umphal

1And when they approached to Jerusalem, and Tricame to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then entry. Jesus sent forward two disciples, 2saying to them, "Go into the village which is opposite to you, and you will directly find an ass tied, and a colt with her. Loose and bring them to me. 3 And should any one say anything to you, you will say, that the Lord has need of them; and he will immediately send them." * Now all this has come to pass, that there should be a fulfilment of what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell the daughter of Zion, Lo, thy King is

1. First day of the week. We learn from St. John that on the previous evening our Lord supped with his disciples in the house of Simon, at Bethany, a village less than two miles from the city. The events of this division are connected, both chronologically and doctrinally. In the Triumphal procession the kingly authority of Christ is declared; and it is also shown that his kingdom is not of this world. In the Purification of the temple of God, and in the works of healing done there, the power of Christ was exercised, that God might be rightly worshipped by all, and that men might be enlightened, strengthened, and blessed in his service. In the destruction of the fig-tree, the disciples saw what the power of Christ could effect on his adversaries. They learned that he did not now punish those who opposed him, because he came not to destroy, but to save; and was willing to suffer himself, that he might be able to save, even his enemies.

5. There was a literal fulfilment of the prophecy, which might have been fulfilled only figuratively. Zech. ix. 9. Part of the expression agrees with Isaiah lxii. 11.

coming to thee, meek and riding upon an ass, even on a colt the foal of a carrier."

And the disciples went and did as Jesus directed them: 7 they brought the ass and the colt; and they put upon them their garments, and he sat upon them. 8 And the very great multitude spread their garments on the road; and others cut branches from the trees, and strewed them on the road. 9 And the multitudes, they who went before and they who followed, called out saying, "Hosanna, for the Son of David! Blessed be he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna, in the highest!"

10 And when he came into Jerusalem, all the city was in movement, saying, "Who is this?" 11 And the multitudes said, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee."

Purifica

tion of

II.

12 And Jesus came into the temple of God; and he the cast out all who were selling and buying in the temTemple. ple, and overturned the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of those who were selling doves.

13 And

9. Similar is the language of the Psalm. cxviii. 25. Hosanna! save now, expresses both gratulation and prayer, as with us, God save the Queen.

11. St. Luke gives a lament of Christ over Jerusalem, similar in some things to what preceded, and to what followed. Luke xiii. 34: xix. 41; Matt. xxiii. 37.

12. First and second days of the week. From the more definite account given by St. Mark it appears that what was commenced on the first day, was completed on the second. In the conduct of our Lord there is nothing inconsistent with his usual gentleness. The smallest possible exercise of force, which was made effective for a great result by moral influence, was in no way improper to prevent the continued and manifest violation of law. A purification of the temple marked the commencement, as well as the close, of our Lord's ministry in Jerusalem. John ii. 13.

13. The quotation is from Isaiah lvi. 7. The other expression is found Jer. vii. 11.

he said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer :'—but you made it a den of robbers."

14 And blind and lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them. 15 But the Chief-priests and the Scribes, seeing the wonders which he did, and the children calling out in the temple and saying, Hosanna, for the Son of David!' were much offended. 16 And they said to him, "Dost thou hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Did you never read? From the mouth of babes and sucklings thou preparedst praise.""

17 And leaving them he went forth out of the city to Bethany, and lodged there.

III.

tion of

fig-tree.

18 Now in the morning, as he returned to the city, Destruc he was hungry; 19 and seeing a fig-tree, one by the road, he came to it, and found nothing on it, but leaves only. And he said to it, "No more let fruit

16. This quotation is from Psalm viii. 2. Something similar occurred before. Luke xix. 39.

18. Second and third days of the week. Here, too, St. Matthew gives in combination, what St. Mark gives separately. The conversation respecting the fig-tree was on the day after it was withered. Mark xi. 14, 20. The significance of this event, is different from that of the parable given by St. Luke, xiii. 6, to show the doom of impenitence. In that, the fig-tree was planted in a vineyard; every thing was done for its culture that could be done; and not till after years of barrenness was it cut down. Here the fig-tree was growing by the road; it belonged to no one, and nothing had been done for its improvement: and it was destroyed when its uselessness was made manifest. It was fruitless, because the fruit-season had not come, and no old fruit remained on the branches. Mark xi. 13. It was therefore not a fit emblem of the impenitent Jews. But the destruction of a senseless and worthless thing, made known the power of Christ, as sufficient to destroy, though used only to restore. The lesson here associated with the event by the words of our Lord is, not the doom of impenitence, but the power of faith in God. To this, in the account of St. Mark, is added the duty of forgiveness.

come from thee for ever." And very soon the figtree withered. 20 And the disciples seeing it were astonished and said, "How very soon the fig-tree withered!" 21 And in reply Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I declare to you, if you have faith and do not waver, not only shall you do what is done to the fig-tree, but should you say even to this mountain, Be removed, and thrown into the sea,-it will come to pass. 22 And all things whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, having faith, you will receive."