Overview:
Matthew 21:1–17
We Christians are notorious for answering the wrong questions—questions no one is asking. And when we do answer the right questions, we often do it in a way that doesn’t connect—we either fail to identify with people’s struggles or fail to answer in terms they understand. Christians need to take time to answer a few of the more significant biblical questions people have. And many of those questions have to do with the identity of Jesus. Who is He? Why did He come? What did He teach? How can I connect with Him? These are the same questions asked centuries ago by people who lived when Jesus did. Let’s see how Matthew’s gospel answers these questions.
Message Summary:
In “Who Is This Jesus?” Pastor Chuck Swindoll addresses the most significant question any individual can ask: the true identity of Jesus Christ. Using Matthew’s account of the Triumphal Entry and the subsequent cleansing of the temple, Swindoll explores how Jesus answers the questions of His identity not just through His teaching, but through His actions. While the crowds in Jerusalem were asking, “Who is this?” Jesus was providing the answer by fulfilling ancient prophecy, asserting His authority over God’s house, and demonstrating His compassion for the broken.
Message Key Facts:
- The Prophetic King: Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was a carefully orchestrated fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, signaling His identity as the humble, messianic King.
- Authority Over the Sacred: By driving the money changers from the temple, Jesus asserted His divine authority over the religious system of His day.
- The Identification with the Lowly: Despite His kingly arrival, Jesus spent His time healing the blind and the lame, showing that His kingdom is one of mercy and restoration.
- The Question of Connection: Swindoll emphasizes that we cannot connect with Jesus until we first correctly identify who He is based on Scripture, not cultural opinion.
- The Response of Children: While the religious leaders were indignant, children recognized the truth, crying out “Hosanna to the Son of David!”
Message References:
1. The Prophetic Arrival (Matthew 21:1–11)
Swindoll examines the details of the Triumphal Entry.
- Sovereign Instructions: Jesus’ specific directions regarding the donkey and the colt demonstrate His total control over the events leading to the Cross.
- A Different Kind of King: By choosing a donkey rather than a warhorse, Jesus modeled humility and peace over political or military might.
- The City in Turmoil: The arrival of Jesus stirred the entire city, forcing everyone to confront the question: “Who is this?”
2. The Cleansing of the Temple (Matthew 21:12–13)
Jesus moves from the streets to the sanctuary to address spiritual corruption.
- A House of Prayer: Jesus quotes Isaiah and Jeremiah to remind the people that the temple was intended for communion with God, not commercial exploitation.
- The Righteous Anger of Christ: His actions reveal that true holiness cannot tolerate the exploitation of the “wrong” people or the corruption of the “right” places.
3. The Compassion of the King (Matthew 21:14–17)
The message concludes by looking at the aftermath of the temple cleansing.
- Healing in the Temple: Immediately after asserting His authority, Jesus demonstrated His heart by healing those who were marginalized.
- The Hosannas of the Simple: Jesus defends the children’s praise, citing Psalm 8:2 to show that God often reveals His truth to the humble and the young rather than the proud and “wise.”
