NextGen Leaders: April- June 2022

By R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation

NextGen Leaders is a quarterly study guide directed towards young adults as they venture into the world of higher education and work. This quarterly stresses the issues and concerns of young Christians. The lessons are both challenging and rewarding, and they address current day issues within society.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
• Release date: Mar 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781681679396

Book preview

Focal Scripture: Matthew 21:1–11 • Background Scripture: Matthew 21:1–11

Let’s Get Started . . .

The Jews had been waiting hundreds of years for their Messiah to come to liberate them from their enemy, the Roman government. Jesus had completed His ministry in Galilee, and He began His journey to Jerusalem. He had told His disciples that He would go there, and He would be tried by the Sanhedrin Council and handed over to Rome to be executed. Matthew recorded His entrance that fulfilled the words of the prophets who had spoken many years earlier that the messiah would come on a donkey. In as much as it fulfilled prophecy, Jesus demonstrated humility because of His willingness to ride on such a lowly animal and be obedient to the word of prophecy that was spoken many years earlier.

Remember This . . .

Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

(Matthew 21:5, KJV)

Additional Resources

Boyd’s Commentary for the Sunday School

Visit rhboyd.com for online activities

Get into the Lesson

1. THE MESSIAH RIDES INTO JERUSALEM

(MATTHEW 21:1–7)

Our lesson for today begins with the author telling us that Jesus had come near Jerusalem to a village called Bethphage (21:1). Jesus had completed His ministry in Galilee, and had begun His final journey to Jerusalem. When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordon (Matthew 19:1, NRSV). Jesus had been telling His disciples about His purpose for going to Jerusalem. This was the third time that Jesus had predicted His trial and crucifixion and resurrection (See 16:21–23; 17:22–23). Jesus travelled from Galilee to the region of Perea east of the Jordan River. He crossed the river and came to the city Jericho. Large crowds were following Him as He went to Jerusalem.

When Jesus arrived near Bethany, He sent two of His disciples to a near-by village called Bethphage. The city of Bethany was approximately two miles east of Jerusalem. It was the home of Martha, her sister Mary, and their brother Lazarus that Jesus raised from the dead (see John 11). Jesus instructed the two disciples to go into the village and bring to Him a donkey tied and a colt with her. The other Gospel writers mentioned only the colt, but Matthew includes the donkey. Apparently, Matthew wants his Jewish audience to focus on what was written in the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 that mentioned both donkey and colt. He shows that the actions of Jesus fulfilled the prophet’s words accurately. Throughout the Gospel, Matthew uses the words of the prophets to show his audience that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Messiah that they had been anticipating for over 300 years (see 1:22–23; 2:17–18; 4:14–16).

Jesus gave the two disciples instructions to untie the donkey and her colt. Jesus anticipated that the disciples would be questioned when they were seen untying the donkey and her colt. Jesus told them precisely what they should say. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘the Lord needs them’’ (v. 3). This statement would be something like a coded statement made to an ally. The owner of the donkey and the colt was a disciple of Jesus. The owner believed that Jesus was the Messiah. The owner was familiar with the words of the prophet that said: Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey" (v. 5, NRSV). The two disciples followed Jesus’ instructions. They brought the donkey to Jesus. They spread their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit. The significance of the donkey is that it was a symbol that the king was coming in peace. Also, Jesus was affirming His claim to be of messianic royalty and His