Matthew 21

King James Version

Full text for Matthew Chapter 21

1¶ And 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.›

3‹And 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 was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

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

12¶ And 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.

18¶ Now 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 for ever.› And presently the fig tree withered away.

20And when the disciples saw [it], they marvelled, 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.›

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

23¶ And when he was come 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.›

25‹The 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.›

28¶ ‹But what think ye? A [certain] man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.›

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

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

31‹Whether 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.›

32‹For 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.›

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

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

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

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

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

38‹But 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.›

39‹And they caught him, and cast [him] out of the vineyard, and slew [him].›

40‹When 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 marvellous in our eyes?›

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

44‹And 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 spake of them.

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

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jesus enters Jerusalem triumphantly, acclaimed as the Son of David, fulfilling prophecy. He then cleanses the Temple, rebuking those who profaned it, and teaches on faith after cursing a barren fig tree. His authority is challenged by religious leaders, to whom he responds with the parables of the Two Sons and the Wicked Husbandmen, revealing their rejection of God's messengers and Son.

Medium Summary

Matthew 21 begins with Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey and colt, as crowds spread garments and branches, hailing Him as "Hosanna to the Son of David." Upon entering the city, Jesus cleanses the Temple, casting out merchants and moneychangers, declaring it a "den of thieves" instead of a "house of prayer." The next morning, He curses a fruitless fig tree, which immediately withers, teaching His disciples about the power of faith and prayer. When challenged by the chief priests and elders regarding His authority, Jesus responds with a counter-question about John the Baptist, which they refuse to answer. He then tells the parables of the Two Sons, highlighting obedience over mere profession, and the Wicked Husbandmen, foretelling the rejection of God's Son and the transfer of the kingdom.

Long Summary

Matthew 21 recounts Jesus' final approach to Jerusalem, beginning with His triumphal entry. From Bethphage, Jesus sends disciples to fetch an ass and a colt, fulfilling the prophecy that Sion's King would come meekly, riding upon a donkey. A great multitude spreads their garments and tree branches in the way, crying "Hosanna to the Son of David," causing the entire city to be stirred, asking, "Who is this?" The crowds identify Him as "Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." Immediately following, Jesus enters the Temple of God and forcefully casts out all who bought and sold there, overturning the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those selling doves. He declares, "My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." In the Temple, He also heals the blind and the lame, further provoking the chief priests and scribes who were displeased by His actions and the children's continued cries of "Hosanna." Jesus defends the children's praise by quoting scripture, then retires to Bethany for the night. Returning to Jerusalem the next morning, Jesus, being hungry, curses a fig tree that bore only leaves and no fruit, causing it to wither instantly. This event prompts Him to teach His disciples about the power of faith, assuring them that with unwavering belief, they could perform even greater miracles and receive whatever they ask in prayer. Later in the Temple, the chief priests and elders confront Jesus, demanding to know by what authority He performed these things. Jesus skillfully deflects their challenge by asking them about the source of John's baptism, a question they refuse to answer for fear of the people. Consequently, Jesus declines to reveal His authority to them. He then presents two parables: first, the Parable of the Two Sons, illustrating that those who initially refuse God's call but later repent (like publicans and harlots) will enter the kingdom before those who profess obedience but do not act (like the religious leaders). Second, the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen describes a householder who sends servants and finally his own son to his vineyard, only for the husbandmen to beat, kill, and stone them, ultimately slaying the son to seize his inheritance. Jesus concludes by quoting the scripture about the rejected stone becoming the head of the corner, explicitly stating that the kingdom of God would be taken from them and given to a nation bringing forth its fruits. The chief priests and Pharisees understood these parables were directed at them but feared the multitude, who regarded Jesus as a prophet.

Core Concepts

  • Triumphal EntryJesus' deliberate entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy (Zechariah 9:9), where He is hailed by multitudes as "Hosanna to the Son of David," signifying His messianic claim and the people's recognition.
  • Cleansing of the TempleJesus' forceful expulsion of merchants and moneychangers from the Temple courts, condemning their commercial activities as turning God's "house of prayer" into a "den of thieves," asserting His divine authority over the sacred space.
  • Faith and PrayerDemonstrated through the cursing of the fig tree, which immediately withered, Jesus teaches His disciples that unwavering faith allows them to perform great works and that believing prayer will result in receiving what is asked.
  • Challenged AuthorityThe chief priests and elders question Jesus' authority to perform His actions, but Jesus skillfully evades their trap by posing a question about John the Baptist's authority, exposing their hypocrisy and fear of the people.
  • Parable of the Two SonsThis parable illustrates the difference between outward profession and true obedience, showing that those who initially refuse God's call but later repent (like publicans) are more righteous than those who profess willingness but fail to act (like the religious leaders).
  • Parable of the Wicked HusbandmenA vivid allegory where the householder represents God, the vineyard Israel, the servants prophets, and the son Jesus. It foretells the rejection and murder of God's Son by the religious leaders, leading to the transfer of the kingdom to others.
  • The Rejected CornerstoneJesus quotes Psalm 118:22-23, identifying Himself as the "stone which the builders rejected" but which God has made "the head of the corner," signifying His essential role in God's plan despite the leaders' opposition.