering the Temple complex.
VII. The Barren Fig Tree (vv. 18-22)
a. What did this barren tree represent?
b. What did Jesus’ curse foreshadow?
VIII. Jesus’ Authority Questioned (vv. 23-27)
a. Why didn’t the chief priests and elders want to acknowledge John ministry as valid?
b. Why did Jesus refuse to answer their questions?
IX. The Parable of Two Sons (vv. 28-32)
a. Who does the first son symbolize? The second son?
b. How does verse 32 reflect Matthew 19:30 and 20:16, 26-28?
X. The Parable of the Vineyard Owner (vv. 33-46)
a. Who does the landowner represent? The vineyard? The tenant farmers? The slaves?
b. Who does the son in the parable represent?
c. Some manuscripts do not have verse 44, but again it is recorded in Luke 20:18.
d. What is foreshadowed in verses 45-46?
XI. Application
a. Faithful followers of Jesus Christ will bear fruit in their lives. (John 15:8)
b. Jesus is Messiah. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. (Rev. 1:7-8)
Final Comments and/or Questions. Close in Prayer
NEXT WEEK: HOLY WEEK BEFORE RESURRECTION SUNDAY – NO CLASS
In Two Weeks (April 20th): Confronting the Sadducees and Pharisees
- Read Matthew 22:1-46 to prepare.
