Matthew 20:29-21:22

Big idea

Jesus heals two blind men and enters Jerusalem, where he cleanses the temple and teaches about faith.

Simple summary

Two blind men cry out to Jesus for mercy, and he heals them. He then enters Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling prophecy, and cleanses the temple of money-changers. He also teaches his disciples about faith and prayer.

Explain it simply

• Jesus healed two blind men who were sitting by the road. They cried out to him for help, and he touched their eyes and they could see again!
• When Jesus entered Jerusalem, people spread cloaks on the ground and waved branches in celebration. They called out 'Hosanna!' because they knew Jesus was the Son of David.
• Jesus went into the temple and saw that people were selling animals for sacrifices. He got angry and turned over their tables, saying it wasn't right to make a profit from God's house.
• The chief priests and scribes didn't like what Jesus was doing, but he just said they should read the Bible to understand why he was acting this way.
• Jesus then went out of the city to Bethany and slept there. The next day, he came back into Jerusalem and saw a fig tree that had no fruit on it. He cursed the tree, saying it would never produce fruit again!
• The disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither away right before their eyes. Jesus told them that if they had faith, they could do even greater things than this.

Outline

• Introduction
• Methodology

Takeaways

• Faith is essential for doing great things in God's name. (from: Jesus teaches his disciples about faith, The fig tree withers away because of Jesus' curse)
• God's house should be a place of prayer and worship, not profit-making. (from: Jesus cleanses the temple, He says it is written that God's house shall be called a house of prayer)

Glossary

• Son of David: A title for Jesus, indicating he is a descendant of King David and the Messiah
• Hosanna: A Hebrew word meaning 'Save now!' or 'Savior', used to praise and welcome Jesus as the Messiah

Reflection questions

• How can I apply Jesus' teachings about faith to my own life?
• What does it mean for me to welcome and praise Jesus as the Messiah?
• How can I make sure that my actions are in line with God's will, rather than just doing things for personal gain?