Bible Pathway - Oct. 9, 2009
Highlights In Today's Reading:
We seek the Lord, but will we recognize His presence (21:10-11); defile His Temple (us) (21:12-13); produce fruit (21:18-22)? The chosen ones of God reject Him so He looks elsewhere (21:43). A heavenly parable: The king is rejected and looks elsewhere (22:1-10). The great Commandment (22:37-38) and the next (22:39-40).
Near the last week of the earthly life of Jesus, He took the twelve disciples apart . . . and said . . . the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death . . . to crucify Him: and the third day He shall rise again (20:17-19).
Jesus was near Jerusalem on (Palm) Sunday morning to present Himself as King of the Kingdom of Heaven. He sent His disciples to bring Him an ass (donkey) and its colt. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass (donkey) (21:4-5; see Zech 9:9).
As Jesus had foretold, He went to Jerusalem knowing He would be rejected by the elders, priests, and scribes and be put to death. He went there in willing obedience to God the Father (John 10:15,17-18; 14:31) to fulfill prophecy as the promised Messiah King.
Pilgrims had come to participate in the Passover Feast, one of the three annual observances at which God had commanded all Israelite males to appear before Him at Jerusalem (Ex. 23:14-17). The people hailed Jesus as their long-awaited King, spreading their garments in the way as men formerly had done for kings (II Kin. 9:12-13). They cried: Hosanna to the Son of David (they hailed Jesus as the Messiah): Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord (Matt. 21:8-9). But, the chief priests and scribes angrily said to Him: Hearest Thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes . . . Thou hast perfected praise? (21:15-16).
Although Jesus had foretold: The Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests . . . and they shall condemn Him to death, the religious leaders were powerless to do so that day because of the overwhelming acceptance of Jesus by the people.
We are 2000 years closer to Jesus' return to earth. Then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven . . . and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matt. 24:30).
Thought for Today:
In all places where I record My Name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee (Ex. 20:24).
Word Studies:
21:2 over against you =ahead of you; facing you; 21:8 strawed . . . in the way =spread in His path; 21:33 husbandmen =tenant farmers; 21:42 The Stone . . . is become the Head of the corner =Christ (Ps.118:22-23) who is the Chief Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20; I Pet. 2:6).
Cross References:
For Matt. 21:5: See Is. 62:11; Zech. 9:9. Matt. 21:9: See Ps. 118:26. Matt. 21:13: See Is. 56:7; Jer. 7:11. Matt. 21:16: See Ps. 8:2. Matt. 21:33: See Ps. 80:8-9; Is. 5:1-2. Matt. 21:42: See Ps. 118:22-23. Matt. 22:24: See Deut. 25:5. Matt. 22:32: See Ex. 3:6. Matt. 22:37: See Deut. 6:5. Matt. 22:39: See Lev. 19:18. Matt. 22:44: See Ps. 110:1.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Shortwave Broadcasts in honor of Rick Hash • Staff: Rita Guerra • Government Officials: Rep. Artur Davis (AL) and Rep. Tom Perriello (VA) • Country: Gabon (1 million) in west-central Africa • Major language: French • Religious freedom • 66% Roman Catholic; 30% Protestant; 3% animism and ancestor worship • Prayer Suggestion: Confess your sins and ask the Lord to restore the joy of your salvation (Ps. 51:1-3,12).
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 15:8
