“But Jesus responded and said to them, “I will also ask you one question, which, if you tell Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things” (Matthew 21:24).

Jesus was never tricked by snares of the wicked.  If we look to the Lord and listen to His counsel, we can avoid being tricked by those who are always setting traps.  We do not need to figure everything out, but we do need to stand firm against untruth.  This age is filled with the deceived and deceivers.  Jesus humbly speaks truth.  He loves us and will not stop until those called believe are in His love.

Lord, I do not like contention, but the world is contentious.  Help me to learn how to be humble but stand firm against the wicked who seek to deceive.  Let me stand up against constant questions and hold fast to the truth You have revealed.  Guide me, Lord, in the way to think and act so that when confronted, I know how to respond.  Teach me how to answer questions as You did.

Lord Jesus, You have questioned me.  Help me to answer Your questions with my life.  Take me out of the way this world thinks so that I may learn to think as You created me to think.  Guide me so that I humbly walk the path You have set before me.  Through all things, teach me how to be aware and alert.  Lord, You have given me the words of eternal life.  Help me to live them now and always.  Amen.

“When He entered the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” (Matthew 21:23)

We do not seem to be concerned with this question anymore.  “By what authority?”  Our culture reinforces that we are an authority unto ourselves.  I think this way and so it must be.  But Jesus was doing things with power and authority, and they were asking, “by what authority is this done?”  The truth is, by the only power there really is, the authority of God.  We pretend we have power, but God Almighty has all power and authority.

Lord, teach me what authority means.  Help me to respect authority.  All authority comes from You.  You are the source of all power.  Lead me away from this world’s self-centeredness and into the light of truth which is You.  Help me to stop questioning truth and to learn how to question all of the lies of this age.  Lead me ever more deeply into the truth of who You are and the authority in which You say and do things.

Lord Jesus, You were constantly questioned and confronted.  Help me to be unmoving in the questions and confrontations against my faith that happen in this world.  Help me to stand firm in faith knowing that all things are truly in Your hands.  Guide me, Lord, to live under Your authority.  Teach me to respect all authority knowing that it comes from You.  Teach me how to live under Your authority.  Amen.

“Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, “How did the fig tree wither all at once?”  And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.  And whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive it all” (Matthew 21:20-22).

The author and finisher of our faith is more than able to either wither us like the fig tree or make us able to do what He commands.  Our doubts and fears get in the way, but the One who commanded each star to stay its course will make of us what He will.  Do not tarry but look to the One who is the author of your faith and be led by Him.  He will make of You what He will, but you and I have our part in willingly receiving what He gives.

Lord, I look at these things and I think in terms of human limitations and not in terms of who You are.  Take me out of myself to be willing to receive whatever You give me.  Guide me in Your goodness so that I speak what You would have me speak and do what You would have me do.  Through all things, let me never forget that You are the One through whom all things have their being.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for not letting me rest in my own reasoning.  Help me to see Your hand upon all things and know that the Father will work all things together for good according to Your Holy and Triune purpose.  Help me to be amazed by Your love and expect that You will do good things through and around me.  Help me to keep my eyes upon You and what You are doing.  Amen.

“Now in the early morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry.  And seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves alone; and He said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered” (Matthew 21:18-19).

The lesson here is not the disappointment of Jesus, but the reality that a tree which does not do what it was created to do and does not serve a purpose.  We were created, and have the opportunity to become children of God.  If we will not bear fruit befitting the kingdom of God, what good are we?  This world is filled with self-centered people who act as though they are the center of all things.  It is not about you or me, but about the One who calls us to Himself.

Lord, there are many lessons You teach about how we are to live into the new life You give by grace.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly submit to the life You are calling me to live.  Let me grow in You, and in that growing, bear the fruit that You will call me to bear.  Where I am unwilling, remove my unwillingness.  Where I need pruning, help me to be willing to be pruned.

Lord Jesus, with many parables You have called me to be intentional about the life You have given me by grace through faith.  Guide me to live this life no matter what it takes.  Help me to understand that I must be about the business of being what I proclaim when I say I am Christian.  It is about You and what You are doing in me.  Help me to focus upon You in thought, word, and deed.  Amen.

“And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there” (Matthew 21:17).

Even Jesus did retreats.  There are times when we just need to get away.  Some never get away and some never join.  Do not take either of these roads but seek balance in your life.  Let the Lord lead you, whether in work and at rest.  The Lord will bring balance to our lives if we follow Him.

Lord, help me to understand that I need You to lead me in every aspect of my life.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy so that I willingly work or rest according to what You give me to do.  Help me in all circumstances to become a person who is constantly in prayer.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the way You know I need to go in order to live the life You are creating in me, in a way that is pleasing to the Father.

Holy Spirit, do not let me make excuses, nor go away from where You are leading me.  Let me not think only in terms of all that I need to do, but instead, take time for prayer and meditation.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life.  Help me through all circumstances to work or rest as You direct me.  Help me to spend every day and night with You guiding me in all things.  Amen.

“But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant, and they said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself’?”  (Matthew 21:15-16)

Children sometimes have more wisdom than adults.  They see things as they are.  That clear sight is often deformed by this age so that by the time they are adults, they are blind to the reality of the Lord.  Do not hinder the children.  Sometimes we too need to be reminded of reality through the clear sight of a child who marvels and wonders at the reality of the Lord.  Lose the matter in your eyes to see the truth of the Lord.

Lord, I do have a shortsighted view of the world.  I am often lost in the disorder of this age.  Help me to see as a child, who often sees more clearly.  You said that unless we had faith as a child, we would not enter the kingdom of heaven.  Teach me what this means and lead me so that I become what You are talking about.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life. Teach me to sing Your praise.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your great compassion.  I am a child of God.  There are times to put away childish things, but there never is a time to stop being a child of the Heavenly Father.  Guide me in the way You know I need to go and help me to live into the life You have given me by grace through faith.  May I humbly walk with You all my days as You grow in me what You will.  Amen.

“And those who were blind and those who limped came to Him in the temple area, and He healed them” (Matthew 21:14).

Jesus heals the sin-sick soul.  Jesus takes care of our infirmities.  Oh, we may have something that will limit us in this world, but even this has a purpose.  Do not be led by circumstances, but by the One who heals us of sin.  Our God has great compassion for those who are hurting.  Do you reach out and care for others as You want to be cared for?  Be guided by His grace and mercy.

Lord, the lies of this age mask the truth.  You have always cared.  You still care.  I may not understand the way of this world, but You have made clear that Your ways are not the ways of this world.  Though there are still those who are wounded, You have healed all who believe so that they may join with You in eternity. Help me to never lose sight of this simple thing so that I may always walk with You.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for You have prepared the way of everlasting life for me.  Help me to walk, even though it be with a spiritual limp.  Help me to see more clearly, for I have walked many portions of my life totally blind.  Lead me in the new life You have given me so that I may see a little more clearly each day and walk more boldly in the faith You have given me.  Help me to go out and see You heal others of spiritual blindness and impediments to faith.  Amen.

“When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?”  And the crowds were saying, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee” (Matthew 21:10-11).

Who is Jesus.  The crowds thought Him a prophet.  Yes, He is, but He is more.  He speaks the word of God because He is God the Son, the Word made flesh.  All the prophets spoke of Him.  He is the One who fulfilled prophecy.  He grew up in Nazareth, but He is from eternity and returned to eternity.  Take care with what you hear.  There may be truth in what is said but listen for the whole truth.

Lord, crowds go away with some of the truth, but often, real and whole truth takes a little more work to hear.  They were not wrong that day, but they were not right.  Jesus, You are the eternal One who came down and became flesh for our sake.  You took our sins upon You that we might inherit Your life as sons and daughters of God.  Open our ears to hear and our eyes to see so that we are not carried away by the crowds of this age.

Lord Jesus, in humility You walked to Your own death.  All the while, the crowds were anticipating something else.  Help me to follow Your lead and walk where You lead.  I do not know what is coming, but You do.  Help me to trust You above all things.  Lead me through the crowds of this age to stand in Your presence and be whom You are making me to be.  Lead me, Savior and Lord of all.  Amen.

“Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.  Now the crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:8-9)

People rally in crowds.  One never really knows what drives crowds.  That day there was much anticipation.  One week later, the anticipation was crushed.  What we hope for is often so much smaller than what God intends.  He, who knows all futures, is preparing a glory greater than any of us can comprehend.  Join in blessing the Lord but remain humble and trust Him day by day.

Lord, I become anxious and wonder where the crowds of this age are taking us.  I see them stirred up and I become stirred up.  Help me to look to You who, in that week, went to the cross.  At the time I would have wondered how that could be good, yet I know the only way I can become good is through the cross.  Help me to do what You instruct and spend less time trying to figure things out.

Lord Jesus, keep me from thinking like the crowd.  Help me to learn how to think like You.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly walk in the way You know I need to walk.  Teach me how to live life.  Teach me how to go into the silent place, even when the crowds are shouting.  Guide me now and always to walk with You and learn from You.  You alone know what I need.  Help me to look to You alone.  Amen.

“The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their cloaks on them; and He sat on the cloaks” (Matthew 21:6-7).

The disciples did not know what they would find.  Jesus did.  The disciples obeyed Jesus, but they did not know what it would be like one week later.  Many, at that time, were expecting Jesus to become king.  He has always been a king.  He was coming to redeem those who believe.  The disciples lived each day and learned how to simply do what Jesus told them to do.  Should we be any different?

Lord, teach me to do things as You instruct me.  Many around me are prognosticating.  Help me to listen to You and follow Your instructions.  Take me from thinking in the way of the world and see how You have done things.  You walked with Your disciples each day and things unfolded as You planned.  Is it any different for me, Lord?  Is that not how my life is to be lived?

Lord Jesus, guide me to follow Your instructions.  Help me to cherish the day-to-day things that I do knowing that You are aware of all things.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly walk with You and obey all that You command.  Lead me to lay everything down before You, for all that I have, all that I am, belongs to You.  In the power of Your Holy Spirit, guide me this day.  Amen.