Matthew 21:1-3…Ready

Matthew 21:1-3…Ready

21:1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, (Bethany-(Mark 11:1)-Bethany was where some of Jesus’ friend’s Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus lived. Was also where Jesus and His disciples frequently visited and spent the night) and at once, you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, (Imagine the disciples thinking, of course they’re going to say something, we’re stealing a donkey-(New)  tell him that the Lord needs them, (Sounds like an oxymoron, “The Lord has need” Like when does God need anything? God as a non-contingent being. One essential part of God’s being is that He is independent, who doesn’t need anyone or anything.) and he will send them right away.” (For Complete Expository See Book)

Extended Sermons

“Displays Christs sovereign & complete control over all things. (A God this accurate is a God you can trust!)”⇒ This should encourage and comfort us in knowing that God is control of all things. Even in the mundane things of life, there’s divine planning going on in which God is directing and orchestrating everything. Even when things don’t go to plan we have a God who is working out all things for our good and His glory. When we know that every event, encounter, and challenge is part of a larger, divinely crafted plan, we are filled with a trust. Which allows us to worship God even in the difficulties of life when things are not going well. It teaches us to rely on God’s wisdom and timing, knowing that He is meticulously arranging every detail for our ultimate benefit and His glory. This  also makes us think. If Jesus knows exactly every detail in advance, the timing, the people, the place, etc. How much does He knows in advance what’s ahead of us and what we’re going to need.

“Displays Jesus’s work of untying and setting us free from the things that keep us from worshiping & serving Him. ” ⇒ What part of your life needs untying. Maybe your tied up in sin, maybe your tied up in addiction, tied up in a bad relationship, tied up in self-righteousness, tied up in worthlessness, Jesus can free you. We are all bound by something, a sin, a struggle, yet with Jesus there is always a way to be loosed from it. Just as the Lord had this donkey untied to use for His divine purpose, He wants to untie and use you as well. Perhaps you feel entangled in problems, burdened by weaknesses, or ensnared by sin, know that God can still use you. So whatever ropes that are tied right now that’s holding you back from serving Jesus will you allow Him to loosen them?  (Notice the donkey which is the most stubborn and non-compliant in this story. Is the most compliant.)

“Displays the gracious invitation of the Lord, though He doesn’t need anything, He still employs us in His work” ⇒ You would think Jesus as God doesn’t need anyone or anything. And He certainly wouldn’t need a donkey. And even if He did, He could have just went “Puff” and an instant donkey. But yet He still chooses to use the disciples to fulfill prophecy. Disciples who are still blinded to who He truly is. Who are still unable to surrender their skewed perspective. Who are still ignorant and slow to learn from the best teacher, preacher and expositor in the world. Who are still fighting over seats of authority. Who are still fighting over who’s the greatest in the Kingdom. And even with all of that, the Lord Jesus doesn’t disqualify them, but still invites them and sends therm. How much more should that encourage us in knowing, even when we haven’t fully grasped the significance in serving Jesus. Even when we wrestle with the truth. Even when we’re weak and struggle in our walk. Christ doesn’t sideline us or put us on the shelf. He’s still willing to use us. He’s still willing to use us in touching the lives of other people for His name sake. He’s still willing to show His glory in us and through us. What grace we see, though God can get along just fine without us. He doesn’t need our efforts, our money or our ministry. Yet He uses the likes of you and me. He has graciously chosen to involve us and make us part of His plan!

“Calls for trusting in the Lord’s instruction and direction even if   we don’t see it or understand it.” ⇒ Notices how the disciples didn’t argue, they didn’t ask questions, they didn’t say “What!”  “You want us to get a donkey?” they just obeyed. And that’s the same kind of faith that we need as well. Just as the disciples followed Jesus’ commands without hesitation, we too must learn to trust in His divine wisdom and providence. no matter how odd, strange, puzzling, or out of character the request is.

“Teaches how those who are given over to the Lordship of Christ  will swiftly, readily, and joyfully surrender all to Him.” → What about you and I when it comes to the commands of Jesus? Are we not a little bit more hesitant with some of them? This challenges us to examine our own responsiveness to the Lord’s direction—are we willing to surrender quickly and wholeheartedly, or do we hesitate and rationalize His commands? Do we delay obedience with excuses? Maybe there something in your life that God has been pressing on your heart and you know it’s from Him, you saw it His Word, but your still delaying and resisting it. Wile the disciples responded with immediate obedience, we often find ourselves questioning, delaying, or trying to reason our way around what God asks of us. Yet, in recognizing this hesitation, there lies an invitation to trust more deeply and to cultivate the kind of faith that acts without reservation. As we ponder our own willingness to follow, we are reminded that Jesus’ commands are never arbitrary; His guidance is purposeful and filled with love. When we choose to respond with promptness and trust, even when the request stretches us or seems mysterious, we open ourselves to experience the fullness of His plans and the comfort of knowing that every step is under His sovereign direction.

“Even today, Jesus’ Sovereign involvement can be a source of comfort and encouragement when facing decisions about marriage, work, school, ministry, etc. That the Lord is in control, meticulously guiding each step down to the smallest details. Preparing the way before of us for whatever may be needed ” → Jesus’ purposeful actions remind us that God is intimately involved in the direction of our lives, orchestrating circumstances with precision. This insight encourages us to trust in God’s guidance, knowing that just as Jesus prepared every step with care, we can rely on His wisdom and sovereignty as we seek direction in our own journeys.

Additional Notes & Applications

Illustrates not all of Jesus’ disciples serve the Lord in the same way. God has specific missions and ministries for each of us. (Twelve were called and only two were chosen)  (V. 1)

Teaches when Jesus calls and Jesus sends, we can be assured it’s going to work out because He is in it!

Teaches how we can expect divine intervention to show up at the right time and the right place when we need it most.

Teaches how nothing should be too dear to part with in our service for the Lord!

Teaches anything you place in the Lord’s hands, no matter how small or insignificant, He can bless it and use it.

Teaches when you do what the Lord asks and what He has provided you, His will gets done, one way or another. Our obedience is the success no matter the outcome.

Reminds believers if we’re ever blessed it’s not because we earned it or deserved it. It’s because the Lord arranged it.

Teaches how Jesus will always give us the right words to ease any tension and misunderstanding.

Displays how every creation of God has a unique and meaningful purpose. Each person and creature is important to God. Even a donkey plays an important role.

Displays what the Lord predicts will play out exactly as He says.

Teaches when we go out in the name and reputation of the Lord it will succeed.

Teaches when you plan things correctly people will know exactly what your trying to accomplish.

Teaches how we need to be accessible and usable whenever God has need of us.  We have to be at the right place and the right time when God is moving.

Calls for stepping out on faith in being supportive in whatever the Lord and the Church needs.

This is not saying that we can start borrowing things in Jesus’ name and then return them when we want.

Notice how Jesus didn’t give any insight to the disciples. He’s not saying guys, don’t worry. I arranged everything for you.

Jesus’ choice of a donkey is not just to match the prophetic vehicle, but to fulfill the prophetic promise of a type of messianic king. It’s like driving up in a red car, not only because a red car was prophesied, but also because a red car is not a tank.

Some think that Jesus is using a Jewish tradition known as “angaria”. Which permitted forced labor or the relinquishing/seizure of someone else’s property for government or military use. A right that belonged solely to Royalty. And it was permitted by law for necessary and legitimate purposes only. And therefore Jesus knew this and used it. Thereby exorcising His right as The King. Also confirmed by the fact that Jesus told His disciples that if anyone asks tell them that their “Lord” has need of it. The word “Lord” has multiple meanings, depending on how it is spelled. Must times it’s meant in the sense of Sir, Master,  Superior, Governor, etc. And that’s the way the owner of the donkey understood it, making him obligated under law to release his donkey to the service of a King  Therefor Jesus is stating, not only is He Royalty, but He is The King, The Sovereign One Himself.