QT 01/03/2026 Sun. Matthew 21. Responses To The King 对君王的不同回应

QT 01/03/2026 Sun. Matthew 21. Responses To The King
READ http://www.esv.org/matthew21

The King Has Come — How Will We Respond? Matthew 21 marks the beginning of Passion Week (the week of Jesus’ trial, crucifixion and death). The King enters Jerusalem — not to seize a throne, but to go to a cross. The chapter confronts us with one central question: How will we respond to Jesus the King?

(1) The Humble King Enters (21:1–11)

Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy of Book of Zechariah 9:9 — a King coming gentle and mounted on a donkey. The crowds shout:

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 21:9)

They recognise Him as Messiah — but their expectations are political and immediate. They want deliverance from Rome. Jesus comes to deliver from sin. He does not enter on a war horse, but in humility. The King comes, but not as we expect.

Application: Do we welcome Jesus on His terms, or only when He fits our agenda?

(2) The Holy King Cleanses (21:12–17)

Jesus enters the temple and drives out the money changers:

“My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you make it a den of robbers.” (Matthew 21:13)

The temple had become a marketplace. Worship had become profit-driven. Religion had become external. Jesus cleanses what belongs to God. Yet notice: after clearing the temple, He heals the blind and the lame. Judgment and mercy stand side by side. The children cry out, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” but the religious leaders are indignant. Indeed, the humble see Him. The proud resist Him.

Application: When Jesus confronts what is corrupt in our hearts, do we resist Him — or welcome His cleansing?

(3) The Fruitless Tree and Fruitless Faith (21:18–22)

Jesus curses a fig tree that has leaves but no fruit. It is a living parable. Leaves without fruit represent outward religion without inward reality. Israel had activity, ceremony, and tradition — but no true faith.

God desires fruit — repentance, faith, obedience. It is possible to look alive and be spiritually barren.

Application: Is there real fruit in our lives, or only religious appearance?

(4) Authority Questioned (21:23–27)

The chief priests challenge Jesus:

“By what authority are you doing these things?” (Matthew 21:23)

They are not seeking truth — they are protecting power. Jesus exposes their spiritual blindness. The real issue is not lack of evidence but unwillingness to submit. When hearts are hardened, no answer will suffice.

(5) Two Sons, Wicked Tenants, Rejected Stone (21:28–46)

Jesus tells three parables that intensify the warning.

Firstly, the parable of “The Two Sons” (Matthew 21:28–32). One says “no” but obeys. The other says “yes” but does not go. Tax collectors and prostitutes — the obvious sinners — repented and entered the kingdom ahead of religious leaders who gave lip service but no obedience.

Secondly, the parable of “The Wicked Tenants” (Matthew 21:33–41). The tenants reject and kill the landowner’s son. Jesus is clearly pointing to His coming crucifixion. The Son will be rejected.

Thirdly, the parable of “The Rejected Stone”. Quoting Psalms 118:22, Jesus declares: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (Matthew 21:42). Rejection does not thwart God’s plan. It fulfills it. The leaders understand He is speaking about them — and instead of repenting, they seek to arrest Him.

Final Reflection

Matthew 21 reveals four responses to Jesus:

• The crowd praises but misunderstands.
• The merchants exploit.
• The leaders resist.
• The humble believe and cry “Hosanna.”

The King has come. He comes in humility. He cleanses in holiness. He demands fruit.
He will be rejected — yet become the cornerstone. The question is not whether Jesus has authority. The question is whether we will submit to it.

Let us not be all leaves and no fruit. Let us not say “yes” with our lips and “no” with our lives. Let us receive the King — not just with shouts on Sunday, but with surrendered hearts every day. Hosanna — save us now, Lord.

QT 01/03/2026 星期日. 马太福音 21 对君王的不同回应
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/mat/21/

君王已来临——我们当如何回应？马太福音21章标志着受难周的开始（耶稣受审、受难与死亡的一周）。君王进入耶路撒冷——不是为夺取王位，而是走向十字架。本章向我们提出核心问题：我们将如何回应君王耶稣？

(1) 谦卑君王的进入（21:1-11）

耶稣骑着驴进入耶路撒冷，应验了《撒迦利亚书》9:9的预言——一位温顺的君王骑着驴而来。人群高呼：

‘和散那’归于大卫的子孙，奉主名来的是应当称颂的，高天之上当唱‘和散那’。（马太福音21:9）

他们认出祂是弥赛亚——但期待却是政治性的、即时的。他们渴望从罗马统治下得释放。耶稣来是要使人脱离罪恶。祂并非骑着战马而来，而是以谦卑之姿降临。君王降临，却非我们所期待的模样。

应用：我们是否按祂的条件接纳耶稣？还是只在祂符合我们计划时才接纳？

(2) 圣洁君王洁净圣殿（21:12-17）

耶稣进入圣殿驱逐兑换银钱的人：

又对他们说：“经上记着：‘我的殿要称为祷告的殿。’你们竟把它弄成贼窝了。”（马太福音21:13）

圣殿沦为市集，敬拜沦为牟利，宗教沦为外在形式。耶稣洁净了属于上帝的圣所。然而请注意：驱逐圣殿商贩后，祂随即医治了瞎子和瘸子。审判与怜悯并行不悖。孩童高呼 “大卫之子，和散那！”，宗教领袖却满心愤慨。诚然，谦卑者看见祂，骄傲者抵挡祂。

应用：当耶稣直面我们心中的败坏时，我们是抵挡祂——还是迎接祂的洁净？

(3) 无果的树与无果的信心（21:18-22）

耶稣咒诅那长叶不结果的无花果树。这是活生生的比喻。无果的叶子象征着外在宗教形式却缺乏内在实质。以色列人有活动、仪式和传统——却没有真实的信心。

神渴求的是果子——悔改、信心、顺服。人可能看似活着，实则属灵枯竭。

应用：我们生命中有真实果子吗？还是仅有宗教外表？

(4) 权柄受质疑（21:23-27）

祭司长质问耶稣：“你凭什么权柄作这些事？谁给你这权柄？”（马太福音21:23）

他们并非寻求真理，而是守护权柄。耶稣揭露了他们的属灵瞎眼。症结不在于缺乏证据，而在于拒绝顺服。当人心刚硬时，任何答案都无济于事。

(5) 两个儿子、恶毒的租户、被弃的石头（21:28–46）

耶稣用三个比喻强化警告。

首先是《两个儿子》的比喻（马太福音21:28-32）。一个口头拒绝却照做了，另一个口头答应却没有去。税吏和娼妓——这些明显的罪人——悔改后进入天国，却比那些口是心非、毫无顺服之心的宗教领袖更早进入。

其次是《恶劣的租户的比喻》（马太福音21:33-41）。园户们拒绝并杀害了地主的儿子。耶稣明确预示了自己即将遭遇的受难。圣子将被世人弃绝。

第三，“被弃的石头” 的比喻。耶稣引用诗篇118:22宣告：“经上记着：‘建筑工人所弃的石头，成了房角的主要石头”（马太福音21:42）。弃绝并未阻挠神的计划，反而成就了它。领袖们明白耶稣在指责他们——但他们非但不悔改，反而企图逮捕他。

最终反思

马太福音21章揭示了四种对耶稣的回应：

• 群众赞美却误解
• 商人榨取
• 领袖抵挡
• 谦卑者信靠并呼喊“和散那”

君王已降临。祂以谦卑降临，以圣洁洁净，要求结出果子。祂将被弃绝——却成为房角石。问题不在于耶稣是否有权柄，而在于我们是否顺服。

愿我们不作徒有枝叶却无果实的树。愿我们不口是心非。愿我们领受君王——不仅在主日欢呼，更要日日献上顺服的心。和散那——主啊，此刻拯救我们。