Matthew — Chapter 21

📖 Matthew — Chapter 21 (KJV)

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Red lettering identifies words spoken by Jesus; it is an editorial reading aid. Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.

Matthew 21:1 And ^Rwhen they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

Matthew 21:2 Saying 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.

Matthew 21:3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, ^RThe Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

Matthew 21:4 All ^Rthis was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

Matthew 21:5 Tell ye ^Rthe daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

Matthew 21:6 And the disciples went, ^Rand did as Jesus commanded them,

Matthew 21:7 And ^Rbrought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

Matthew 21:8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; ^Rothers cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

Matthew 21:9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: ^RBlessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

Matthew 21:10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, ^Rall the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

Matthew 21:11 And the multitude said, ^RThis is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

Matthew 21:12 And Jesus ^Rwent 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,

Matthew 21:13 And said unto them, ^RIt is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Matthew 21:14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.

Matthew 21:15 And ^Rwhen 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,

Matthew 21:16 And said unto him, ^RHearest 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?

Matthew 21:17 And ^Rhe left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.

Matthew 21:18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, ^Rhe hungered.

Matthew 21:19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, ^RLet no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

Matthew 21:20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, ^RHow soon is the fig tree withered away!

Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, ^RIf 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.

Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Matthew 21:23 And ^Rwhen 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?

Matthew 21:24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, ^RI 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.

Matthew 21:25 The ^Rbaptism 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?

Matthew 21:26 But if we shall say, Of men; ^Rwe fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

Matthew 21:27 And they answered Jesus, and said, ^RWe cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

Matthew 21:28 But ^Rwhat think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

Matthew 21:29 He answered and said, ^RI will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

Matthew 21:30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, ^RI go, sir: and went not.

Matthew 21:31 Whether of them twain ^Rdid 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.

Matthew 21:32 For John ^Rcame 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.

Matthew 21:33 ^RHear 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:

Matthew 21:34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, ^Rhe sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

Matthew 21:35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

Matthew 21:36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

Matthew 21:37 But ^Rlast of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

Matthew 21:38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, ^RThis is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

Matthew 21:39 And they ^Rcaught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

Matthew 21:40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, ^Rwhat will he do unto those husbandmen?

Matthew 21:41 They say unto him, ^RHe will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

Matthew 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, ^RThe 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?

Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, ^RThe kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

Matthew 21:44 And ^Rwhosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Matthew 21:45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, ^Rthey perceived that he spake of them.

Matthew 21:46 But when ^Rthey sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

📚 Study This Chapter

📖 What We’re Reading

Matthew 21:1–17 — The King enters and restores the temple’s purpose

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Jesus enters Jerusalem on an ass and colt as the crowds acclaim him. In the temple he confronts buying and selling, heals blind and lame people, and answers criticism of children’s praise.

Key Truth: Welcome the King with worship that includes truthful conduct.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Matthew 21:18–32 — Fruit and obedience expose empty appearances

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

The withered fig tree leads to teaching concerning faith. Challenged about his authority, Jesus asks about John and tells of two sons whose actions differ from their initial words.

Key Truth: Let your actual response match the obedience you profess.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Matthew 21:33–46 — The husbandmen reject the son and face judgment

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

A vineyard owner’s servants are mistreated and his son is killed by tenants seeking the inheritance. Jesus connects the rejected stone with the kingdom and fruitful responsibility, and the leaders recognize the parable’s accusation.

Key Truth: Receive the Son rather than treating entrusted things as your own.

Check What You Remember

Related Scripture (KJV)

Zechariah 9:9 — Matthew connects Jesus’ entry with the promised lowly King.

Zechariah 9:9 (KJV) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.

Reflect and Apply

What practical fruit should accompany your welcome of Jesus?

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