BIBLE IN TEN

Tuesday, 7 July 2026
 
Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.  Matthew 21:14
 
“And they approached Him, blind and lame, in the temple, and He cured them.” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus said, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” With that noted, Matthew next says, “And they approached Him, blind and lame, in the temple.”
 
At the end of Chapter 20, as Jesus healed the blind men at Jericho, it said, “And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.” If they followed Him to Jerusalem, it may be that they were with Him as He entered the temple. If so, it would be obvious to those who were healed that Jesus could heal the blind at the temple as well.
 
Even if those men didn’t follow as far as Jerusalem, others who were there in Jericho and saw what Jesus did would have implored the blind and lame to seek Him out while He was there. With the unholy use of the temple taken care of, a more suitable use for bringing God glory was to be seen in these needy souls. Thus, Matthew notes, “and He cured them.”
 
As seen in earlier commentaries, this was one of the expected roles the Messiah would fulfill –
 
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer,And the tongue of the dumb sing.” Isaiah 35:5, 6
 
Jesus was sent by His Father on a mission to accomplish all things in the Law and Prophets. He set about completing that mission, and He continued through His last week before the cross.
 
Life application: Take time today to pray for people in your church to want to know God more intimately by wanting to know His word more fully. Those who think they can bypass this fundamental and basic step in knowing Him more personally are not thinking clearly.
 
It is true that we can be deeply in love with God by knowing the simple gospel. Many people lived lives full of love for Him without having a copy of His word, but to know Him intimately, and to understand what He expects of us more fully, there is no substitute for reading and contemplating Scripture.
 
It is truly our lifeline back to Him. Be sure to read it and to pray for others to want to do so as well. The word is what will bring about true change in the hearts and minds of those who have received Jesus.
 
Lord God, thank You for our precious Lord Jesus, who is so meticulously revealed to us in Your wonderful word. May we have the deepest hunger and desire to know You by knowing Him. And we will know Him when we know Your word. Help us to be responsible in this matter. Amen.

Monday, 6 July 2026
 
And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” Matthew 21:13
 
“And He says to them, ‘It has been written: “The ‘house, Mine’, ‘house, prayer’ it will be called.” You also, it, you made ‘cave, robbers’.’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus drove out those selling in the temple and overturned the tables of the money changers and those who sold doves. After having done that, Matthew next records, “And He says to them, ‘It has been written.’”
 
Jesus uses Scripture as the written authority to justify doing what He has done. Even if the leaders of Israel allowed this under their authority, what they allowed could not be justified if it conflicted with what God submitted in His word. It is His word that established them as a people and gave the leaders their authority to lead.
 
As for what had been written, Jesus loosely cites Isaiah and Jeremiah, saying, “The ‘house, Mine’, ‘house, prayer’ it will be called.”
 
This is from Isaiah 56:7. A literal translation from the Hebrew says –
 
“...for My house, ‘house, intercession’ it will be called to all the peoples.”
 
Jesus’ citation of this shows what the intent of the temple was. It was to be a house of intercession between God and man. And more, it was for all the peoples, meaning people groups that extend beyond the nation of Israel. Instead of presenting the temple to the peoples in this manner, Jesus next says, “You also, it, you made ‘cave, robbers’.”
 
Two new words are seen here. The first is spélaion, a cavern or cave. One can see the etymological ancestor of our word spelunk, a cave. Instead of a place of order and structure, a cave is an unshapely, dark dwelling where hidden deeds can be carried out.
 
The second new word is léstés, a robber. It is someone who steals out in the open, typically with violence. The thought is something like a bandit or a marauder. If on the high seas, it would be a pirate. Jesus’ words are cited from Jeremiah 7:11 –
 
“The ‘cave, tyrants’ it became, the house, the this, which it was called, My name, upon it.”
 
The Hebrew word parits, tyrant, is from parats, to break out. As such, the word refers to someone like a violent destroyer. The people had taken a good thing and destroyed its intended use. Because of their treatment of the House of God, Jesus was compelled to take action, setting things right before His Father.
 
Life application: One can see how God jealously protects His dwelling. The tabernacle and then the temple were edifices intended to reflect the glory of who God in Christ would be and what He would do. Each implement was a type and shadow of Jesus, meaning His person and His ministry.
 
They had profaned that by allowing things not designated by God to interfere with what was ordained by Him. But this is something we can do today as well. God has presented Christ Jesus to the world. The gospels are recorded, and the epistles have been provided to explain Jesus and His ministry.
 
But anytime we deviate from what is written, even unintentionally, we mar and deface God’s presentation of Christ, just as those of Israel marred and defaced the anticipations of Christ in their treatment of God’s house.
 
In Ezekiel 9:1-11, God judged and destroyed the people for exactly this irreverent attitude. Take time to read that passage today and think about what our actions deserve when we treat the word in a similar manner.
 
Do you think God is pleased with legalism? Is He pleased with liberal theology? Will He be forgiving of Joseph Smith’s addition to Scripture in the Book of Mormon or the Seventh Day Adventists esteeming of the writings of Ellen G. White? No. He will pour out His anger on those who so manipulate and twist His word for their own demented purposes.
 
God does not change. Let us not manipulate the sacredness of God’s word, but treat it as holy and sacred.
 
Lord God, may our treatment of Your word demonstrate a caring and respectful attitude toward its contents at all times. Help us to cherish it, share it properly, and exalt You through our application of it to our lives. Amen.

Sunday, 5 July 2026
 
Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. Matthew 21:12
 
“And He entered, the ‘Jesus’, into the ‘temple, the God’, and He ejected all those selling and buying in the temple. And the ‘tables, the coin dealers’ He overturned, and the ‘benches, those selling’ the doves.” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, the multitudes informed those in the city that it was Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee, whom they were praising. After having entered the city, it next says, “And He entered, the ‘Jesus’, into the ‘temple, the God’.”
 
Some manuscripts leave off the article before Jesus. They also leave out the words “the God.” The timeline in Mark is different but not irreconcilable. Matthew skips some of what Mark says. Mark places what Jesus will do in the temple on the next day (see Mark 11:11-15).
 
Matthew is thus making a categorical analysis, while Mark is following a chronological path for his narrative. Understanding this, the accounts do not contradict. The focus is different. Having entered the temple, Matthew continues, saying, “and He ejected all those selling and buying in the temple.”
 
It is generally accepted that this was in what is known as the Court of the Gentiles. To get a sense of the layout of the temple complex, its size, what went on there, etc., refer to Albert Barnes’ lengthy commentary. In short, the Court of the Gentiles was being used as a place of marketing of animals, currency exchange, etc.
 
The law prescribed that certain sacrifices be made by those who came for the feast days. These animals had to be spotless, meaning without defect. Rather than bringing their own from a distance, a market was set up where such animals could be purchased.
 
Likewise, there would be various currencies brought in by the pilgrims. In order to make purchases, however, there would be money exchangers who would trade those units of money for the temple currency known as shekels. This had become a great business where exalted rates for “spotless” approved animals could be made. Also, there would be surcharges for the exchange of money.
 
Because of this, the priests could make a lot of money from this process. However, this type of business should not have been conducted in the Court of the Gentiles. Any transactions for religious services should have been outside of the temple complex.
 
For convenience and certainly for control over the process, the priests had taken the area where the nations could come before the Lord, and they had essentially turned it into a Walmart. As such, Matthew next says, “And the ‘tables, the coin-dealers’ He overturned.”
 
The kollubistes, coin-dealer, is first seen here. It is believed to be akin to kollourion, eye salve, found in Revelation 3:18. These are the money exchangers who possessed the temple shekels and sold them to those with the standard money of those who came.
 
A second new word is katastrephó, to turn upside down. It is only seen here and in the comparable passage found in Mark 11:15. Jesus, seeing the greed and irreligious nature of what was occurring right in the House of God, took charge and dumped their tables over. Matthew also notes, “and the ‘benches, those selling’ the doves.”
 
A third new word is now seen, kathedra, a bench. It is derived from kata, down against, and hedraios, to be sedentary, settled, etc. Thus, it is a place where someone plants himself for work, exercising authority (as in Matthew 23:2), etc.
 
One can see the etymological root of the cathedra, the bishop’s chair, found in Roman Catholicism. That leads to the thought of the cathedral. The irony of calling the Roman Catholic bishop’s seat a cathedra when its three uses in Scripture are noted in a negative light is evident.
 
Life application: At what point a church passes the line from a place of instruction, worship, and glorification of God to a place like what the temple in Jerusalem had become is debatable.
 
Everyone wants to think that their way is acceptable, and it is those on the other side of some unseen line who have departed from what is right and proper. But whatever is done in a church setting should be looked at carefully to determine if it is holding fast to the main points of what a church is for.
 
If the focus is on the music, such as weekly concerts to motivate emotion, that church has become a “me” centered body because people are going for the purpose of being personally motivated.
 
If the focus is on receiving a blessing based on what one gives, the same is true. The church has become a supposed conduit for people to prosper materially. Such examples are not what church is for. Rather, we are to learn about God, worship Him for the sake of His glory, and fellowship with others, building them up and engaging with them as people who will be spending eternity together in God’s presence.
 
Take time to evaluate why you are going to church and what you think you are getting out of it. In doing this, you may be able to adjust your priorities so that they more perfectly align with honoring God.
 
Lord God, help us to focus on You and Your glory in all we do. Forgive us when we make this life about ourselves. We have needs, hopes, and desires, but we should always place them after our devotion to You. This life is temporary. What You have given us in the life to come is eternal. Help us to remember this. Amen.

Saturday, 4 July 2026
 
So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”  Matthew 21:11
 
“The ‘also crowds’, they said, ‘This, He is the prophet, Jesus, the ‘from Nazareth, the Galilee’.’” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, when Jesus had come into Jerusalem, the people asked who He was. In response, “The ‘also crowds’, they said, ‘This, He is the Prophet, Jesus.’”
 
This response can be taken in a couple of ways. The first is that they are claiming Jesus is the fulfillment of Moses’ words –
 
“And the Lord said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good. 18 I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 19 And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.’” Deuteronomy 18:17-19
 
This was understood to be a particular prophet who would come in the future, not merely one of a line of prophets. In fact, in John’s gospel, that this is a particular individual is made perfectly clear –
 
“Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, ‘I am not the Christ.’21 And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’He said, ‘I am not.’‘Are you the Prophet?’And he answered, ‘No.’” John 1:19-21
 
The other option is that the words “the Prophet” refer to one of the many prophets who had arisen since the time of Moses, such as Samuel, Gad, Daniel, Jeremiah, etc. Thus, the people would be speaking in general terms. Based on His being hailed as the Messiah with the quoting of Psalm 118, the former option seems likely, but it is debatable. Along with being noted as the Prophet, it next says, “the ‘from Nazareth, the Galilee’.”
 
Jesus (Yeshua) was a common name at the time. To ensure He was identified more fully, the area where He was raised and performed so many miracles is affixed to His identity. The stories of great miracles being performed in the area of the Galilee would have permeated the collective conscience of the people.
 
Life application: To this day, it is debated who Jesus is. Islam has Him in a list of prophets leading to Muhammad. They deny His deity, and they deny that He was killed or crucified. Instead, they teach that He was raised bodily to heaven, protecting Him from death.
 
Mormons teach that Jesus was a man who became a god. Liberal churches teach that Jesus was a good teacher, but shy away from anything about Him that is confrontational or causes them to admit that their sinful lives will be judged by Him. They have so watered down the message of Jesus that every perversion imaginable is supposedly considered acceptable to Jesus, calling their vile teaching “loving” and “non-judgmental.”
 
An overwhelming number of messianic churches, along with groups like the Hebrew Roots Movement, teach that Jesus came to restore and “renew” the Mosaic covenant, thus requiring His people to continue observing the Law of Moses. Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus was the archangel, Michael. He was crucified for sin and then was raised as a “mighty spirit being.” They deny a literal physical resurrection of the Man who is God incarnate.
 
These are but a few of the skewed and heretical ideas put forth concerning who Jesus is. But getting the “who” of Jesus right is the most important thing any human can do. So important is this issue that CS Lewis, in his book Mere Christianity, used a “poached egg” analogy, illustrating the absurdity of people’s thoughts concerning Jesus.
 
He notes that a man claiming to be God while being merely human would be a lunatic or the Devil of hell, not a teacher. He compared the delusion of claiming divinity to the insanity of a man who believes he is a poached egg.
 
Either Jesus is the Lord God, or He is not. To deny His deity, if He is God, cannot be overcome in the process of salvation. The Lord alone is without sin, and the Lord alone deserves the glory for what He has accomplished. If He is the Lord God, it is our duty and responsibility to honor Him as such.
 
Be careful to consider who Jesus is. Get this point right, believe that God has done what He has done through Jesus, and be saved. This is important.
 
Lord God, may we be strong in our convictions concerning Jesus and what He has done for us. And may we stand firmly on the good news when talking to others. There is no other Savior, no other access to heaven’s glory, and no other King of the Universe than the Lord God who has come in the Person of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Friday, 3 July 2026
 
And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” Matthew 21:10
 
“And having entered, He, into Jerusalem, it was shaken, all the city, saying, ‘Who is this?’” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, the multitudes were said to have cried out joyous words, hailing Jesus as the fulfillment of the messianic promises, highlighted with words from Psalm 118. With the procession continuing forward, it next says, “And having entered, He, into Jerusalem.”
 
The words are carefully stated, emphatically showing that Jesus is the focus of attention. It is He who has entered the holy city. The fact that it is Jerusalem brings a sense of foreboding, however. Jesus has already noted before His disciples that “it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem” (Luke 13:30). He also said this specifically about Himself just a short time before –
 
“Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, 18 ‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.’” Matthew 20:17-19
 
As for the reception in the city, it next says, “it was shaken, all the city.”
 
It is a new word, seió, to rock to and fro or sideways, and thus to agitate, move, quake, or shake. It is the same word used in Matthew 27 as a literal shaking –
 
“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked [seió], and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” Matthew 27: 51-53
 
This is also the same thought that occurred when Naomi and Ruth came to Bethlehem in Ruth 1:19. The word used was hum, to make an uproar or agitate greatly. As for Jesus’ entry, it is to be remembered that this is the time of the Passover. There would be upwards of two or three million people crowding the city. Such a sight would cause an immense agitation as people vied to get a glimpse of what was going on. In seeing Jesus entering as He did, they were “saying, ‘Who is this?’”
 
As there were people from all over Israel, as well as pilgrims from other countries returning for the feast, those who had never seen or heard of Jesus would have been wondering why such a large group of people was actively shouting out the words expected of honoring the Messiah Himself. Thus, the confusion and turmoil would have been immense.
 
Life application: The nation of Israel had the entire week to evaluate the matter set before them. Is this Person being conducted into the city really the Messiah or not? Unfortunately, those who made the decisions for the nation were not to be swayed by the masses.
 
Instead, they actively voiced their opposition to Jesus and His ministry. And this was done despite all the evidence imaginable having been presented over the previous years that He ministered in their presence.
 
The people of the land saw what He had accomplished and were convinced that He was the One. And yet, in a few days, He would be crucified and rejected by most of the nation. The ability of those in power to sway the masses is exceptionally strong.
 
As such, we have to be careful to not allow ourselves to be deluded by supposed specialists in any field, be it politics, religion, medicine, etc. But we also need to not be persuaded by those who speak against specialists, either.
 
In other words, there are “specialists” at refuting every specialist one can imagine. This is why there are believers in a flat Earth. There are people who convincingly sway the minds of people using faulty logic or manipulation of the data to convince us of one conspiracy or another.
 
In all such things, we should not assume that what we are presented is correct until we have thought the matter through. Is the Earth billions of years old? When Jesus said, “It is finished,” what was He talking about? Question what you hear before agreeing to someone’s possibly nutty idea about the matter. Did Joseph Smith really hear from God that there is another testament of Jesus Christ?
 
Be wise and discerning, checking things out. Truth is what corresponds to reality. There is a whole world of untruthful information being tossed before us. Jesus really was heralded as the Messiah by the people. If the masses who were stirred had checked things out, they may have ignored their leaders and saved a great deal of woe.
 
Someday, they will go to their Scriptures, check out what they say, compare them with the events of the world around them, and conclude that they were wrong about Jesus. It is a lesson we should pay heed to in all things.
 
Lord God, there is a world full of information and disinformation swirling around us. People have agendas that are often contrary to what is good, normal, logical, and right. Give us wisdom to discern the truth, or at least not to accept what is presented without sufficient evidence concerning whatever matters come our way. Help us in this, O God. Amen.
 

Thursday, 2 July 2026
 
Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’
Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:9
 
“The ‘also crowds’, those preceding, and those following, they croaked, saying:
 
‘Hosanna! The ‘Son, David’!Having been blessed, the ‘coming in Name, Lord!’Hosanna in the uppermosts!’” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, it was noted that a great multitude spread their clothes on the road while others cut down branches from the trees, spreading them on the road as well. It next says, “The ‘also crowds’.”
 
These would be those just described who thronged around Jesus. The scene would have been rather incredible with Jesus in their midst, being highlighted among them. The description of the crowds is seen in the words, “those preceding, and those following.”
 
Some wanted to lead the way, as if they were a king’s guards, going before him to herald his name and clear out anyone who stood in the way to hinder the progress. Others would follow behind, as if they were a king’s loyal subjects, willing to follow him into battle or in a victory procession. Such a scene is recorded in 1 Samuel –
 
“Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. 7 So the women sang as they danced, and said:‘Saul has slain his thousands,And David his ten thousands.’” 1 Samuel 18: 6, 7
 
Of those who went before and followed after Jesus, it notes that “they croaked.”
 
The word has been seen before, krazó, to croak as a raven. Thus, it would be a distinct and loud shout from the masses. They were “saying: ‘Hosanna! The ‘Son, David’!”
 
It is a new word in the New Testament, coming from the Hebrew words yasha, to save, and na, pray, as in “pray tell.” The form of the verb in the Hebrew would be causative imperative with an emphatic paragoge, thus hoshia (you must surely cause to save) na, pray. The importance of this is because it is what is recorded in the 118th Psalm –
 
“Oh, pray, Yehovah!You must (surely) cause to save (hoshia), pray (na)!” Psalm 118a (CG)
 
The people were aware that the psalm anticipated the coming Messiah. Their calling out “Hosanna” was an acknowledgement that they believed that He is the fulfillment of that expectation. Their words of this acknowledgment continue with, “Having been blessed, the ‘coming in ‘Name, Lord’!”
 
This is also found in the 118th Psalm –
 
“Blessed the ‘coming’ in ‘name, Yehovah’.” Psalm 118:26a (CG)
 
Matthew’s words in the Greek use a perfect participle, “having been blessed.” That is followed by a present participle “coming.” Thus, it indicates that the people are proclaiming that Jesus was the fulfillment of the anticipated Messiah and that He continues to fulfill that role. His coming is in the name of Yehovah.
 
There is no doubt about the intent of their proclamation. The people believe Jesus has been appointed by Yehovah to work His salvation in the name of Yehovah. Because of this, they continue, saying, “Hosanna in the uppermosts!”
 
Another new word is seen, hupsistos, the plural of hupsos, elevation. Thus, it is a superlative normally translated as “highest.” To preserve the plural, the word “uppermosts” gives the most literal sense. This would be comparable to the Hebrew and Aramaic adjectives elyon, uppermost. When referring to God, it is normally translated as Most High.
 
It should be noted that the words of the people do not mean that they believed Jesus is God. Rather, they believed He was sent by God to fulfill the messianic role and promises contained in Scripture. It is only in the resurrection and the theology surrounding that event (mixed with an understanding of the virgin birth) that the deity of Christ Jesus can be deduced and explained.
 
Life application: There is no doubt that the masses of Israel thought that Jesus was the anticipated Messiah. However, the rulers, meaning those who spoke for the nation, rejected this. In their rejection of Him, they had Him crucified.
 
In His crucifixion, the people then believed the lies of the leaders. Many were saved through faith in Jesus after the resurrection, as testified to in Acts. However, the nation as a whole was led astray by the leaders. In their rejection of Him, they were punished according to the curses set forth in the Law of Moses.
 
A point should be gleaned from this. We should not allow our spiritual understanding of what God is doing to rest in the hands of others. It is true that we have leaders appointed over us for gaining knowledge about the word, and about what God has done and is doing.
 
But we should not blindly trust anyone. Look at the disaster that has been caused in cults like the Seventh Day Adventists, the Mormons, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc. Look at how people follow Roman Catholicism without regard to Scripture.
 
Our doctrine and theology must be derived from somewhere. Where is it that you should obtain it? The answer is from God. As God has given us the Bible for this purpose, we should be in the Bible, studying it, and checking out what we are told. Israel, the entire nation of them, has been led astray by false leaders for two thousand years.
 
Many in the church have followed suit, following leaders who have misdirected people away from the truth of God in Christ. Don’t let anyone do this to you. KNOW YOUR BIBLE and check what you are told.
 
Lord God, help us to be responsible and check out everything we are told. Your word alone is the instruction we need to know You and what You expect. As we are taught from it, give us the wisdom to then verify what we have been instructed. Amen.

Wednesday, 1 July 2026
 
And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Matthew 21:8
 
“The ‘also most crowd’, they spread their ‘the cloaks’ in the road, others, also, they chopped branches from the trees, and they strewed in the road.” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, the disciples brought the donkey and the colt, and they laid their clothes on them, and Jesus sat on them. Next, Matthew records, “The ‘also most crowd’.”
 
The word pleistos has already been seen once. It signifies the largest number or the greatest in quantity. Thus, it means that the majority of the people in the crowd participated in what Matthew will next say, which is that “they spread their ‘the cloaks’ in the road.”
 
It is certain that there were those, like the Pharisees and Sadducees, who would not participate in this. Hence, the use of the word pleistos means that most of the people joined in, even if they didn’t all do so. Another word, strónnuó, is seen. It signifies “to strew” as in spreading out.
In this case, the people saw Jesus and the commotion around Him and wanted to participate in the jubilation, as a sign of respect and honoring Him in a kingly fashion, they removed their outer garments and spread them before Him. This is seen elsewhere in Scripture –
 
“Then Jehu came out to the servants of his master, and one said to him, ‘Is all well? Why did this madman come to you?’And he said to them, ‘You know the man and his babble.’12 And they said, ‘A lie! Tell us now.’So he said, ‘Thus and thus he spoke to me, saying, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have anointed you king over Israel.’”’13 Then each man hastened to take his garment and put it under him on the top of the steps; and they blew trumpets, saying, ‘Jehu is king!’” 2 Kings 9:11-13
 
Along with this sign of recognizing Jesus’ kingly authority, it says, “others, also, they chopped branches from the trees, and they strewed in the road.” John’s gospel says that as Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they “took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him.”
 
That is probably different than what Matthew is describing. Jesus has been placed on a donkey, and immediately, in honor of Him, the people took their clothes and spread them out. Others, as a similar sign of respect, cast down the branches, as if their efforts were being cast before Him.
 
Those hearing that Jesus was coming would have taken palms and shaken them as a sign of greeting and acknowledgment of His presence, like giant waving hands. As He passed, they may also have cast them down, or they may have kept waving them as they followed. The waving and casting of palms would have been accompanied by their shouts, which will be seen in the next verse. The scene would have been filled with lively joy.
 
Life application: Think on the fickleness of the situation seen here. The people are cumulatively coming out in honor of the one they believe is the Messiah, giving Him a kingly welcome. And yet, for the next two thousand years, His name has been used as a curse word.
 
This is seen in any nation where a leader is heralded as a great man while things are going well, but as soon as things take the slightest downturn, people start to turn from him and moan about what an incompetent person they have leading them.
 
In such a case, the people will normally either overthrow him,
 or the leader, if he has solidified enough power, will begin to persecute the people, quashing any sense of rebellion. Either way, the joy of the initial prospects for a leader can quickly return to regret and even fear.
 
In the case of Jesus, the people misunderstood His reason for coming. He came to deal with the greatest foe of all, and it wasn’t the Romans who occupied their land. Because of this, they felt that He had failed them. How could the Messiah not exalt them, God’s chosen people, to the position and benefits promised them in their Scriptures?
 
But God’s timing and plans must take precedence over temporary exaltation. Souls need to be saved, and God’s house must be built out of those who will, by faith, come to Him. Law is contrary to faith. Israel felt they merited God’s favor. To this day, they still do.
Until they realize that they are actually just like any other people in regard to sin and unrighteousness, they cannot be granted the fulfillment of the promises made in their Scriptures.
 
All of us must come to God through faith. Only then can we be considered sons of God. But by faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ, that takes place. We enter into a new life paradigm. It is one that brings us near to God in a new way.
 
Someday, that will be realized in its fullness. Hold fast to what lies ahead as we live out our lives under the temporary rule of whatever authority is appointed over us. We have a true King who has us securely in His grasp.
 
Lord God, how great it is to know that whatever leader we have over us now, whether good or bad, we will not have to endure in this situation forever. The good leader will die, and another who may not be so good will take his place. All the while, our true King, our Lord and Savior Jesus, has us safely in His hand until the day He brings us to Himself. May that day be soon. Amen.

Tuesday, 30 June 2026
 
They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. Matthew 21:7
 
As noted in a previous commentary, only Matthew focuses on both the donkey and her colt. The other three gospels focus on the colt alone because it is the animal that Jesus rode. Matthew continues with, “and they upon-set atop them the ‘cloaks, theirs’.”
 
Depending on the source text, the words can be confusing. There are several differences between texts. This study uses the Stephanus Textus Receptus of 1550. As for what it says, the word “they” is again referring to the disciples –
 
They brought ... and they upon-set.
 
The word “them” refers to both animals –
 
“the donkey and the colt ... and they upon-set atop them.”
 
From there, it notes the cloaks are what was upon-set atop the animals. After that, it next says, “and He upon-sat atop them.”
 
A new word, found only here in Scripture, is seen, epikathizó, to sit upon. It is from epi, upon, and kathizó, to sit down. Jesus is the subject, going back to the previous verse –
 
Having gone, also, the disciples, and having done just as He commanded them, the ‘Jesus’ ... and He upon-sat atop them. But the word “them” then further confuses scholars, as if it is referring to the donkeys, meaning Jesus sat on two donkeys. That makes no sense because the nearest antecedent is the cloaks –
 
“and they upon-set atop them the ‘cloaks, theirs’, and He upon-sat atop them.”
 
Others argue that because the cloaks were placed on both donkeys, it does refer to the cloaks, but it would still mean he had to sit atop both donkeys. Again, that has to be read into the words.
 
For all we know, he sat upon the cloaks on one of the donkeys, and someone else sat on the cloaks on another donkey to help keep the younger, previously unridden donkey, content to walk by its mother. It would take much more to assume Jesus sat on two donkeys than it would to figure someone else sat on the mother to keep the newly broken colt steady.
 
Life application: Without getting too bogged down in an overly complicated commentary, a note from Myer’s New Testament Commentary finishes the thought, saying, “it would appear that it was the dam on which Jesus rode, with the foal walking by her side.”
 
Why they would come to this conclusion, regardless of which source text is used, is unthinkable. Mark, Luke, and John never mention a second donkey. All of them agree that Jesus rode on the colt.
 
To change that because of a botched text or someone’s botched analysis, would cause a real contradiction between the gospels.
Be sure that when you read commentaries to check out several others if something seems wrong about the one you are reading. At the same time, remember that there are different texts that people use for their translations.
 
Little differences can cause confusion in the text. Don’t assume something is wrong in God’s word just because of something you have read or heard. Be diligent to check and then think things through, or do further study. In the end, you will inevitably find that what seemed incorrect has a reasonable explanation.
 
Lord God, Your word is a true treasure of delight and wonder. Help us to carefully consider it and to cherish its contents all the days of our lives. To Your glory we pray. Amen.

Monday, 29 June 2026
 
So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. Matthew 21:6
 
“Having gone, also, the disciples, and having done just as He directed them, the ‘Jesus’.” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, Matthew cited the prophet concerning Jesus’ instructions about the donkey, showing that what Jesus intended was the fulfillment of those Scriptures. With that thought presented, it next says, “Having gone, also, the disciples.”
 
These are the two disciples mentioned in verse 1. They are not named in any of the gospel records. Despite this, it next says, “and having done just as He directed them, the ‘Jesus’.”
 
A new word is seen here, suntassó, to arrange jointly. Hence, it signifies to direct or appoint a matter. Mark and Luke add in content not seen in Matthew –
 
“So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. 5 But some of those who stood there said to them, ‘What are you doing, loosing the colt?’6 And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go.” Mark 11:4-6
 
Luke closely matches Mark.
 
Life application: The Bible goes from simple truths about our state before God to deep theological explanations for who God is, what He is like, and how we can approach Him. It also deals heavily in typology in order to teach us detailed doctrinal points about a seemingly unlimited number of issues.
 
There is something for every age level and every level of intelligence, if we are willing to seek out what it says. As we search it out, we should not attempt to manipulate what it is saying by inserting our ideas into it. Rather, we should do our utmost to maintain the proper context, consider what it says from God’s perspective, and try to understand why God highlights and stresses particular points.
 
If there is an issue that takes up a lot of space in the Bible, then we should pay heed to it. For the Christian, it is obvious that the whole Bible, in some way or another, is always pointing us to Jesus. We should take that as an axiom and look to discover how each passage points to Him.
 
But other key points are painstakingly included as well. Probably the most pronounced one of all is that of law versus grace. So much space in Scripture is taken up on this one issue that it needs to be carefully considered.
 
The dispensations of time are another point that is repeatedly seen in typology. Again and again, they are highlighted to demonstrate how God is working at various times and in various ways in human history. For example, the dispensational model forms the backbone of the Book of Esther.
 
If this were merely a side issue, God would not repeatedly bring it into His word. But He does. As this is so, we should carefully evaluate and apply dispensations to our understanding of Scripture. If we don’t do this, our perception of what God is doing at any given time in the world (and in His word) will be skewed.
 
Be sure to consider things in the word carefully as you read. God is giving us information about Himself, what He expects, how we are to consider and interact with Him, and how we are to interact with the world around us.
 
The more effort you put into meditating on His word while considering its precepts, and then applying them to your life, the closer you will be to His heart as you live out your days in His presence.
 
Lord God, help us to carefully live our lives in a manner that is pleasing to You, understanding that we have a part in that process. To know what You expect, we must know Your word. From there, be with us as we walk in this world in accord with what You intend for us as Your people. Amen.

Sunday, 28 June 2026
 
“Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’” Matthew 21:5
 
“You say to the ‘daughter, Zion’,‘You behold! The ‘King, yours’, He comes to you,Benignant and having been upon-stepped upon a donkey,Even upon ‘colt, son under-yoked’.’” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, it was noted that all of the things concerning the donkey were done to fulfill prophecy. The specific prophecy is from Zechariah 9:9, with an introductory note more closely aligned with Isaiah 62:11. That introductory note is, “You say to the ‘daughter, Zion’.”
 
The whole verse from Isaiah says –
 
“Indeed the LORD has proclaimed
To the end of the world:
‘Say to the daughter of Zion,
“Surely your salvation is coming;
Behold, His reward is with Him,
And His work before Him.”’” Isaiah 62:11
 
In Zechariah, the opening note reads –
 
“You must whirl, vehemently, ‘daughter, Zion’,You must cause to acclaim, ‘daughter, Jerusalem’.” (CG)
 
With the introductory words given, the specific prophecy from Zechariah is cited, beginning with, “You behold! The ‘King, yours’, He comes to you.” In the Hebrew, the verb was in the imperfect aspect, “Behold, your King, He will come to you.” With the advent of Christ, there was no need to continue with that. Thus, Matthew’s words are present tense. Matthew continues, saying, “Benignant.”
 
The word, already seen twice in Matthew, signifies mild, such as a humble or gentle person. The word in Hebrew signifies depressed in mind or circumstances. Thus, it can signify poor, afflicted, needy, humble, etc. The context will provide the meaning. Matthew continues with, “and having been upon-stepped upon a donkey.”
 
This is a new word, epibainó, coming from epi, upon, and basis, a step. Thus, it literally means to “upon-step.” A donkey is stepped over in order to mount. The word exactingly describes the action. As noted in a previous commentary, the general word onus, donkey, is more specific in the Hebrew. There it is a khamor, a male donkey. Matthew finishes the citation, saying, “Even upon ‘colt, son under-yoked’.”
 
Another new word is seen here, hupozugion. It is from hupo, under, and zugos, a yoke. Thus, under-yoked is an exact translation. Also noted previously was that the colt in Hebrew is the word ayir, an animal just being broken in. It is from ur, to awaken. One can sense the connection as the colt is “awakened” to its new role as a bearer of burdens.
 
Also in the Hebrew is the athon, a female donkey, known as a jenny. That word signifies permanence. Taking these animals with the Hebrew and Greek meanings, one can more fully understand the significance of the intent of Jesus’ actions.
 
The khamor, jack, gives the sense of redness. In Old Testament typology, it signifies humanity derived from Adam, the red man taken from the red soil (adam is from adom, to be red). However, this donkey had never been yoked, a picture of the burden of sin, despite being the son of a jenny that was under a yoke. The jenny is from athon, enduring or perennial. The enduring burden of sin remained unbroken in man until the coming of Christ.
 
Jesus riding on this previously unyoked donkey is telling us that He is the Messiah, unstained by Adam’s sin, despite having come from the line of humanity. How is that possible? Because His father is God, not a human male. As sin passes from father to child, and because Jesus’ Father is God, no sin passed to Him.
 
A new yoke is now available for humanity. The burden of law was coming to an end. This is something being pictured in Jesus’ fulfillment of this Old Testament prophecy. Placing the two verses side by side, a comparison can be made between the future prophecy and the fulfilled prophecy –
 
“You must whirl, vehemently, ‘daughter, Zion’,You must cause to acclaim, ‘daughter, Jerusalem’,Behold, your King, He will come to you,Righteous and being saved, He,Lowly, and riding upon jack, and colt ‘son, jenny’.”
 
“You say to the ‘daughter, Zion’,‘You behold! The ‘King, yours’, He comes to you,Benignant and having been upon-stepped upon a donkey,Even upon ‘colt, son under-yoked’.’”
 
The words of Jesus from earlier in Matthew explain the typology –
 
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
 
Life application: Pay attention to the details. Great nuggets of treasure are to be found in God’s majestic word.
 
Lord God, thank You for the unlimited amount of treasure found in Your superior, magnificent word. You have given us one life to live before we stand before You. May we diligently strive to know You and what You have done more fully as we read and consider this beautiful word. Amen.

Saturday, 27 June 2026
 
All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: Matthew 21:4
 
“This also, all, it having become that it should be fulfilled, the ‘having been spoken through the prophet,’ saying.” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, Jesus gave instructions to the disciples concerning what to say if anyone challenged them while untying the donkeys. Matthew next shows that what occurred took place in accordance with prophecy, saying, “This, also, it having become.”
 
As in Matthew 1:22 concerning the fulfillment of prophecy, Matthew uses a perfect participle to indicate that what had happened wasn’t just an event that took place, but that it has a resulting ongoing state.
 
Matthew indicates that the prophecy was intended to be fulfilled by the Messiah and that, in fact, it occurred. His fulfillment of the prophecy is the final and forever fulfillment of it. That is seen in his next words, “that it should be fulfilled.”
 
In other words, there was nothing random or unplanned about the event. Rather, the prophecy had been made, and Jesus’ directions to these men brought about the fulfillment of what had been recorded in Scripture. Of this, the Pulpit Commentary states, “Not only the will of the Father, but the words of Scripture, had delineated the life of Christ, and in obeying that will he purposed to show that he fulfilled the prophecies which spake of him.”
 
This is correct as long as one understands that Scripture is the will of the Father. There should be no separation of thought between the two, as they are harmoniously realized in the life and actions of Christ. And what has been fulfilled is “the ‘having been spoken through the prophet,’ saying...”
 
Prophecy is inspired by God. The writing prophet is the instrument through whom the prophecy is given, the scroll receives the words that flow from divine revelation expressed through the prophet’s mind to the quill and ink that writes out the words. In the case of the life of Christ, everything was anticipating His coming to fulfill the divine will that had become the written will of recorded prophecy.
 
Life application: Understanding the way in which prophecy is received is important. God did not write the words of Scripture on the scrolls maintained by Israel. Rather, God is Spirit, having no parts and not working within the stream of time. He created time and is outside of it.
 
What God does is to inspire a person through a process that uses the person’s own personal characteristics and circumstances. Thus, the prophet is not a tool, like a pen, that is wielded apart from any meaningful input. Rather, for example, the prophet’s personal writing style will come through.
 
Paul’s handwriting was clearly distinguishable, as he himself notes in Galatians 6:11. The prophet’s experiences, emotions, etc., are revealed in what he writes. And yet, what is written is clearly the word of God, as is seen in Matthew 21:4 (and elsewhere throughout Scripture).
 
God’s will, being expressed in the writings, will come to pass. Nothing can thwart it as the moment set by Him approaches. Thus, the writings in Scripture are a testimony to what God has determined. They stand as a witness that God’s will is, in fact, being worked out in the world.
 
This is why we can confidently claim what the Bible says as our own surety in doctrine and in hope. This is not a claim as if saying, “God’s word says someone can be rich and thus I claim wealth.” That is a misuse of the word.
 
Rather, our claim is based on the reality behind the substance of the words. “God’s word says that we are saved by grace through faith with nothing added. I stand on that. I believe it and have 100% confidence that it is true.”
 
This is why it is so important to know what the Bible actually says, and in its proper context. If God’s word says that Israel will be brought into the New Covenant as a nation and that they will be the head of the nations during the millennium, we should confidently avow that it will be so.
 
Understanding what Scripture says about the future and then standing on it is a demonstration of faith in the Lord’s sovereignty over all things. When we waffle in our convictions about a doctrinal matter, we demonstrate either a lack of faith in what is said or a lack of surety in our understanding of what is said. Either way, we should get that corrected. God’s word is written, it is authoritative, and it will come to pass. Trust this. 
 
Lord God Almighty, help us to have surety and confidence in Your word. It is written, it makes claims and proclamations, and we should understand them and have trust in them. May our walk with You be established and grounded in Your precious word. Amen.
 

Friday, 26 June 2026
 
And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” Matthew 21:3
 
“And if anyone, to you, he says anything, you will say that the Lord, these – need, He has. Immediately, also, he will send them.” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, Jesus instructed two of His disciples to go to the village opposite them, where they would find a donkey tied and with her colt. He instructed them to loosen them and bring them to Him. He continues this instruction, saying, “And if anyone, to you, he says anything.”
 
It is something one would expect. Imagine being told to go to the nearest village, and when you find a silver Toyota Corolla parked by a bank, you are to get in it and bring it back to your boss. You would expect someone to say something as you got into it. This is the same general sense.
 
Donkeys were personal property. They were used for transportation, and they were generally parked somewhere accessible for the owner to load them up with goods or himself and move along.
 
Therefore, one would expect to be challenged when two unknown people came up and started untying donkeys that didn’t belong to them. If such were the case, Jesus continues, “you will say that the Lord, these – need, He has.”
 
The meaning of “Lord” is not easily discernible. The word can mean the Lord, Yehovah. If this is the intent, it does not mean that the disciples thought Jesus was Yehovah. That will only be understood later. However, it could be a way of saying, “Yehovah has a need for this,” just as we might say, “I am doing this on behalf of God.”
 
It could also mean Lord in the sense of the Messiah. The word “Lord” is preceded by the definite article. It doesn’t say “our Lord,” but “the Lord.” Lazarus has been raised. People at this time, who lived in this area, would have come to believe Jesus was the promised Messiah. The events of the triumphal entry certainly indicate this. That is seen in John’s gospel –
 
“Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” John 11:45-48
 
The term Lord can also mean “master” when spoken by any given person. Thus, the disciples could have been saying, “Our master needs it, and it will be returned in due time.” The second option seems the most likely.
 
They are in the area where Lazarus was raised. Jesus had many disciples who thought He was the Messiah. The local people were already believing this as well. And so, saying the Lord needed the donkey would be sufficiently understood that the owners would agree. This is debated, and the true intent can only be speculated. No matter which is correct, Jesus confidently says, “Immediately, also, he will send them.”
 
This almost gives the sense that Jesus had talked with these people and told them that in a day (or a few days), He would send men to come borrow their donkeys. If so, then it would resolve any hint of questioning, apart from the initial encounter. “Oh, you are Jesus’ disciples. Yes, go ahead and take them.”
 
Life application: As you can see, any of the three options for what is occurring is possible. The word kurios, lord, is used to describe Yehovah in Matthew 1:20. In Matthew 20, the blind men called out to Jesus, calling Him Lord while asking for healing. They probably meant “Lord” as in Messiah.
 
In 1 Peter 3:6, the term is used of Abraham being called lord by Sarah. He is the master of the house. One can see that care needs to be taken when trying to determine who is being referred to when such a word is used.
 
If there is this much difficulty over a single word, it shows us that we should be attentive to what is going on in Scripture, considering all possibilities. Reading commentaries can help clarify such difficulties, or they can further muddy the waters, especially when two sound theologians come to differing conclusions.
 
As the proverb says –
 
“The first one to plead his cause seems right,Until his neighbor comes and examines him.” Proverb 18:17
 
Don’t just jump on the first explanation of a matter without considering that there may be better options to explain it.
 
O God, Your word is big and often complicated, but it is not impossible to understand. It gives us many challenges to consider and many options we can explore before grasping what is being said. What a treat this is for us! Thank You for Your wonderful word. Amen.