Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Matthew 21

Last Updated on June 28, 2023 by Rocklyn Clarke

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Description

Welcome to Focus On The Message – the first component of our Following Jesus discipleship program. This web page contains the lessons for:

Matthew 21

Purpose

Follow this link for information about these key aspects of our training: Purpose, Goals, Habits, Ministries, and Assignments.

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Matthew 21

This chapter has 6 lessons. You should ideally cover one chapter (with all of its lessons) in a week, but please don’t let a week go by without completing at least one lesson.

Lesson 1: Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

Main text and related passages:

• Matthew 21:1-11 – Bible Gateway
  • Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-38; John 12:12-19
  • Isaiah 62
  • ” . . . gentle and riding on a donkey . . .” – Zechariah 9:9-17
  • “Hosanna” = “Save!” (see also “Lord, save us!” – Psalm 118:25)
  • “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” – Psalm 118

Checkout the following:

• • 1 Kings 1 – David makes Solomon king and places him on his mule.
  • 2 Kings 9:1-13 – People spread their cloaks for Jehu as he becomes king.

Topics to explore:

• • This is the context we have so far for Jesus’ ongoing ministry:
    • Jesus is “God with us”. – Matthew 1:18-23
    • Jesus is “saving his people from their sins”. – Matthew 1:18-23
    • Jesus’ message is calling people to repent and align with God’s Kingdom. – Matthew 4:12-17
    • Jesus expects his miracles and signs to lead people to:
      • Repent – Matthew 11:20-24
      • Believe in Jesus and his Kingdom based on the signs and wonders – John 4:43-54
    • What will it mean to apply this context to this passage and the ones that follow?
  • What did the crowds think was going to happen when Jesus entered Jerusalem?
  • What did Jesus’ disciples think was going to happen when he entered Jerusalem?
  • What was Jesus’ plan for his final trip to Jerusalem?

Additional resources to check out:

• • Matthew for Everyone, Part 2 (The New Testament for Everyone) by Tom Wright – Amazon.com
  • 29. Jesus Prophet & Provocateur [Matthew] – Tim Mackie (The Bible Project) – YouTube (00:50:46)

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

• • Read the main passage and related passages above.

Lesson 2: Jesus at the Temple

Main text and related passages:

• Matthew 21:12-17 – Bible Gateway
  • Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-18;Luke 19:45-47
  • John 2:12-25 – John places his account at the beginning of Jesus’ career.
  • Isaiah 56:1-8 – “a house of prayer”
  • Jeremiah 7:1-11 – “a den of robbers”
  • “Hosanna” = “Save!” (see also “Lord, save us!” – Psalm 118:25)
  • Psalm 8 – “from the lips of children and infants”
  • “blind and lame” – 2 Samuel 5:6-10; 1 Chronicles 11:4-6

Checkout the following:

• • Watch: Temple Biblical Theme Video | BibleProject™(00:04:40)
  • Court of the Gentiles
  • Leviticus 1 – “without defect”
  • Passover sacrifice reenacted by Jewish priests-in-training | The Times of Israel
  • Why Did Jesus Drive the Moneychangers out of the Temple?

Topics to explore:

• • What was the role of the money changers?
  • What was the role of the people selling doves?
  • What significance did the temple courts have?
  • What impact did Jesus’ actions have?

Additional resources to check out:

• • Matthew for Everyone, Part 2 (The New Testament for Everyone) by Tom Wright – Amazon.com
  • 29. Jesus Prophet & Provocateur [Matthew] – Tim Mackie (The Bible Project) – YouTube (00:50:46)

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

• • Read the main passage and related passages above.

Lesson 3: Jesus Curses a Fig Tree

Main text and related passages:

• Matthew 21:18-22 – Bible Gateway
  • Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14,Mark 11:20-24
  • Hosea 9:10 – “early fruit on the fig tree”
  • Matthew 24:32-35 – “learn this lesson from the fig tree”
  • Luke 13:1-8 – “. . . A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard . . .”
  • Jeremiah 8:4-13 – “There will be no grapes on the vine. There will be no figs on the tree, and their leaves will wither.”

Checkout the following:

• • Wikipedia: Fig
  • What is Breba Figs and is it Good or Bad? – YouTube (00:04:48)
  • Why did Jesus curse a fig tree when it wasn’t yet the season for figs? (Mark 11:13-14) – YouTube (00:02:03)

Topics to explore:

• • Why did Jesus go to the fig tree?
  • What was Jesus looking for from the fig tree? (read the text carefully)
  • What did Jesus find? Why?
  • How do fig trees work? (check the reference material)
  • What did Jesus do to the fig tree?
  • What happened to the fig tree? When did it happen? (read the parallel passages carefully)
  • When did the disciples notice what happened to the fig tree? (read the parallel passages carefully)
  • What was the symbolic meaning of Jesus’ action?

Additional resources to check out:

• • Matthew for Everyone, Part 2 (The New Testament for Everyone) by Tom Wright – Amazon.com
  • Why You Should be CONCERNED that Jesus KILLED a Tree | Beyond the Words | Mark 11 – YouTube (00:19:49)
  • 29. Jesus Prophet & Provocateur [Matthew] – Tim Mackie (The Bible Project) – YouTube (00:50:46)

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

• • Read the main passage and related passages above.

Lesson 4: The Authority of Jesus Questioned

Main text and related passages:

• Matthew 21:23-27 – Bible Gateway
  • Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33,Luke 20:1-8

Checkout the following:

• • Acts 4:1-13

Topics to explore:

• • What was John the Baptist’s message?
  • Where was the authority behind John’s baptism?
  • What was the relationship between John’s baptism and Jesus’ ministry?

Additional resources to check out:

• • Matthew for Everyone, Part 2 (The New Testament for Everyone) by Tom Wright – Amazon.com

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

• • Read the main passage and related passages above.

Lesson 5: The Parable of the Two Sons

Main text and related passages:

• Matthew 21:28-32 – Bible Gateway

Checkout the following:

• • Watch: How to Read the Parables of Jesus Video | BibleProject™ (00:05:42)

Topics to explore:

• • Who is Jesus’ audience for this passage?
  • Whom does the first son represent?
  • Whom does the second son represent?
  • What did this parable mean to Jesus’ audience?
  • What does this parable mean to us today?

Additional resources to check out:

• • Matthew for Everyone, Part 2 (The New Testament for Everyone) by Tom Wright – Amazon.com

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

• • Read the main passage and related passages above.

Lesson 6: The Parable of the Tenants

Main text and related passages:

• Matthew 21:33-46 – Bible Gateway
  • Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19
  • Psalm 80 (especially vs. 8-16)
  • Isaiah 5:1-7 – Song of the Vineyard

Checkout the following:

• • Watch: How to Read the Parables of Jesus Video | BibleProject™ (00:05:42)

Topics to explore:

• • Based on Psalm 80 and Isaiah 5, what would a story about a vineyard bring to mind for Jesus’ audience?
  • Who are the farmers to whom the owner rented the vineyard?
  • Who are the servants that the owner sent to collects fruit?
  • Who is the son that the owner sent to collect his fruit?
  • Who are the new tenants who will be renting the vineyard.

Additional resources to check out:

• • Matthew for Everyone, Part 2 (The New Testament for Everyone) by Tom Wright – Amazon.com
  • 30. Love Poems, Vineyards, & Rocks [Matthew] – Tim Mackie (The Bible Project) – YouTube (00:48:57)

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

• • Read the main passage and related passages above.

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Advance to Matthew 22