Passage: Matthew 21

Matthew 21:5
“Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

Scriptures says, “daughter of Zion.” Who is that? A daughter of Zion is someone who lives in Jerusalem.

Where have you been living? Have you been living in the house of God or in the bar? Or in the dungeon? In the dark or in the light? In the barn? Where have you been living?

Trials start when we disobey God. Sadness and unhappiness came to the Garden of Eden when they disobeyed God’s commandment.

Christianity means that we live life according to the will of God and obey the voice of God. When we obey the voice of God, sometimes what He tells us to do doesn’t make sense. Sometimes it seems very unfair.

Consider Abraham and Isaac, when God told him to sacrifice his son. Or when God commanded Abram to leave his family behind and go to a land where he’d never been before. Or when God told Joshua to march around the city of Jericho seven times instead of fight. Or when God told Judea to send out the praise and worship team first when they went to battle. Or when God told Gideon to send most of his army home and fight with only 300 people.

When you obey, God will move in that situation. When the Lord has need of something, give. If you hold back, the Lord will hold back in your time of need. Give and it will be given unto you.

Matthew 21:1-9
Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Hosanna in the highest!”

Jesus’ disciples walked in faith, obeying and bringing the donkey. They laid their clothes before Him – this means they gave everything to God. In Jesus’ time, a person’s garment was their blanket, their identity, and their money. When they took off their garment, they gave the highest honor and sacrifice.

What do garments mean?
#1 Hiding your shame

When Adam and Eve committed sin, they used garments to hide their shame.

Genesis 3:17
17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:
“Cursed is the ground for your sake;
In toil you shall eat of it
All the days of your life.

Genesis 3:21
21 Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.

That animal skin was not just clothing. There is a spiritual meaning.

Romans 13:14
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

#2 Protection

Garments protect us from cold and heat.

#3 Identity

Many professions are recognized by their clothing. Military personnel, doctors, policemen, and many others are known by their clothing.

When the disciples laid down their garments, they laid down everything in their lives before Jesus.

We need to be willing to do anything that Jesus asks us to do.

God bless you,
Pastor Sun East

More in this series:
Part 1: Is Jesus your Lord?
Part 2: Lay your garments before Him
Part 3: The day the rocks cried out