JESUS IN JERUSALEM

With the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem a new stage opens up in our story. Jerusalem is the city of Jesus' adversaries, the Jewish leaders (2:3–4; 15:1). It is the city in which Jesus is foreordained to die (16:21; 20:17–18). The readers know that the moment of decision is drawing near. The tension increases accordingly.

Jesus' deeds in Jerusalem cover three sequences of narrative and a discourse. The first narrative sequence makes up the exposition (21:1–27). Here Matthew relates two days of Jesus' stay in Jerusalem. First he recounts Jesus' entry into the city (21:1–11) and, from there, his appearance in the Temple (21:12–17). The focus falls on his encounter with the people. Outside the city the people prepare a triumphal reception, welcoming him as the Son of David and the Messiah (21:9; see 12:23). Entering the Temple, Jesus enacts a prophetic sign by driving out the merchants, for the house of God is to be a house of prayer. No longer does Matthew refer to a ‘house of prayer for all the nations’ (Mark 11:17). He knows that the time of the Temple is past, even for the nations. Most of all, however, Jesus heals the sick among the people one final time (21:14). In the Temple itself he is the healing Messiah of the poor and simple. Up to this point everything is exactly as it was: Jesus still stands in the people's favour, and they are still not far from the truth.