Daily Writing

Friday, 10 July 2026

Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there. Matthew 21:17

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And having left them, He proceeded out of the city to Bethany, and He overnighted there.” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus cited Scripture to the chief priests and scribes, noting that out of the mouths of babes and nursing infants the Lord had perfected praise. Matthew next records, “And having left them, He proceeded out of the city to Bethany.”

Of this, Ellicott says, “And went out of the city into Bethany.—St. Mark, as already noticed, places the incident that follows on the morning that followed the triumphal entry, and before the cleansing. We have to choose, there being an obvious error of arrangement in one or other of the narratives, between the two, and the probability seems on the whole in favour of the more precise and more vivid record of St. Mark.”

It is an appalling sentiment. There is no need to “choose” which we will believe. Nor is there an “obvious error of arrangement.” If Matthew is presenting categorical information, he is perfectly entitled to skip a day’s affairs without mentioning the greater detail of Mark’s narrative.

Mark notes that Jesus went to Bethany one night. The next night, he says, “When evening had come, He went out of the city” (Mark 11:18). That is immediately followed with, “Now in the morning.” Does Ellicott think Jesus stood outside the gates of the city all night and then walked back in?

Rather, He went somewhere. Logically, He went back to Bethany, as Matthew says in this verse being analyzed. Matthew skipping over a day does not mean we have to choose which gospel is correct. Nor does it mean there is an obvious error. As for Matthew’s words, he introduces the location Béthania, Bethany.

Depending on the root word from Hebrew, it can have one of several meanings: House of Answer, Business, Affliction, Singing, Date, Figs, etc. The root ‘ana (with an ayin) alone fits several of these possibilities. The root ‘ana (with an aleph) fits others. Without first understanding whatever typology is being conveyed, being dogmatic about one name over the other may mean you are barking up the wrong tree.

As for going to Bethany, it is a short distance from Jerusalem, being situated on the eastern slopes of the Mount of Olives. It is said to be about two miles (or three kilometers) from the city. Understanding this, it next says, “and He overnighted there.”

A new word is seen here, aulizomai. It is found only here and in Luke 21:37. It is from aulé, a yard (as in open to the wind). Thus, the word literally signifies passing the night in the open air. If there were twelve of them plus Jesus (and any other disciples), even if they went to someone’s house, it is unlikely all of them would sleep in a single house. Thus, it very well could mean that they made a bonfire in the backyard and slept there. There is no reason not to take this word in its literal sense.

Life application: Once again, we see a scholar, in this case a well-known and reputable scholar, calling into question the reliability of the word. However, if you take the two accounts and simply drop a day out of Matthew’s because he is narrowing the focus of his attention on particular details, the accounts in Matthew and Mark coincide.

After the people’s cries of Hosanna as Jesus entered the area, Mark 11:11 says, “And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.”

From there, He went back to Jerusalem the next day. Matthew, writing categorically, left off that note, not finding a single sentence about it being late necessary. As for the timing of the cursing of the fig tree, which doesn’t seem to match, understanding that Matthew is still writing categorically, that issue is also resolved.

Take time to look at the accounts and see where the focus is. Then think about why there is a difference. Instead of dismissing things, contemplate. If you don’t come to a resolution, it still doesn’t mean there is an error. It means that you have not yet determined why there are variations in the account.

As has been explained before, we have three synoptic gospels. If all three followed exactly the same details, critics would say the texts were corrupt because they were just copied one from another. If they don’t match in every detail, critics then say the texts are corrupt because they provide seemingly contradictory information.

There is no winning with people who intentionally do not want to believe the accounts are reconcilable. Trust that God is as in control of His word as He is of the workings of the universe. In the end, even if we don’t understand everything in the Bible at this time, we will see how it all lines up someday. Until then, keep reading, researching, contemplating, and considering.

Lord God, the evidence that the Bible is Your word is overwhelming. In the places where we don’t understand what is going on, help us to keep our faith that what is presented is there for a purpose. It is a great and precious word. Thank You for it because it tells us about Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Thursday, 9 July 2026

and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”
And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,
‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have perfected praise’?” Matthew 21:16

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And they said to Him, ‘You hear what these, they say?’ The ‘also Jesus’, He says to them, ‘Yes. Never, you read that, “From ‘mouth, infants and sucklings’ You prepared praise.”’?” (CG).

In the previous verse, the chief priests and the scribes were jealous of Jesus and how the youths praised Him. They were outraged, “And they said to Him, ‘You hear what these, they say?’”

These jealous leaders thought they were supposed to be the highlight of people’s visit to the temple complex. Like someone visiting the White House would want to see the president, the chief priests and scribes would have thought they were the point of the masses’ desire to be there.

But like going to the White House, there is a reason beyond the person sitting at the President’s desk that the White House exists. The temple was erected to honor the Lord. With the children crying out, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were honoring the Lord who had sent His Messiah, someone of greater importance than the temporary leaders of Israel.

Scripture gave them the authority to minister, but each was only an incidental part of the ongoing line of priests. On

If Jesus were the fulfillment of those types and prophecies, He deserved their adoration. This outraged the self-aggrandizing leaders at the temple. As such, Matthew next records, “The ‘also Jesus’, He says to them, ‘Yes. Never, you read…’”

Once again, as He commonly did, Jesus answered their question with another question. He affirms that He, in fact, heard their cries of exaltation, but His question is then directed to their own Scriptures. If their Scriptures approve of what is occurring, the leaders could not reasonably find fault in it. And so He continues, saying, “that, ‘From ‘mouth, infants and sucklings’ You prepared praise.’?”

A new word is seen, thélazó, to suckle. It is derived from thélé, a nipple. Thus, it signifies a suckling infant. The word translated as “prepared” has been seen in Matthew 4:21, where it referred to the mending of nets. It signifies to complete thoroughly. It is as if God had fully prepared His praise through the praises of these little ones. The quote itself is from the Greek translation of Psalm 8:2 –

“Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou perfected praise” (Brenton Septuagint).

While the leaders of the temple complex were moaning about the prospects of Jesus being the Messiah, it was the little ones in the compound who had recognized what the leaders had intentionally shut their eyes to. As Jesus cited Scripture to back up their conduct, they would be silenced for the time being, unable to argue against what Scripture said would be the case.

The words of Jesus are a note concerning the incarnation. The Psalm notes that it is the Lord, Yehovah, who is the focus of attention by the babes and nursing infants. However, Jesus’ words imply that the praise given to Him fulfills the words of that Psalm. As such, it signifies that He is the Lord incarnate.

Life application: In once Christian nations, those who do not accept the authority of Scripture have taken over many governments. In doing so, there is no longer an established scriptural basis that is recognizable for right and proper conduct.

In other words, Christians will appeal to Scripture to justify their moral codes. But if those in government reject Scripture’s authority, there is an apples-against-oranges attitude. The philosophies of the warring bodies have nothing in common to agree on.

But more, those opposed to the Christian message hypocritically misuse the contents of Scripture to shut up or confound the masses who have no idea what “context” their hypocritical citations belong in. The reason their citations are hypocritical is that they wholly reject the authority of Scripture, and yet they cite Scripture to form illicit doctrines that have nothing to do with Scripture.

What Christians must be prepared to do when challenged about such things is to be bold enough to ask what right those citing Scripture have to cite it. In other words, “Oh, you are citing Scripture. Therefore, you must accept the authority of Scripture. Is this so?”

The trap is now set for them. If they acknowledge the authority of Scripture (which they normally won’t), and if the Christian properly cites Scripture that condemns the actions of these detestable people, then they no longer have an argument in their misciting of Scripture. Care and planning must be made to fend off the unholy attacks by such people. If handled properly, their hypocritical position will be evident, just as when Jesus challenged the leader of His day.

Lord God, may we carefully defend against those who mishandle Your word, considering how to rightly challenge them and then demonstrating where their hypocrisy lies. Give us wisdom in this so that we can stand against their ungodly attacks. Amen.

Wednesday, 8 July 2026

But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant Matthew 21:15

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Having seen, also, the chief priests and the scribes, the ‘wonderfuls’ that He did, and the boys croaking in the temple, and saying, ‘Hosanna! The ‘Son, David’,’ they outraged.” (CG).

In the previous verse, the blind and the lame came to Jesus in the temple, and He healed them. Matthew next records, “Having seen, also, the chief priests and the scribes.”

These are the religious leaders at the temple. The chief priests would be the high priest, the leaders of the divisions of the priests, and anyone else considered to be in a leadership position among the priests. Any of these there at the time might be included in the statement. They, along with the scribes, saw “the ‘wonderfuls’ that He did.”

It is a new word found only here in Scripture, the adjective thaumasios, something wondrous or wonderful. Being a neuter plural, it is taken substantively as a noun in English. But for a literal rendering, it says “the ‘wonderfuls’”, meaning all of the wonderful things that Jesus had done and was doing.

One can almost sense the jealousy running through them as they walked around basking in their superior position within society, and yet unable to accomplish any of these “wonderfuls” that Jesus was accomplishing, one after the other. Along with that, it next says, “and the boys croaking in the temple.”

Matthew uses the masculine pais rather than the neuter paidion. Although scholars argue for “children,” the masculine signifies boys. The reason for the use of the masculine may be that Matthew was remembering Jesus in the Court of Israel, the Men’s Court, where women were not permitted.

Either way, they were “croaking.” The word krazó, to croak like a raven, is used. It identifies a notable crying out in various contexts, such as fear, desperation, elation, etc. Matthew notes this younger group croaking “and saying, ‘Hosanna! The ‘Son, David’.’”

This younger group had gotten caught up in the jubilation of the crowd that had ushered Jesus into Jerusalem. They were openly calling out with the implication that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, indicated by their words. Because of this, it says of the leader that “they outraged.”

The word was first seen in Matthew 20:24 when the ten apostles were outraged at James and John for presuming to be placed at Jesus’ right and left in His kingdom. The same unhealthy jealousy has filled Israel’s leaders, as Jesus stole the spotlight among the people because of what He was accomplishing.

Life application: Jealousy is one of those things that wells up in us, often because of our own inadequacies. We may not be as strong, wealthy, oratorically blessed, handsome, etc., as someone else. Because of this, we may fail to obtain something we desire because of this limitation.

In such cases, we covet what they have. If that desire becomes too great, it can lead to any of a host of unacceptable outcomes, including murder. This is just what will happen to Jesus. In the very act supposedly upholding the Law of Moses, the jealousy of Israel’s leaders overtook them.

They coveted Jesus’ superior ability to properly treat the masses in various ways, as evidenced by the use of the word “wonderfuls.” This is seen at this same general time by the words of the Pharisees in John 12 –

“Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. ¹⁸ For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. ¹⁹ The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, ‘You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!’” John 12:17-19

The jealousy in them welled up into coveting what Jesus was obtaining. Because of that, the leaders eventually plotted murder and had Jesus crucified. This is what law does. It causes these things to spring up in us and brings about death –

“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, ‘You shall not covet.’ ⁸ But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. ⁹ I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. ¹⁰ And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. ¹¹ For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.” Romans 7:7-11

This doesn’t mean that we won’t covet without law, but that the law is what brings about the knowledge of the matter and the penalty associated with it that would not have come about otherwise. The leaders of Israel didn’t get this. People all over the world, even in churches, still are not getting it. What we need is Jesus to free us from the body of death in which we exist.

Despite the leaders’ evil actions leading to Jesus’ death, without that having occurred, we would remain forever separated from God. Thus, despite evil having been the motive behind their actions, the result was what God had purposed for restoring us to Himself.

Think of the wisdom and glory of God, who was able to put this marvelous plan of redemption together and have it come about. Thank God for Jesus Christ, who died so that we could be reconciled to God once and forever. Hallelujah to our God.

Lord God, thank You for the wisdom and beauty of the good news of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Tuesday, 7 July 2026

Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.  Matthew 21:14

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And they approached Him, blind and lame, in the temple, and He cured them.” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus said, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” With that noted, Matthew next says, “And they approached Him, blind and lame, in the temple.”

At the end of Chapter 20, as Jesus healed the blind men at Jericho, it said, “And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.” If they followed Him to Jerusalem, it may be that they were with Him as He entered the temple. If so, it would be obvious to those who were healed that Jesus could heal the blind at the temple as well.

Even if those men didn’t follow as far as Jerusalem, others who were there in Jericho and saw what Jesus did would have implored the blind and lame to seek Him out while He was there. With the unholy use of the temple taken care of, a more suitable use for bringing God glory was to be seen in these needy souls. Thus, Matthew notes, “and He cured them.”

As seen in earlier commentaries, this was one of the expected roles the Messiah would fulfill –

“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
⁶ Then the lame shall leap like a deer,
And the tongue of the dumb sing.” Isaiah 35:5, 6

Jesus was sent by His Father on a mission to accomplish all things in the Law and Prophets. He set about completing that mission, and He continued through His last week before the cross.

Life application: Take time today to pray for people in your church to want to know God more intimately by wanting to know His word more fully. Those who think they can bypass this fundamental and basic step in knowing Him more personally are not thinking clearly.

It is true that we can be deeply in love with God by knowing the simple gospel. Many people lived lives full of love for Him without having a copy of His word, but to know Him intimately, and to understand what He expects of us more fully, there is no substitute for reading and contemplating Scripture.

It is truly our lifeline back to Him. Be sure to read it and to pray for others to want to do so as well. The word is what will bring about true change in the hearts and minds of those who have received Jesus.

Lord God, thank You for our precious Lord Jesus, who is so meticulously revealed to us in Your wonderful word. May we have the deepest hunger and desire to know You by knowing Him. And we will know Him when we know Your word. Help us to be responsible in this matter. Amen.

Monday, 6 July 2026

And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” Matthew 21:13

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And He says to them, ‘It has been written: “The ‘house, Mine’, ‘house, prayer’ it will be called.” You also, it, you made ‘cave, robbers’.’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus drove out those selling in the temple and overturned the tables of the money changers and those who sold doves. After having done that, Matthew next records, “And He says to them, ‘It has been written.’”

Jesus uses Scripture as the written authority to justify doing what He has done. Even if the leaders of Israel allowed this under their authority, what they allowed could not be justified if it conflicted with what God submitted in His word. It is His word that established them as a people and gave the leaders their authority to lead.

As for what had been written, Jesus loosely cites Isaiah and Jeremiah, saying, “The ‘house, Mine’, ‘house, prayer’ it will be called.”

This is from Isaiah 56:7. A literal translation from the Hebrew says –

“…for My house, ‘house, intercession’ it will be called to all the peoples.”

Jesus’ citation of this shows what the intent of the temple was. It was to be a house of intercession between God and man. And more, it was for all the peoples, meaning people groups that extend beyond the nation of Israel. Instead of presenting the temple to the peoples in this manner, Jesus next says, “You also, it, you made ‘cave, robbers’.”

Two new words are seen here. The first is spélaion, a cavern or cave. One can see the etymological ancestor of our word spelunk, a cave. Instead of a place of order and structure, a cave is an unshapely, dark dwelling where hidden deeds can be carried out.

The second new word is léstés, a robber. It is someone who steals out in the open, typically with violence. The thought is something like a bandit or a marauder. If on the high seas, it would be a pirate. Jesus’ words are cited from Jeremiah 7:11 –

“The ‘cave, tyrants’ it became, the house, the this, which it was called, My name, upon it.”

The Hebrew word parits, tyrant, is from parats, to break out. As such, the word refers to someone like a violent destroyer. The people had taken a good thing and destroyed its intended use. Because of their treatment of the House of God, Jesus was compelled to take action, setting things right before His Father.

Life application: One can see how God jealously protects His dwelling. The tabernacle and then the temple were edifices intended to reflect the glory of who God in Christ would be and what He would do. Each implement was a type and shadow of Jesus, meaning His person and His ministry.

They had profaned that by allowing things not designated by God to interfere with what was ordained by Him. But this is something we can do today as well. God has presented Christ Jesus to the world. The gospels are recorded, and the epistles have been provided to explain Jesus and His ministry.

But anytime we deviate from what is written, even unintentionally, we mar and deface God’s presentation of Christ, just as those of Israel marred and defaced the anticipations of Christ in their treatment of God’s house.

In Ezekiel 9:1-11, God judged and destroyed the people for exactly this irreverent attitude. Take time to read that passage today and think about what our actions deserve when we treat the word in a similar manner.

Do you think God is pleased with legalism? Is He pleased with liberal theology? Will He be forgiving of Joseph Smith’s addition to Scripture in the Book of Mormon or the Seventh Day Adventists’ esteeming of the writings of Ellen G. White? No. He will pour out His anger on those who so manipulate and twist His word for their own demented purposes.

God does not change. Let us not manipulate the sacredness of God’s word, but treat it as holy and sacred.

Lord God, may our treatment of Your word demonstrate a caring and respectful attitude toward its contents at all times. Help us to cherish it, share it properly, and exalt You through our application of it to our lives. Amen.