Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Matthew
Book: Matthew
Chapter: 21
Overview:
Christ enters
Jerusalem.
(1-11) He drives out those who
profaned the
Temple.
(12-17) The
Barren Fig-tree cursed.
(18-22)
Jesus' discourse in the
Temple.
(23-27) The
Parable of the two
sons.
(28-32) The
Parable of the wicked husbandmen.
(33-46)
1-11 This
Coming of Christ was described
By the
Prophet
Zechariah, Zec 9:9. When
Christ would appear in his
Glory, it
is in his
Meekness, not in his majesty, in
Mercy to work
Salvation. As
Meekness and outward poverty were fully seen in
Zion's
King, and marked his triumphal entrance to
Jerusalem, how
wrong
Covetousness, ambition, and the pride of
Life must be in
Zion's citizens! They brought the
Ass, but
Jesus did not use it
without the owner's consent. The trappings were such as came to
Hand. We must not think the clothes
On our backs too dear to
part with for the service of
Christ. The chief priests and the
elders afterwards joined with the multitude that abused him upon
the
Cross; but none of them joined the multitude that did him
honour. Those that take
Christ for their
King, must lay their
all under his feet.
Hosanna signifies, Save now, we beseech
thee! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the
Lord! But of
how little value is the applause of the people! The changing
multitude join the cry of the
Day, whether it be
Hosanna, or
Crucify him. Multitudes often seem to approve the
Gospel, but
few become consistent disciples. When
Jesus was come into
Jerusalem all the
City was moved; some perhaps were moved with
joy, who waited for the Consolation of
Israel; others, of the
Pharisees, were moved with envy.
So various are the motions in
the minds of men upon the approach of
Christ's kingdom.
12-17 Christ found some of the courts of the
Temple turned into
a market for
Cattle and things used in the sacrifices, and
partly occupied
By the
Money-changers. Our
Lord drove them from
the place, as he had done at his entering upon his ministry,
Joh 2:13-17. His
Works testified of him more than the
hosannas; and his healing in the
Temple was the fulfilling of the
promise, that the
Glory of the latter
House should be greater
than the
Glory of the former. If
Christ came now into many parts
of his visible
Church, how many secret evils he would discover
and cleanse! And how many things daily practised under the
Cloak
of religion, would he show to be more suitable to a
Den of
Thieves than to a
House of
Prayer!
18-22 This cursing of the
Barren Fig-tree represents the state
of hypocrites in general, and
So teaches us that
Christ looks
for the power of religion in those who profess it, and the
savour of it from those that have the show of it. His just
expectations from flourishing professors are often disappointed;
he comes to many, seeking
Fruit, and finds leaves only. A false
profession commonly withers in this world, and it is the effect
of
Christ's
Curse. The
Fig-tree that had
No Fruit, soon lost its
leaves. This represents the state of the nation and people of
the Jews in particular. Our
Lord Jesus found among them nothing
but leaves. And after they rejected
Christ, blindness and
hardness grew upon them, till they were undone, and their place
and nation rooted up. The
Lord was righteous in it. Let us
greatly fear the doom denounced
On the
Barren Fig-tree.
23-27 As our
Lord now openly appeared as the
Messiah, the chief
priests and
Scribes were much offended, especially because he
exposed and removed the abuses they encouraged. Our
Lord asked
what they thought of
John's ministry and
Baptism. Many are more
afraid of the shame of lying than of the
Sin, and therefore
scruple not to speak what they know to be false, as to their own
thoughts, affections, and intentions, or their remembering and
forgetting. Our
Lord refused to answer their inquiry. It is best
to shun needless disputes with wicked opposers.
28-32 Parables which give reproof, speak plainly to the
offenders, and
Judge them out of their own mouths. The
Parable
of the two sons sent to work in the vineyard, is to show that
those who knew not
John's Baptism to be of
God, were shamed
By
those who knew it, and owned it. The whole human race are like
children whom the
Lord has brought up, but they have rebelled
against him, only some are more plausible in their disobedience
than others. And it often happens, that the daring rebel is
brought to
Repentance and becomes the
Lord's servant, while the
formalist grows hardened in pride and
Enmity.
33-46 This
Parable plainly sets forth the
Sin and ruin of the
Jewish nation; and what is spoken to convict them, is spoken to
caution all that enjoy the privileges of the outward
Church. As
men treat
God's people, they would treat
Christ himself, if he
were with them. How can we, if
Faithful to his cause, expect a
favourable reception from a wicked world, or from ungodly
professors of Christianity! And let us ask ourselves, whether we
who have the vineyard and all its advantages, render fruits in
due season, as a people, as a family, or as separate persons.
Our
Saviour, in his question, declares that the
Lord of the
vineyard will come, and when he comes he will surely destroy the
wicked. The chief priests and the elders were the builders, and
they would not admit his doctrine or laws; they threw him aside
as a despised
Stone. But he who was rejected
By the Jews, was
embraced
By the
Gentiles.
Christ knows who will bring forth
Gospel fruits in the use of
Gospel means. The unbelief of
sinners will be their ruin. But
God has many ways of restraining
the remainders of wrath, as he has of making that which breaks
out redound to his praise. May
Christ become more and more
precious to our souls, as the firm Foundation and Cornerstone of
his
Church. May we be willing to follow him, though despised and
hated for his sake.