{Jesus rode along the road to Jerusalem.} Many people spread their coats on the road for Jesus. Other people cut branches from the trees and spread the branches on the road. Some of the people were walking ahead of Jesus. Other people were walking behind Jesus. The people shouted, "Praise to the Son of David! 'Welcome! God bless the One that comes in the name of the Lord!' Praise to God in heaven!" Then Jesus went into Jerusalem. All the people in the city were confused. They asked, "Who is this man?" The many people following Jesus answered, "This man is Jesus. He is the prophet from the town of Nazareth in Galilee."
—Matthew 21:8-11
Key Thought
"Hosanna! Hosanna! Hail Son of David!"
This is a crowd looking for a king, a hero, a conqueror. Because they don't know the real identity of Jesus, it doesn't matter that they cry "Hosanna" to the one they call Son of David. They also call him a prophet and know he is from Nazareth. In other words, they want a savior who fits their description, who fulfills their needs, and meets their demands. Like Peter and the apostles earlier, they can't see their savior going to a cross. But God's Son of David does and brings salvation.
What kind of Savior do we want Jesus to be? He is our Savior who went to the cross for our sins and who calls us to the cross to share his life and grace with others.
Today's Prayer
Father, I confess my selfishness to you. I know I often look to you to fix my messes, forgive my sins, undo my mistakes, and correct my errors. Please forgive me. Deep down, I don't want you, or Jesus, to be my "errand boy." I want to be your servant, yielded to your will, empowered by your Spirit, and buoyed by your grace. Help me keep in balance a deep appreciation for your grace while joyfully living under the Lordship of Jesus. I pray in the name of Jesus, Son of David and my Savior. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
"The kingdom of heaven is like a man that owned some land. The man grew grapes on his land. One morning, the man went out very early to hire some other people to work in his field. The man agreed to pay the workers one silver coin for working that day. Then the man sent the people into the field to work. "At about nine o'clock the man went to the market place and saw some other people standing there. These people were doing nothing. So the man said to them, 'If you go and work in my field, I will pay you what your work is worth.' So the people went to work in the field. "The man went out again about twelve o'clock and again at three o'clock. Both times the man hired some other people to work in his field. At about five o'clock the man went to the market place again. He saw some other people standing there. The man asked them, 'Why did you stand here all day doing nothing?' "The people said, 'No person gave us a job.' "The man said to them, 'Then you can go and work in my field.' "At the end of the day, the owner of the field said to the boss of all the workers, 'Call the workers and pay all of them. Start by paying the last people I hired. Then pay all of them, ending with the workers I hired first.' "The workers that were hired at five o'clock came to get their pay. Each worker got one silver coin. Then those workers that were hired first came to get their pay. Those workers thought they would be paid more than the other workers. But each one of those workers also received one silver coin. When they got their silver coin, these workers complained to the man that owned the land.Matthew 20:1-11
Related Scripture Readings
— Matt. 1:1, 16-17
When Jesus and his followers were leaving Jericho, many, many people followed Jesus. There were two blind men sitting by the road. The blind men heard that Jesus was coming by. So the blind men shouted, "Lord, Son of David, please help us!" All the people criticized the blind men. They told the blind men not to speak. But the blind men shouted more and more, "Lord, Son of David, please help us!" Jesus stopped and said to the blind men, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind men answered, "Lord, we want to be able to see." — Matthew 20:29-33
Surely you have read what God said to you about the rising from death? God said, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. ' {If God said he is their God, then} these men are not really dead. He is the God only of living people." All the people heard this. They were amazed at Jesus' teaching. The Pharisees learned that Jesus told the Sadducees things they could not argue with. So the Pharisees met together. — Matthew 22:31-34
Ⓒ 1996-2017 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.
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—Matthew 21:8-11
Key Thought
"Hosanna! Hosanna! Hail Son of David!"
This is a crowd looking for a king, a hero, a conqueror. Because they don't know the real identity of Jesus, it doesn't matter that they cry "Hosanna" to the one they call Son of David. They also call him a prophet and know he is from Nazareth. In other words, they want a savior who fits their description, who fulfills their needs, and meets their demands. Like Peter and the apostles earlier, they can't see their savior going to a cross. But God's Son of David does and brings salvation.
What kind of Savior do we want Jesus to be? He is our Savior who went to the cross for our sins and who calls us to the cross to share his life and grace with others.
Today's Prayer
Father, I confess my selfishness to you. I know I often look to you to fix my messes, forgive my sins, undo my mistakes, and correct my errors. Please forgive me. Deep down, I don't want you, or Jesus, to be my "errand boy." I want to be your servant, yielded to your will, empowered by your Spirit, and buoyed by your grace. Help me keep in balance a deep appreciation for your grace while joyfully living under the Lordship of Jesus. I pray in the name of Jesus, Son of David and my Savior. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
"The kingdom of heaven is like a man that owned some land. The man grew grapes on his land. One morning, the man went out very early to hire some other people to work in his field. The man agreed to pay the workers one silver coin for working that day. Then the man sent the people into the field to work. "At about nine o'clock the man went to the market place and saw some other people standing there. These people were doing nothing. So the man said to them, 'If you go and work in my field, I will pay you what your work is worth.' So the people went to work in the field. "The man went out again about twelve o'clock and again at three o'clock. Both times the man hired some other people to work in his field. At about five o'clock the man went to the market place again. He saw some other people standing there. The man asked them, 'Why did you stand here all day doing nothing?' "The people said, 'No person gave us a job.' "The man said to them, 'Then you can go and work in my field.' "At the end of the day, the owner of the field said to the boss of all the workers, 'Call the workers and pay all of them. Start by paying the last people I hired. Then pay all of them, ending with the workers I hired first.' "The workers that were hired at five o'clock came to get their pay. Each worker got one silver coin. Then those workers that were hired first came to get their pay. Those workers thought they would be paid more than the other workers. But each one of those workers also received one silver coin. When they got their silver coin, these workers complained to the man that owned the land.Matthew 20:1-11
Related Scripture Readings
— Matt. 1:1, 16-17
When Jesus and his followers were leaving Jericho, many, many people followed Jesus. There were two blind men sitting by the road. The blind men heard that Jesus was coming by. So the blind men shouted, "Lord, Son of David, please help us!" All the people criticized the blind men. They told the blind men not to speak. But the blind men shouted more and more, "Lord, Son of David, please help us!" Jesus stopped and said to the blind men, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind men answered, "Lord, we want to be able to see." — Matthew 20:29-33
Surely you have read what God said to you about the rising from death? God said, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. ' {If God said he is their God, then} these men are not really dead. He is the God only of living people." All the people heard this. They were amazed at Jesus' teaching. The Pharisees learned that Jesus told the Sadducees things they could not argue with. So the Pharisees met together. — Matthew 22:31-34
Ⓒ 1996-2017 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.
