Son of David – Praying Pint

34.p. “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Matthew 21:1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

This coming of Christ was described by the prophet Zechariah, Zec 9:9. When Christ would appear in his glory, it is in his meekness, not in his majesty, in mercy to work salvation. As meekness and outward poverty were fully seen in Zion’s King, and marked his triumphal entrance to Jerusalem, how wrong covetousness, ambition, and the pride of life must be in Zion’s citizens! They brought the ass, but Jesus did not use it without the owner’s consent. The trappings were such as came to hand. We must not think the clothes on our backs too dear to part with for the service of Christ. The chief priests and the elders afterwards joined with the multitude that abused him upon the cross; but none of them joined the multitude that did him honour. Those that take Christ for their King, must lay their all under his feet. Hosanna signifies, Save now, we beseech thee! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord! But of how little value is the applause of the people! The changing multitude join the cry of the day, whether it be Hosanna, or Crucify him. Multitudes often seem to approve the gospel, but few become consistent disciples. When Jesus was come into Jerusalem all the city was moved; some perhaps were moved with joy, who waited for the Consolation of Israel; others, of the Pharisees, were moved with envy. So various are the motions in the minds of men upon the approach of Christ’s kingdom. (Henry)

As I read Henry’s comments I think his point on “Cry of the day, whether it be Hosanna, or Crucify Him”, is common in all men. Jesus made this very clear when He spoke of the seeds that fell on dry ground and had no roots, seeds that grew into plants but were choked out by weeds, and seeds that grew and produced fruit. Caught in the moment and being committed for a moment is not trusting, relying, obeying, surrendering, serving, or following Jesus with a repentant heart. No, it is a head nod and words from the lips but not from the heart. Being convinced that this is what it takes to have eternal life they continue on just as before but with a confidence that is fueled by satan and demonic spirits that guide and direct the affairs of this world. When given the choice of Barabas or Jesus, they chose Barabas and cried out “crucify Him.” Satan’s demonic spirit invades people’s hearts and minds and guides them toward envy, power, glory, self-worth, self-reliance, addictive drugs, pornography, lies, fear, hate, and worldly obedient foolishness. Look at what society approves, pornography is called, adult entertainment, abortion is called, woman’s right, and those engaged in transgender and gay lifestyles are called, alternative lifestyles. These are the very people that Jesus willingly went to the cross to save. Condemning them or giving head nods of approval are both wrong. However, we are to see them as they are, lost, blind, and deaf to things of God. We do well to give them hope in Jesus Christ, sharing the gospel with them.

Giving head nods and lip service to Jesus is another tolerance people accept as the norm as society moves away from the light of Jesus Christ choosing darkness rather than the light.

Believing, trusting, humbly serving, following, and obeying Jesus Christ for His honor and glory is more than a head nod or words from your lips. It is a repentant change of your heart and mind that is soul deep. As His love permeates into our hearts and minds, it is then we will see, with compassion, the souls bound by satan’s deceptions and want to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

34.o. “Lord, let our eyes be opened so that we may follow you”

Matthew 20:29 And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

These blind men had no hope of seeing. They were blind and no human effort would ever give them their sight back. They knew this. There was no doubt about it. They were, as it was, lost in their blindness and only a helping stick or another person could guide them. How would they know if a person giving them help was true in this help? They had no other hope and would have to rely upon this as a means to get through life. Any dangers one would normally see with their eyes and avoid would require others to keep them on a path free from danger or harm. Now they hear of Jesus walking by, and no doubt they had heard of His miracles, and they cry out; “have mercy on us”. They are rebuked by the crowd for they must have been loud and desperate in their pleas. Jesus asks, “what is it you want me to do?” “Open our eyes” is the reply. People in the crowd told them to be quiet – they rebuked the blind men. Is it possible that these people saw no hope for these men’s condition and that their cries for mercy were nothing more than an unwelcome cry in the wilderness? Such it is with man. They will see the sinful condition of a person and say there is no hope for them, but with God all things are possible.

How many times did Jesus speak of people being blind to things of God and about those who, being blind, would lead others – the blind leading the blind? When God opens the eyes and softens, as it were, a blind person’s heart and they become aware of the things of God, namely the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they will intentionally choose to either cry out, “have mercy on me” or continue in their blindness. I know it happens but for the life of me I can’t figure out how a person makes this choice. I do know that when God opened my eyes and heart to the gospel, I knew that I was lost and without hope, “blind”, and that if I called out and trusted and believed in Him, He would save me from this blindness and give me eternal life sight. As I say this it occurs to me that I don’t know how many times in my life I may have rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ and chose to live blind and not even know it. I do know that when my ears and eyes to my heart and mind were opened to the Gospel, I fully understood my hopeless, blind, and lost condition. Though I did not cry out, I did humbly cry out from the depths of my heart and mind and sought and desired redemption, forgiveness, and eternal life. At that moment I trusted in and relied on Jesus Christ. The eyes to my heart and mind, as it were, were made new. I could see. I was given new life, born again. No longer blind to things of God. I was no longer a blind orphan but rather an unblinded child of God.

How is a person, blind to things of God, to find their sight when so many in this world try to guide them away from it, even telling them that they are not blind? By us proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and living a life that honors and glorifies Jesus Christ in all we say think and do. We are to be guides that points and directs others to healing for their spiritually blinded hearts, minds, and souls.

Oh, that we did know of our spiritual blindness! Many are spiritually blind, yet say they see. Jesus cured these blind men; and when they had received sight, they followed him. None follow Christ blindly. He first by his grace opens men’s eyes, and so draws their hearts after him. (Henry)

Now is the day of salvation and if the eyes to your heart and mind have been opened to see the Gospel, humbly surrender, repent, trust, follow, and rely upon Jesus Christ and you will be given sight – new eyes, new ears, new mind, and new heart with which you will find grace, mercy, joy, peace, refuge, courage, hope, faith, love, and rest in the promise of redemption, forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life.

33.l. “You have given me relief when I was in distress”

Matthew 15:21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Psalms 4:1  Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

Jeremiah 50:6-7    “My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray, turning them away on the mountains. From mountain to hill they have gone. They have forgotten their fold.  All who found them have devoured them, and their enemies have said, ‘We are not guilty, for they have sinned against the LORD, their habitation of righteousness, the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’

Ezekiel 34:5-6   So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered;  they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.

Ezekiel 34:16    I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.

Ezekiel 34:23  And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd.

Acts 13:46    And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.

The dark corners of the country, the most remote, shall share Christ’s influences; afterwards the ends of the earth shall see his salvation. The distress and trouble of her family brought a woman to Christ; and though it is need that drives us to Christ, yet we shall not therefore be driven from him. She did not limit Christ to any particular instance of mercy, but mercy, mercy, is what she begged for: she pleads not merit, but depends upon mercy. It is the duty of parents to pray for their children, and to be earnest in prayer for them, especially for their souls. Have you a son, a daughter, grievously vexed with a proud devil, an unclean devil, a malicious devil, led captive by him at his will? this is a case more deplorable than that of bodily possession, and you must bring them by faith and prayer to Christ, who alone is able to heal them. (Henry)

This mother speaks as though she herself were the one that needed healing, identifying herself with her oppressed daughter, as though the horrible anguish, distress, and torment lay upon her own spirit and could not be relieved without the cure of her suffering daughter. (Guzik)

But he answered her not a word,…. Not that he did not hear her, or that he despised either her person or petition, or that he was not moved with it; but to continue her importunity, and try her faith, and make it manifest: for like reasons the Lord does not always, and immediately, answer the requests of his people. This giving her no answer, either that he would, or would not help her. (Gill)

But he answered her not a word,…. Not that he did not hear her, or that he despised either her person or petition, or that he was not moved with it; but to continue her importunity, and try her faith, and make it manifest: for like reasons the Lord does not always, and immediately, answer the requests of his people. This giving her no answer, either that he would, or would not help her. (unknown)

Send her away; for she cries after us.—It appears that after no response from Jesus the mother turned to the disciples. The disciples words, as interpreted by our Lord’s answer, were, in some sense, a plea in favor of the woman. They wished Him to grant what she asked for, and so to dismiss her. And yet we feel that their words were far harsher than their Master’s silence. They wanted only to be rid of her presence, which had followed them from the streets into the house, to be freed from the loud eager cries which vexed them. (Elliot)

I am not sent, but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel; as a priest, or as a Saviour and Redeemer, he was sent to make satisfaction and atonement for the sins of all God’s elect, and to obtain eternal redemption and salvation for all of them, whether Jews or Gentiles; but as a prophet, in the discharge of his own personal ministry, he was sent by his Father only to the Jews; he was the “minister of the circumcision”, Romans 15:8 that is, a minister to the circumcised Jews; he was sent only to preach the Gospel to them, and work miracles among them, in proof of his Messiahship; and upon their rejection of him, then his apostles were to be sent among the Gentiles; but he himself was sent only to the Jews, here styled “the lost sheep of the house of Israel”: by “the house of Israel”, is meant the whole body of the Jewish nation, so called from Israel, the name of Jacob their father, from whom they sprung; and by the “lost sheep” of that house, are more especially designed the elect of God among them: for though all the individuals of that house were “lost” persons, considered in Adam, and in themselves, as the rest of mankind, and Christ, in the external ministry of the word, was sent to preach to them all; yet the elect of God are only “sheep”: they are the sheep of Christ, of his pasture, and of his hand, whom he has the particular care and charge of; and who, in their natural state, are lost and straying, and could never find their way, or recover themselves from their lost state in Adam, and by their own transgressions; but he came to seek, and to save them, and to these his ministry was powerful and efficacious. (Gill)