V1-7 – Jesus sends two of his disciples ahead for an assignment, to get an instrument He will use to enter Jerusalem and because He is God, He already knows what the future will be and He therefore knows that the donkey will be there. He knows that what is needed for him is already there and when anyone was to ask, the disciples only had to say “The Lord needs them.” And that person who asked will let them have the donkey and the colt.
Meaning that the person/owner will or would willingly give the donkey to be used by the Lord.
There are so many things that the Lord needs of us and at times, our willingness to give when we are just given the answer “The Lord needs it” is usually not there. I need to let go when the Lord says He needs my donkey. He needs to use it so that many others may see the light and life that can only be found in Him.
What a privilege it is when the Lord says He needs something of mine for ministry. What a privilege to serve the King of Kings. My heart must willingly give. Whether finances, time, care, prayer for others and for the Kingdom, my heart, my skills and abilities, anything and everything! He needs it and I must willingly give it because it is such a privilege to serve him.
Failing to willingly give it means that I don’t see or really truly understand what a privilege it is to serve Him and to please Him. He owns the cattle on a thousand Hills and everything belongs to Him and therefore He can do anything. When the Lord needs something of us, we must willingly give it because it simply is a very great privilege for Him to want to use the very things He gave us.
He is looking for willingness. A heart that freely gives. Not out of obligation but out of love for Him and a great understanding of who He is.
V8-11 – The theme of willingness continues here. But it’s not just willingness, its joyful rejoicing willingness.
Most of the crowd was delighted to lay down their garments for Him and others cut branches and laid them down. They also sang great praises to God.
Hallelujah! I want to joyfully and willingly serve the King, laying down my garments for Him.
V12-13 – Jesus knocks over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of the people selling doves and says that the scripture declares that the temple has been turned into a den of thieves.
It is important to note that the Lord was not condemning the selling of the animals required for sacrifice in itself. No, this was a common practice in the temple where people bought the animals needed for sacrifice. But Jesus here implies that there were unfair practices in the selling that were stealing from people. They had turned the temple into a place where they come to maybe charge extreme prices or engage in other unlawful practices just so that they could get more money.
They were coming to negatively profit financially from the Church. They were not coming to serve and worship the Lord. This is a dangerous place where we can easily find ourselves… loving money, power and positions etc.
Guard your heart!
Proverbs 4:23 Living Bible – Above all else, guard your affections. For they influence everything else in your life.
V14-17 – The blind and the lame were healed by Jesus but the leading priests and the teachers of religious law were resentful about it.
Jesus was doing exactly what needed to be done. Healing the people and setting them free but these people were burning with jealousy. Why would they be jealous? Instead of joyfully receiving him who is able to save their souls and heal them of their diseases, they are angry at Him. This is a clear sign of hard hearts. Their hearts are hardened by sin such that they cannot even realize who is in their midst.
They are even angry that the children are singing praises to God. These people were jealous of God? They were stubborn and unrepentant, stirring up God’s anger against them,
Romans 2:5 NIV -But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.
John 12:40 NIV – “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.”
Oh, that my heart would not be stubborn against He who is able to save me. That I would not be jealous of God’s servants who are used of the Lord to declare his praises. I pray that my heart will be broken before the Lord, ready to hear from him and be corrected by Him. I pray that I will joyfully receive him, the King of Kings. In Jesus Name. Amen