45 Days To Read The Gospel Challenge – The Gospel of Matthew Chapter 21: My house shall be called the house of prayer,

 

Overview of The Gospel of Matthew

The Gospel of Matthew was written by the apostle Matthew, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. Matthew was a former tax collector, called by Jesus to follow Him. His Gospel is believed to have been written between 50-70 AD, and it is the first book in the New Testament, even though it may not have been the first Gospel written.

Matthew’s account emphasizes that Jesus is the promised Messiah and King, fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies.

Matthew’s Gospel begins with a genealogy that traces Jesus’ lineage back to Abraham and King David, highlighting Jesus’ royal and Jewish heritage. It then moves into the story of Jesus’ miraculous birth, His baptism by John the Baptist, and the start of His ministry.

Mary and her husband Joseph were both from the lineage of King David.  Matthew 1:17  “So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.”  Matthew tells of a prophetic word that told of Jesus’ birth.  

Matthew 1:23  “Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”  It is interesting to note that Joseph wanted to divorce Mary quietly because of her pregnancy.  But an angel came to him and verified that Mary was pregnant by the Holy Ghost.  Therefore, Joseph stayed married to Mary and did not consummate the marriage until Jesus Christ was born. 

Note: Jesus Christ is a name translated in the English versions. It is accepted by God. For this purpose these studies are on the English speaking version.   Philippians 2:9 KJV  “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name:”  There are many names people call Jesus but it is only one name to be saved by. If you mispronounce other names (thinking that is the original name) then you are not calling on the Lord. 

It is known that what we pronounce today is not the way it was pronounced then.  Develop a personal relationship with the Lord and you will know he answers to the name name  Jesus Christ (the blood sacrifice).  He is the God of the living.  Psalms 100:3 KJV ³ Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

The Gospel of Matthew is known for including many of Jesus’ key teachings, such as the Sermon on the Mount, where He teaches about love, humility, prayer, and the Kingdom of God. Throughout the Gospel, Jesus performs miracles, heals the sick, and casts out demons, showing His divine authority.

Matthew also places a strong emphasis on Jesus’ role as a teacher and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. He frequently references the Scriptures to show how Jesus’ life and mission align with what was foretold about the Messiah. The Gospel also includes Jesus’ parables, teachings on discipleship, and warnings about the final judgment.

The story of Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and resurrection is the heart of the Gospel. Matthew ends with the Great Commission, where Jesus commands His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, spreading the message of salvation.

In summary, the Gospel of Matthew presents Jesus as the promised Messiah, the fulfillment of God’s promises, and the King of all nations, whose life, death, and resurrection bring salvation to the world.

Note From Editor: The name “Jesus Christ” is an English translation, and it is accepted by God. Philippians 2:9 KJV  says, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.”

People call Jesus by many praise names, but only one name is called upon for salvation by English speaking people and that is Jesus Christ. If you mispronounce other names thinking they are the original, you might not be calling on the Lord.

Language has changed over time, but when you have a personal relationship with Jesus, you will know that the name  Jesus Christ, the Savior is accepted by God.  The Holy spirit bears witness. Jesus gave His life for us.  Psalm 100:3 reminds us, “Know ye that the Lord, He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.” 

 

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45 Days To Read The Gospel Challenge – The Gospel of Matthew Chapter 21:  My house shall be called the house of prayer

 

 

OVERVIEW OF  THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

In Matthew 21, students will learn about key events in Jesus’ public ministry, including His prophetic entry into Jerusalem, His cleansing of the temple, and His powerful teachings.

This chapter highlights Jesus’ authority, the importance of faith, and the consequences of rejecting God’s message.

Through parables and actions, Jesus teaches His followers about obedience, humility, and the power of faith, while warning against hypocrisy and unbelief. By studying these events, students will gain a deeper understanding of Jesus’ role as the Messiah and His call to live a life of faith and service.

By the end of this lesson, students will understand Jesus’ authority, His teachings on faith, humility, and obedience, and the consequences of rejecting God’s message.

Jesus drives the traders out of the temple and declares that the house of the Lord is a house of prayer.  ¹²And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, ¹³And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Note Some bible translations write “My house is a place of prayer and worship”.

Jesus cursed a fig tree.  In the morning, Jesus was hungry and saw a fig tree that had no fruit. He told the tree it will never bear fruit again.  The tree withered and died. The disciples marveled at the power Jesus displayed.   

Matthew 21: 21-22 KJV  , ²¹Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. ²²And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Jesus silences those who question his authority.  The chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things?  Jesus asked did they believe the baptism of John the Baptist was of heaven or man?

They were afraid to say of heaven because then they would have to confess Jesus was of heaven.  If they said, “from man” the crowd would get mad as they loved and accepted John the Baptist as a great prophet from God.  Because they would not answer Jesus, he would not tell them whose authority he spoke and performed miracles.  Jesus knew they did not believe or did not want to believe.

Note: A lot of people today know that God is real and Jesus is salvation but because of customs or religious beliefs, they won’t accept his gift of salvation and teachings. 

The parable of the two sons –  This is the story of two sons, one said he would not do what his father said, but repented and did what he asked. The second, said he would do what his father asked but did not do it? 

Note: It is the ones who believe, repent AND do the will of God that will go to heaven. 

The parable of the wicked husbandmen. A man with a vineyard rented it out for parts of the fruits.  When the harvest came he sent servants to collect. They beat, stoned, and killed the servants.  The owner sent his son. They killed him for his inheritance. 

The owner will miserably destroy those wicked men and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.  Matthew 21: 43-45 KJV ⁴³Therefore say I (Jesus) unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.  ⁴⁵And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them.

 

Time: 35 minutes to complete lesson: 20 minutes to read the entire post and take the interactive quiz, additional 15 minutes to view video resource and comment on social media.

 

Objectives for  Chapter 21 -The Gospel of Matthew.  What you will learn:

You will understand the significance of Jesus’ public entry into Jerusalem and how it fulfills prophecy.

You will learn why Jesus drove the traders out of the temple and what it teaches about the sanctity of God’s house.

You will explore the reason Jesus cursed the fig tree and the lesson it holds about faith and fruitfulness.

You will learn how Jesus responded to those who questioned His authority and what it reveals about their unbelief.

You will discover the meanings behind the Parable of the Two Sons and the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen, and their teachings on obedience and rejection of God’s messengers.

 

Outline for Chapter 21 of the Gospel of  Matthew 

   1.  Jesus’ public entry into Jerusalem.

   2.  He drives the traders out of the temple;

   3.  Jesus cursed a fig tree;

   4.  Jesus silences those who question his authority.

   5.  The parable of the two sons and of the wicked husbandmen.

 

 

Reflection and Discussion: Something to think about.

Many people love God butd obey him sometimes which means they do not fear God.

Can you think of changes you might need to make in your life to fully obey, fear, and love God?

 

 

Resources For This Lesson

Click here for the King James Bible version in the text (pdf), mobile viewing on the web (KJV), YouTube audio, and video (Total time: 9 min.)  Part One,  and Part Two 

 

See “Chapter 21 Highlights” below for scriptures and help with the quiz. If needed, refresh the screen to retake the quiz.

 

 

 

Highlights  Objectives for  Chapter 21 -The Gospel of Matthew.  What you will learn:

1.  You will learn of Jesus’ public entry into Jerusalem: fulfilling another prophecy.  Matthew 21: 1- 11 KJV

¹And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

²Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 

³And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them, and straightway he will send them.

 ⁴All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 

⁵Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 

⁶And the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them,

⁷And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

⁸And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

⁹And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

¹⁰And when he came into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

¹¹And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. 

 

 

 2.  You will learn why Jesus drives the traders out of the temple.

¹²And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 

¹³And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves.

¹⁴And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 

¹⁵And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,

 ¹⁶And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? 

¹⁷And he left them and went out of the city into Bethany, and he lodged there.

 

 

3.  You will learn why Jesus cursed a fig tree.

¹⁸Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. 

¹⁹And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

²⁰And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

²¹Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 

²²And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

 

 

   4.  You will learn how Jesus silences those who question his authority.

²³And when he came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

²⁴And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 

²⁵The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? 

²⁶But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

²⁷And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. 

 

 

  5.  You will learn the meaning of the parable of the two sons and of the wicked husbandmen.

Two sons:  ²⁸But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. 

²⁹He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 

³⁰And he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 

³¹Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 

³²For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Note: It is the ones who believe, repent AND do the will of God that will go to heaven.  Matthew 7:21 KJV  “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

 

 

6.  The parable of the wicked husbandmen

³³Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and dug a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: 

³⁴And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

 ³⁵And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 

³⁶Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. 

³⁷But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 

³⁸But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

³⁹And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. 

⁴⁰When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 

⁴¹They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 

⁴²Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?

 ⁴³Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 

⁴⁴And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever, it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

⁴⁵And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them.  

⁴⁶But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

 

Interactive Quiz

 

 

 

 

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Call to salvation:

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Romans 10:9-10  9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. 

John 3:5-6  5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is the Spirit.