21.1 How on earth do you pronounce this place? Beth-fayje, or Beth-fa-jee (to rhyme with Bethany)? My old RSV Study Bible says the former, but it sounds like a Star Trek disease.
21.2 As with the coin for the Temple tax (17.27), how did Jesus know this? Was it already provided by God the Father, and Jesus knew it by a word of knowledge? Or did he ask for a miracle there and then, and it was done for him? Or did he even pre-arrange it all with the owner? So also the Last Supper (26.18).
21.4 Critics have suggested that Jesus deliberately acted in accord with OT prophecies, and that is how he fulfilled them. Nicky Gumbel (Alpha: Who Is Jesus) replies that this is not possible for prophecies about his birth, death, burial and resurrection, over which he had no control. But in this verse the critics appear to have a point: Jesus seems to be acting self-consciously in accord with prophecy (Zechariah 9.9).
21.9 As well as knowing these verses by heart from their worship, the crowd here seem to be aware of prophecy being fulfilled.
21.16 Did it irritate them more, because children recognised the Messiah? Elsewhere, even the demons know straight away who he is; but it is hidden from the wise and learned.
21.19 Cruelty to Fig-Trees? But the teaching is vastly more important.
21.22 This verse is a hostage to prosperity teaching: “Name It and Claim It!”
Tom seems to love three levels to everything! Muslims acknowledge Jesus (Isa) as a prophet, but Matthew presents him as so much more.
One of Tom’s great insights and teachings is that just about all the Old Testament (Law, Promised Land, Davidic King, Temple, Messiah, Son of Man) is fulfilled in Jesus himself personally. I love the idea that Jerusalem wasn’t big enough for the Temple and Jesus (the fulfilment of the Temple) together! And the very subtle closing stereotype: that the Jews kept the Temple clean by excluding the sick, but Jesus did it by healing their sicknesses and making them whole. What a Saviour!
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