Today’s Reading: Matthew 20:17-19, 21:1-17, 33-46

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” – Matthew 20:17-19

This must have been so hard for the disciples to hear — even harder for them to fully understand. As they continued their approach to Jerusalem, Jesus sent them into a village to borrow a donkey.

This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,
“Tell the people of Jerusalem,
‘Look, your King is coming to you.
He is humble, riding on a donkey—
riding on a donkey’s colt.’” – Matthew 21:4-5

As they entered Jerusalem, a crowd of people began spreading their garments on the path in front of Jesus. They cut down palm branches, spreading them across the road and waving them as they shouted praise to the Son of David!

The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked. And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” – Matthew 21:10-11

Jesus continued through Jerusalem until he arrived at the Temple. With authority, he knocked over the tables of those who were trying to make a profit off of those who were coming to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices. People brought their blind and lame into the Temple and Jesus healed them. The children shouted, “Praise God for the Son of David.” The teachers of religious law saw that people were being healed, but their focus was on the praise Jesus was receiving rather than the power he was displaying.

They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”

“Yes,” Jesus replied. “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants to give you praise.’” Then he returned to Bethany, where he stayed overnight. – Matthew 21:16-17

The next day, Jesus came back to the Temple and was soon surrounded by the leading priests and elders. They demanded he tell them by what authority he was doing all these things. He responded by telling them that corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes would enter God’s Kingdom before they would. Then he told them this story:

“A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. At the time of the grape harvest, he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop. But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same.

“Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’

“But when the tenant farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ So they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him.

“When the owner of the vineyard returns,” Jesus asked, “what do you think he will do to those farmers?”

The religious leaders replied, “He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest.”

Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures?
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing,
and it is wonderful to see.’

I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.”

When the leading priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet. – Matthew 21:33b-46

The servants were sent to collect the landowner’s money. They had the authority to require the payment, but the tenants beat one, killed one, and stoned another. The landowner’s son came to collect the required payment. He had the authority to demand it, yet they chose to murder him instead of giving him what was required of them. The “owner of the vineyard” had sent His Son into the world and the leaders of the church demanded by what authority he was healing, teaching, casting out demons, cleaning out the Temple, forgiving sins, and receiving the praise of the people. They had the opportunity to worship the Messiah, but instead plotted against him.

Lord, may we respond as the people who prepared the way for you by laying out their garments, waving palm branches, and shouting your praise. May we recognize your deity as the children did in the Temple that day, celebrating the wonderful things you are doing in the lives of those around us. May we bow to your authority, giving you all that you are asking for and allowing you to be the King of our lives. Show us today what we have wrongfully taken ownership of that only belongs to you. Amen.