BIBLE STUDY LESSON 17

SERIES S --- THE SON OF YHVH

YESHUA ENTERS JERUSALEM TRIUMPHANTLY

From Matthew 21:1-11, 14-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-44; John 11:55-12:19

The Passover was approaching, and many Jewish people had already arrived in Jerusalem so that they might finish their purification ceremonies before the Passover began. Wherever they went they looked for Yeshua, and whispered as they met in the temple, [Will He come here at all?] The news was whispered also that the Pharisees had ordered anyone who saw Yeshua to report His appearance to them. About six days before the Passover, Yeshua arrived at Lazarus’ home in Bethany. Mary, Martha and Lazarus prepared a supper for Him. Martha served and Lazarus was there eating, alive and well. At one point, Mary poured a jar of expensive perfume, made from pure nard, on His feet and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of this perfume. Judas Iscariot objected to this. [Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?] Judas wasn’t really interested in the poor, but he kept the disciples’ money and occasionally took some for himself. [Let her alone,] Yeshua replied. [She is preparing Me for burial. You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have Me.] Before long people in Jerusalem learned that Yeshua was there and hurried to Bethany to see Him. They also were anxious to see Lazarus, whom Yeshua had raised from the dead. The chief priests decided that Lazarus also must be put to death, for because of him many of their own leaders were now accepting Yeshua as the Moshiach. The next day an enormous crowd gathered, for they had learned that Yeshua was coming to Jerusalem. They cut branches from palm trees and rushed out to the Mount of Olives to meet Him. In the meantime, as Yeshua and His disciples approached Bethphage, between Bethany and Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples there for a young donkey. [As you enter the village you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks why you are doing this, tell them that Adonai needs it and he will let you bring it.] The disciples found the young donkey, just as Yeshua had said, tied at the door beside the street. When they untied it, some men asked what they were doing, and when they said what Yeshua had told them to say, the men gave permission for them to take it away. Then some put their garments on the colt and put Yeshua on it. As Yeshua rode down the Mount of Olives toward Jerusalem, the crowds rushed toward Him with the palm branches, crying out, [Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel, Who comes in the Name of Adonai.] He fulfilled the prophecy, [Fear not, Israel, for your King comes, sitting meekly on a donkey’s colt.] Then people threw their garments and palm branches in His path as He descended the Mount of Olives. The disciples did not understand these things at the time, but after Yeshua’ resurrection, they remembered the prophecies which they had seen fulfilled. Many in the crowd that day had seen Yeshua raise Lazarus from the dead, so they were there to proclaim Him the Moshiach because of His wonderful miracle. When some Pharisees in the crowd heard what the people said, they cried out to Yeshua, [Teacher, stop Your disciples from saying those things.] But they admitted privately that the whole world had gone after Yeshua and they could not stop it. [If I did, the stones would cry out!] Yeshua replied. But at one point, Yeshua stopped and wept as He looked at Jerusalem. [If only you realized how I could bring you peace, but now it is too late. The time will soon come when enemies will put ramparts around you, besiege you as they encircle you from every direction, and will destroy you so utterly that they will not leave one stone upon another, for you did not know that YHVH’s Son was in your midst.] As Yeshua rode into Jerusalem, the city was excited, with people crying out, [Who is this?] [The Prophet Yeshua, from Nazareth in Galilee,] others responded. In the temple the blind and lame came and were healed. But when the chief priests saw His miracles and the children crying, [Hosanna to the Son of David,] they were indignant. [Do You hear what they are saying?] they demanded. [Yes, but you should know the Scriptures which say, ‘Out of the mouth of children You have prepared praise for Yourself.’] Then Yeshua returned to Bethany where He spent the night with the twelve disciples.

COMMENTARY

THE GOLDEN GATE

When Yeshua travelled to Jerusalem for the last time before His death, He made His triumphal entry into the city through what is now known as the Golden Gate. This large gate with a double arch is on the east side of the walls that surround the city. Coming for the Passover feast, Yeshua probably followed the road that ran from Lazarus’ home in Bethany through the Golden Gate and directly into the temple courtyard. Although it is called the Golden Gate, it is not made of precious metal. The gate is built of the same limestone used in the city walls. It was given that name by accident. The Greek-speaking people of Yeshua’ day called it the Beautiful Gate because of its graceful arches and decorative carvings. Later residents of Jerusalem spoke Latin, and the Greek word for {beautiful} sounded like their word for {golden,} and so it came to be known as the Golden Gate. Today no one can go through the Golden Gate because it has been blocked with stone from the outside. It was sealed centuries ago so that the city could not be attacked through it, but no one knows definitely who closed it. There are some interesting traditions about the Golden Gate. The Moslems believe that it is the gate of judgment. They say that on the last day of time it will separate the doomed from the saved. The Jews believe that the Moshiach will pass through the Golden Gate when He comes. Believers remember that Yeshua rode through it on the way to Jerusalem for the last time.