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Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661
Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org
OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”
Nobleton Community Church
Date March 29, 2026
Text Matthew 21:1-17
Pastor Paul Lehmann
There are two events in this passage that I want to call to your attention this morning. The first is: “The Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem, and the second is what we sometimes call, “The Cleansing of the Temple.”
Jesus had often taught in Jerusalem, and people were also healed by his ministry there. There were always those who were curious, had heard about him, and wanted to see for themselves. But the people who were with him during this entrance to Jerusalem were probably mostly those who had been following him, perhaps even from Galilee. They had seen his miracles, listened to his teaching, and realized that “no one has ever taught like him.” He came into the city on his own terms, different than usual. Normally, he didn’t want to make a big splashy entrance. He didn’t even proclaim his Messiahship. When he healed people, he told them not to tell anyone. You would think that he would want everyone to know and be drawn to him, but in the early days of his ministry, it wasn’t the right time. Now it was, because it was the last week of his earthly life before he was crucified.
Usually, we have talked about how —- The Jews who were expecting the Messiah wanted a “King” who would lead them into battle against the Roman Government. Jesus always rejected this notion, and did everything the opposite of all the other, self-proclaimed Messiahs had done. Those were the “Zealots” who usually got themselves arrested.
Jesus didn’t ride into the city on a steed, a war horse, which would have indicated this kind of leader. He made preparations for a mild-mannered entry into Jerusalem. This was to fulfill the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9.
“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion, Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See your king come to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” This is showing Jesus’ meekness and an Anointed One of Peace. “In chapters 9-11 the prophet proclaims a king who is rejected.
Jesus sent his disciples to Bethphage, just a couple of miles up the road southeast of Jerusalem. Jesus demonstrated “a Word of Knowledge” about the location of the donkeys, and what the people would say when they saw them unhitching them. “Why are you doing this?” When the disciples told them “the Lord needs it,” it wasn’t just because of a past relationship, but rather, indicating his universal authority. His “Chief Proprietorship of all things,” as G. Campbell Morgan puts it. Some commentators have always said that he knew about this because he had probably made arrangements ahead of time with the people who lived there, or he knew simply because he was God, who is All Knowing. Now, neither of these explanations makes sense. When would Jesus have had a chance to arrange this ahead of time? He was always with his disciples and followers. He didn’t know because he was God, but because the Holy Spirit who was in him, revealed a “Word of Knowledge” which later on, after Pentecost, the gifts of the Spirit were made available to all believers. Otherwise, Jesus could have never said to his disciples that they would be able to do the things that he had done. They weren’t God.
So the disciples came back with the donkey and the colt of the donkey, and Matthew tells us that Jesus mounted both of them. Maybe, or maybe he mounted the colt, which wasn’t that small; it is just that he “had never been ridden.” Therefore, they brought the mother with them. Luke simply has him mounting a colt after the crowd threw their garments on it as well as on the path. Also, branches from the trees, and shouted: “Hosanna to the Son of David. BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD! Hosanna in the highest!”
This is nothing less than a declaration of his Messiahship. The Anointed One of God. This verse is one of the few places where the Gospels record that Jesus’ glory is recognized on earth. Jesus boldly declared himself as King, and the crowd gladly joined him. Most commentators say things like: “these same people would bow to political pressure and desert him in just a few days.” I personally believe that isn’t the case. These people were probably mostly Galileans and had been following him. They had seen his miracles and listened to his teaching, and now he is presenting himself as a king would, and they are delighted. When Jesus stands before Pilate, we read in Matthew 27:20 when he was trying to decide what to do with Jesus;…” the chief priests and elders PERSUADED the crowd to ask for Barabbas, and to have Jesus executed.” They shouted CRUCIFY HIM! It was a small vocal minority that stirred up the crowd. Maybe some did change their mind about Jesus, but I believe that if there were people who were praising him a few days before were weeping and saddened by what was happening. Some day, we may be faced with the same kind of influence against Jesus. Will you be influenced by people who are against him and have rejected him? Don’t be like the people who have been destroying our cities and trying to influence others to join them. We are seeing some things happen these days that are preparing us for the end times.
Now, before this entry to Jerusalem, Jesus often referred to himself as “The Son of Man.”
The title “the Son of Man” refers to Jesus and highlights the fact that He was a human being. This was vital in order that He could be a sacrifice in our place. It refers to the fact that Jesus was a perfect human. He, as God, came down and lived among us as the perfect human being. By doing this, He fulfilled the Law of Moses and did what no other human being was able to do. By using this title, He is identifying with the people He had come to save.
Jesus uses the term “the Son of Man” in reference to Himself 80 times in the gospels: 32 times in Matthew, 14 times in Mark, 26 times in Luke, and 10 times in John. Each gospel highlights different aspects of who Jesus is.
Matthew presents Jesus as the Messiah
Mark as the suffering servant
Luke as the Son of Man
John as the Son of God
So, in answering this question of “why is Jesus called the Son of Man”, the gospel of Luke is a good place to start.
Jesus is indeed the Messiah that the Jewish nation had been waiting for ever since the fall of Adam and Eve, and then God’s promise to Abraham. The Messiah is the Son of God, equal with God, and God sent Him into the world in order to open up the way of Salvation for mankind. Jesus was 100% God, but in order for Him to be able to die as a sacrifice so that human beings could be saved, He also needed to be 100% human.
“The Son of Man” in the Old Testament
The “Son of Man” is mentioned 107 times in the Old Testament; 93 of those mentions are in Ezekiel. Probably the most significant of these mentions is in the book of Daniel, chapter 7. This is a prophecy of the end of time when God is seated on His throne. Verses 13 – 14 are a mention of the “Son of Man”, Jesus, taking His rightful place, and His kingdom is established forever. “He was given authority, glory, and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).
It Is A Messianic Designation
The title “Son of Man” was a designation for the Messiah. The Book of Daniel predicted that the Son of Man would inherit God’s everlasting kingdom. We read
And behold, one like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. Then to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed (Daniel 7:13,14).
Jesus is the Son of Man
Jesus most frequently refers to Himself as the Son of Man, but if challenged, He acknowledges that He is also the Son of God. So, both of these two titles can rightly be used of Jesus, and both reveal to us different aspects of who Jesus is. In calling Himself the Son of Man, though, Jesus identifies with us, in our humanity, and is our representative before God. Hebrews 4:15 says: “For we do not have a high priest (representative) who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.” And because of this, the next verse says we can “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16
Though the Bible does not define its exact meaning, the title “Son of Man”
It Is Connected With His Earthly Life
The title is connected with the earthly life of Jesus.
But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins – he said to the paralytic (Mark 2:10).
Jesus said: So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28).
Jesus also said And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head (Matthew 8:20)
Jesus gave the reason for His coming to earth.
For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).
It Is Connected With His Sufferings
“Son of Man” is also connected with the sufferings of Jesus on behalf of humanity.
And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again (Mark 8:31).
This Speaks Of His Exaltation And Rule
The title “Son of Man” also has to do with his exaltation and rule over humanity.
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory (Matthew 25:31).
Jesus said.
The Son of Man indeed does just as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born (Matthew 26:24
As Jesus proceeds into the city, he goes to the Temple. On his way, he must have seen many things that were out of harmony with the Kingdom of Heaven and contrary to the will of God. If Jesus came into one of our cities today, He would also see many things that are outside of his will.
He passed all of these things, not because he didn’t care, but because he went to the temple because he knew that it was the best way to touch them. “Judgement must begin at the House of God.” As long as the Temple was wrong, the whole city was bound to be wrong.
When Jesus comes back again and sets up the “New Jerusalem,” and there is a ‘new heaven and a new earth,” we read in the book of Revelation that there will no longer be a need for a temple, because the whole city is like a temple. There will be no need for any other light, for “The Lord God” will provide it.
Now, when Jesus entered the Temple on this day more than 2000 years ago, he showed that he is more than “meek and mild.” He “drove out” those who were buying and selling. and “overthrew” the tables of the money changers, and also where they were selling doves. They had set up these tables in the court of the Gentiles. Quite legitimate, to provide offerings for those coming from far off, and also to change their currency into the Temple currency. It provided a service to Gentiles who had become proselytes to Judaism and had come to the Temple to worship God. The problem was that they did not respect the exchange rate, and overcharged these visitors to Jerusalem in the currency exchange and the price for their offerings. Jesus declared that: This temple is: ‘A House of Prayer”, but you have made it a “den of robbers” or (thieves). (Isaiah 56:7)
We may not buy and sell and cheat people, but sometimes we too don’t think of our worship in the right way. May the Holy Spirit guide us and help us to understand what he expects of us. He wants us to PRAISE AND WORSHIP HIM, and then to also SERVE HIM.