Sermon Notes:

‘BEHOLD YOUR KING COMES!”
Matthew 21:1-17. 
December 3, 2006

Introduction
This might seem to be a peculiar lesson for the First Sunday in Advent, but it reality it is perfectly logical because Christ comes to His People calling them to repentance and faith after hundreds of years of prophetic teaching and preaching.

I.  THE KING COMES TO HIS PEOPLE
There are 2 ways to look at the Lord Jesus’ coming to His People:
                1)            after 3 years of intensive public proclamation and warning first by John the Baptist and then by Jesus Himself through His public ministry.
                2)            coming at the end of some 5,000 years of history after the fall of Adam.
The Gospel account indicates that what happened that day was in fulfillment of Zechariah’s ancient prophecy, written 500 years earlier.  This reminds us that our Lord’s entire earthly life were marked by 2 overriding purposes:
                1)            to do the will of His Father in Heaven.
                2)            to fulfill all the Old Testament prophecies.
Thus, the Incarnation becomes the time of His humiliation.  But, as He enters Jerusalem the people throw down their garments, indicating their acceptance of Him, their respect for Him, their submission to Him and His authority. 

II.  THE KING COMES IN JUDGMENT
This is the second time the Lord Jesus enters the Temple precincts and over turns the tables of the money changers: at the beginning of His public ministry, and now again, at the end.  He will come again to His People at the end of time as Judge of the Living and the Dead.  His judgment will be a loving judgment for those who have served Him obediently and faithfully.  It will be horrendous for those who have rejected His love, mercy and grace.  Here, at the opening of Advent, the Church calls us to take stock of our lives, to repent of our sins and to endeavor after new obedience.

III.  THE KING’S JUDGMENT BEGINS AT THE HOUSE OF GOD
As long as things were wrong  with Israel’s worship, things could not be right with the nation.  James 1: 27.  Micah 6:8.  All of societies evils can be traced back to the abandonment of God and the true Worship of the True and Living God.  The Lord always prepares people for His coming.  The Lord Jesus forcefully manifests divine hatred against sin, especially sin that profanes God’s Name, His Holiness, His House, His Sabbath Day.  Will the Lord Jesus find faith anywhere on the earth when He comes again?

Some of the sources used:  Matthew Henry’s Commentaries; John Calvin’s Commentaries; William  Hendrickson’s Commentaries; John MacArthur on Matthew; James Montomgery Boice on Matthew; Bishop J.C. Ryle on Matthew; Terry Johnson, Ligon Duncan & Derek Thomas on Matthew.