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Description
Welcome to Focus On The Message – the first component of our Following Jesus discipleship program. This web page contains the lessons for:
Matthew 21
Purpose
Follow this link for information about these key aspects of our training: Purpose, Goals, Habits, Ministries, and Assignments.
Matthew 21
This chapter has 6 lessons. You should ideally cover one chapter (with all of its lessons) in a week, but please don’t let a week go by without completing at least one lesson.
Lesson 1: Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
Main text and related passages:
- Matthew 21:1-11 – Bible Gateway
- Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-38; John 12:12-19
- Isaiah 62
- ” . . . gentle and riding on a donkey . . .” – Zechariah 9:9-17
- “Hosanna” = “Save!” (see also “Lord, save us!” – Psalm 118:25)
- “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” – Psalm 118
Checkout the following:
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- 1 Kings 1 – David makes Solomon king and places him on his mule.
- 2 Kings 9:1-13 – People spread their cloaks for Jehu as he becomes king.
Topics to explore:
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- This is the context we have so far for Jesus’ ongoing ministry:
- Jesus is “God with us”. – Matthew 1:18-23
- Jesus is “saving his people from their sins”. – Matthew 1:18-23
- Jesus’ message is calling people to repent and align with God’s Kingdom. – Matthew 4:12-17
- Jesus expects his miracles and signs to lead people to:
- Repent – Matthew 11:20-24
- Believe in Jesus and his Kingdom based on the signs and wonders – John 4:43-54
- What will it mean to apply this context to this passage and the ones that follow?
- What did the crowds think was going to happen when Jesus entered Jerusalem?
- What did Jesus’ disciples think was going to happen when he entered Jerusalem?
- What was Jesus’ plan for his final trip to Jerusalem?
- This is the context we have so far for Jesus’ ongoing ministry:
Additional resources to check out:
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- Matthew for Everyone, Part 2 (The New Testament for Everyone) by Tom Wright – Amazon.com
- 29. Jesus Prophet & Provocateur [Matthew] – Tim Mackie (The Bible Project) – YouTube (00:50:46)
Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):
-
- Read the main passage and related passages above.
Lesson 2: Jesus at the Temple
Main text and related passages:
- Matthew 21:12-17 – Bible Gateway
- Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-18;Luke 19:45-47
- John 2:12-25 – John places his account at the beginning of Jesus’ career.
- Isaiah 56:1-8 – “a house of prayer”
- Jeremiah 7:1-11 – “a den of robbers”
- “Hosanna” = “Save!” (see also “Lord, save us!” – Psalm 118:25)
- Psalm 8 – “from the lips of children and infants”
- “blind and lame” – 2 Samuel 5:6-10; 1 Chronicles 11:4-6
Checkout the following:
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- Watch: Temple Biblical Theme Video | BibleProject™(00:04:40)
- Court of the Gentiles
- Leviticus 1 – “without defect”
- Passover sacrifice reenacted by Jewish priests-in-training | The Times of Israel
- Why Did Jesus Drive the Moneychangers out of the Temple?
Topics to explore:
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- What was the role of the money changers?
- What was the role of the people selling doves?
- What significance did the temple courts have?
- What impact did Jesus’ actions have?
Additional resources to check out:
-
- Matthew for Everyone, Part 2 (The New Testament for Everyone) by Tom Wright – Amazon.com
- 29. Jesus Prophet & Provocateur [Matthew] – Tim Mackie (The Bible Project) – YouTube (00:50:46)
Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):
-
- Read the main passage and related passages above.
Lesson 3: Jesus Curses a Fig Tree
Main text and related passages:
- Matthew 21:18-22 – Bible Gateway
- Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14,Mark 11:20-24
- Hosea 9:10 – “early fruit on the fig tree”
- Matthew 24:32-35 – “learn this lesson from the fig tree”
- Luke 13:1-8 – “. . . A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard . . .”
- Jeremiah 8:4-13 – “There will be no grapes on the vine. There will be no figs on the tree, and their leaves will wither.”
Checkout the following:
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- Wikipedia: Fig
- What is Breba Figs and is it Good or Bad? – YouTube (00:04:48)
- Why did Jesus curse a fig tree when it wasn’t yet the season for figs? (Mark 11:13-14) – YouTube (00:02:03)
Topics to explore:
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- Why did Jesus go to the fig tree?
- What was Jesus looking for from the fig tree? (read the text carefully)
- What did Jesus find? Why?
- How do fig trees work? (check the reference material)
- What did Jesus do to the fig tree?
- What happened to the fig tree? When did it happen? (read the parallel passages carefully)
- When did the disciples notice what happened to the fig tree? (read the parallel passages carefully)
- What was the symbolic meaning of Jesus’ action?
Additional resources to check out:
-
- Matthew for Everyone, Part 2 (The New Testament for Everyone) by Tom Wright – Amazon.com
- Why You Should be CONCERNED that Jesus KILLED a Tree | Beyond the Words | Mark 11 – YouTube (00:19:49)
- 29. Jesus Prophet & Provocateur [Matthew] – Tim Mackie (The Bible Project) – YouTube (00:50:46)
Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):
-
- Read the main passage and related passages above.
Lesson 4: The Authority of Jesus Questioned
Main text and related passages:
- Matthew 21:23-27 – Bible Gateway
Checkout the following:
Topics to explore:
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- What was John the Baptist’s message?
- Where was the authority behind John’s baptism?
- What was the relationship between John’s baptism and Jesus’ ministry?
Additional resources to check out:
-
- Matthew for Everyone, Part 2 (The New Testament for Everyone) by Tom Wright – Amazon.com
Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):
-
- Read the main passage and related passages above.
Lesson 5: The Parable of the Two Sons
Main text and related passages:
- Matthew 21:28-32 – Bible Gateway
- Parable of the Lost Son – Luke 15:11-32
Checkout the following:
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- Watch: How to Read the Parables of Jesus Video | BibleProject™ (00:05:42)
Topics to explore:
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- Who is Jesus’ audience for this passage?
- Whom does the first son represent?
- Whom does the second son represent?
- What did this parable mean to Jesus’ audience?
- What does this parable mean to us today?
Additional resources to check out:
-
- Matthew for Everyone, Part 2 (The New Testament for Everyone) by Tom Wright – Amazon.com
Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):
-
- Read the main passage and related passages above.
Lesson 6: The Parable of the Tenants
Main text and related passages:
- Matthew 21:33-46 – Bible Gateway
- Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19
- Psalm 80 (especially vs. 8-16)
- Isaiah 5:1-7 – Song of the Vineyard
Checkout the following:
-
- Watch: How to Read the Parables of Jesus Video | BibleProject™ (00:05:42)
Topics to explore:
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- Based on Psalm 80 and Isaiah 5, what would a story about a vineyard bring to mind for Jesus’ audience?
- Who are the farmers to whom the owner rented the vineyard?
- Who are the servants that the owner sent to collects fruit?
- Who is the son that the owner sent to collect his fruit?
- Who are the new tenants who will be renting the vineyard.
Additional resources to check out:
-
- Matthew for Everyone, Part 2 (The New Testament for Everyone) by Tom Wright – Amazon.com
- 30. Love Poems, Vineyards, & Rocks [Matthew] – Tim Mackie (The Bible Project) – YouTube (00:48:57)
Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):
-
- Read the main passage and related passages above.
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