What is the meaning of Matthew 21?

Introduction to Matthew 21

Matthew 21 marks a pivotal moment in the Gospel narrative as Yeshua (Jesus) makes His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, setting in motion the events that would lead to His crucifixion and resurrection. This chapter is rich with messianic fulfillment, confrontations with religious authorities, and powerful teachings about faith and authority. The dramatic events—from the Temple cleansing to the withering of the fig tree—demonstrate Yeshua’s divine authority and challenge both His first-century audience and modern readers to examine their response to His kingship.

Context of Matthew 21

Within the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 21 serves as a crucial turning point, marking the beginning of Yeshua’s final week before His crucifixion. This chapter follows His ministry in Galilee and trans-Jordan regions and precedes His extended teachings about the end times and His approaching sacrifice. The events recorded here fulfill numerous prophecies and demonstrate Yeshua’s identity as the promised Messiah of Israel.

In the broader biblical narrative, this chapter echoes significant themes from the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). The triumphal entry recalls Zechariah 9:9, where the prophet foretold the coming of the King on a donkey. The Temple cleansing connects to Malachi 3:1-3, which prophesied the Lord’s sudden coming to His Temple. These events demonstrate how Yeshua’s actions deliberately fulfilled and embodied prophetic expectations about the Messiah.

Ancient Key Word Study

• Hosanna (ὡσαννά / הושע נא) – This Hebrew-origin word literally means “save now” or “save, we pray.” In first-century usage, it had evolved into both a cry for salvation and an expression of praise. Its use during the triumphal entry connects to Psalm 118:25-26, a messianic psalm traditionally recited during Passover.
• Authority (ἐξουσία) – Used multiple times in this chapter, this Greek term denotes both the right and the power to act. It carries legal, moral, and spiritual implications, representing not just ability but legitimate right to exercise power.
• Stone (λίθος) – In quoting Psalm 118:22, this word carries deep messianic significance. The rejected stone becoming the cornerstone was a powerful metaphor in ancient construction, representing something deemed worthless becoming essential.
• Kingdom (βασιλεία) – This term appears in the context of the kingdom being taken away from the current leaders. In Jewish thought, it represented not just political rule but God’s sovereign reign and the manifestation of His will on earth.
• Fig Tree (συκῆ) – Beyond its literal meaning, the fig tree served as a prophetic symbol of Israel in the Hebrew Scriptures. Its appearance here carries significant theological weight regarding spiritual fruitfulness and judgment.
• Temple (ἱερόν) – This term specifically refers to the entire Temple complex, not just the sanctuary building. It represented the center of Jewish religious life and the meeting place between God and His people.
• Mountain (ὄρος) – Used in Yeshua’s teaching about faith, this word symbolized immovable obstacles. In Jewish literature, “mountain” was often used metaphorically for great difficulties or challenges.

Compare & Contrast

• Matthew 21:5 quotes Zechariah 9:9 with subtle but significant adaptations. The phrase “daughter of Zion” is simplified to “city of Zion,” making the message more accessible to Matthew’s mixed Jewish-Gentile audience while maintaining the prophetic connection.
• The Temple cleansing narrative uses the Greek word “ληστῶν” (robbers) rather than merely “merchants,” emphasizing not just improper commerce but exploitation and corruption. This choice echoes Jeremiah’s denunciation of the First Temple’s corruption (Jeremiah 7:11).
• Yeshua’s response about authority (v. 24-27) employs a typical rabbinic method of answering a question with a question, but uniquely links John’s baptism with His own authority, forcing His opponents to confront their inconsistency.
• The parable of the two sons (v. 28-32) uses common agricultural imagery but subverts expectations by praising the son who initially refused but later obeyed, challenging conventional understanding of righteousness.
• The Greek term for “cornerstone” (κεφαλὴν γωνίας) in verse 42 is chosen over other possible architectural terms, emphasizing not just importance but headship and authority.
• The metaphor of the vineyard (v. 33-46) deliberately echoes Isaiah’s song of the vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7) but extends the imagery to include the son’s murder, prophetically pointing to Yeshua’s coming crucifixion.

Matthew 21 Unique Insights

The triumphal entry occurred on the 10th of Nisan, the very day when Jewish families were selecting their Passover lambs according to Exodus 12:3. As Yeshua entered Jerusalem, He was presenting Himself as the ultimate Passover Lamb, precisely on schedule with the divine calendar. This timing would not have been lost on Matthew’s Jewish audience.

The cursing of the fig tree presents an enacted parable that many scholars connect to Micah’s lament in Micah 7:1-6. According to the Talmud (Sukk. 28b), the fig tree was associated with Torah study because, like the fig, the more one studies Torah, the more “flavor” one finds. Yeshua’s action, therefore, symbolized judgment not just on fruitlessness but on a system that had preserved the outward form of religion while missing its heart.

The Targum on Psalm 118 (quoted in v. 42) explicitly connects the “stone which the builders rejected” with King David and ultimately the Messiah. Early rabbinic literature (Genesis Rabbah 71:9) includes a tradition about a stone rejected during the Temple construction that eventually became the cornerstone, providing a rich background for Yeshua’s application of this psalm to Himself.

The children’s praise in the Temple (v. 15-16) connects to Psalm 8:2, where the Hebrew word for “strength” (עז) can also mean “praise.” This wordplay suggests that the praise of children establishes a stronghold against God’s enemies, explaining why their recognition of Yeshua was particularly significant.

Matthew 21 Connections to Yeshua

This chapter powerfully demonstrates Yeshua’s identity as the promised Messiah through multiple prophetic fulfillments. His orchestrated entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey deliberately enacted Zechariah’s prophecy, while His Temple cleansing fulfilled Malachi’s prediction of the Lord’s sudden appearance in His Temple. These actions weren’t merely coincidental fulfillments but calculated demonstrations of His messianic identity.

The parables in this chapter reveal Yeshua’s unique authority as both Judge and Cornerstone of God’s kingdom. The vineyard parable particularly foreshadows His rejection and crucifixion while prophesying the extension of God’s kingdom beyond Israel to include the Gentiles. His teaching about faith and prayer (v. 21-22) establishes Him as the mediator of a new covenant relationship with God, where authority is granted to believers through faith in Him.

Matthew 21 Scriptural Echoes

The chapter resonates deeply with numerous Old Testament passages:

• The triumphal entry fulfills Zechariah 9:9 and echoes Solomon’s coronation in 1 Kings 1:33.
• The Temple cleansing recalls Malachi 3:1-3 and Zechariah 14:21.
• The cursed fig tree imagery parallels Hosea 9:10 and Jeremiah 8:13.
• The vineyard parable draws from Isaiah 5:1-7 and Psalm 80:8-16.
• The cornerstone reference comes from Psalm 118:22-23.

Matthew 21 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to examine our response to Yeshua’s authority in our lives. Like the fig tree, we’re called to bear authentic spiritual fruit, not just maintain religious appearances. The power of faith described in verses 21-22 isn’t about manipulating God through prayer but about aligning our hearts with His purposes through genuine trust and submission.

The parables remind us that God looks at our actions more than our words. Like the first son who initially refused but later obeyed, we’re called to authentic repentance and obedience, not just verbal assent. The rejection of the cornerstone warns us against missing God’s work because it doesn’t match our expectations.

Did You Know

• The cry “Hosanna to the Son of David” was traditionally associated with the Feast of Tabernacles, making its use at Passover particularly significant as a messianic declaration.
• The money changers in the Temple operated under the authority of the priestly family of Annas, explaining why the religious leaders were particularly angered by Yeshua’s actions.
• The withered fig tree incident is the only destructive miracle recorded in the Gospels, highlighting its importance as a prophetic sign.
• The cave where the money changers operated was called the “Cave of Stores” and was part of the Royal Stoa complex built by Herod the Great.
• The “chief priests and elders” mentioned were likely members of the Sanhedrin, Judaism’s supreme court, making their confrontation with Yeshua an official inquiry.
• The vineyard parable draws on a rich tradition of vineyard imagery in Jewish literature, where Israel was often compared to a vineyard (Isaiah 5).
• The phrase “Son of David” appears in Matthew more than any other Gospel, emphasizing Yeshua’s royal messianic claims.
• The Temple markets were known as the “Bazaars of the Sons of Annas,” notorious for their corrupt practices in selling sacrificial animals.
• The children’s praise in the Temple likely included pilgrim children who had come for Passover, making it a powerful testimony from “outsiders.”
• Archaeological evidence has confirmed the extensive commercial activity in the Temple courts during the first century.