Catholic Bible Study – Augustine Institute

Episode: Matthew 21:1-22
Date: December 6, 2025
Hosts: Dr. Tim Gray (A) & Dr. Michael Barber (B)

Episode Overview

This episode resumes the in-depth study of the Gospel of Matthew, focusing on the opening verses of chapter 21 (Matthew 21:1-22). Dr. Tim Gray and Dr. Michael Barber examine Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the significance of the donkey prophecy, the imagery of garments and branches, the cleansing of the temple, the healing of the blind and lame, and the cursing of the fig tree. With rich historical, theological, and intertextual insights, the hosts guide listeners through how these events reveal Jesus as the Messianic King, echo prophetic traditions, and announce both judgment and the dawning of a new covenant age.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting and Continuation of the Study

• The podcast resumes after a pause, now from a new studio, responding to listener requests to continue the study of Matthew (00:00–01:28).
• The scene is set for Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem—His journey culminating in the triumphal entry, a pivotal moment in His ministry.

2. The Triumphal Entry: Prophecy and Royal Symbolism

• Prophecy Fulfilled

  • Jesus sends disciples ahead to find a donkey and colt, fulfilling Zechariah 9 (“Behold, your king is coming to you, meek and mounted on a donkey…”).
  • Dr. Barber: “This is not, you know, Jesus just picking up his Uber to get into Jerusalem. This is fulfilling the prophecies of Zechariah.” (02:31)

• Davidic and Messianic Echoes

  • The donkey evokes Solomon’s coronation (1 Kings 1), where Solomon rides David's mule into Jerusalem.
  • Dr. Gray: “The idea of humble is misleading… It's humble for a king to ride a donkey in Jerusalem… but… it's an important echo of King Solomon, the son of David, who is enthroned.” (04:19)

• Symbolism of Humility and Power

  • The term “meek” (Greek: praus) denotes strength under control, not weakness: “Meekness is not weakness… the king, like Solomon, doesn't have to demonstrate his might… He comes riding on a donkey.” (05:00)

• Contrast With Jesus’ Second Coming

  • First entry on a donkey (humility, peace); Second coming portrayed as a king on a war horse (power and judgment, cf. Revelation 19–20).
  • Dr. Gray: “He comes humbly the first time. The second time he'll come with power and judgment and Majesty.” (07:06)

3. Royal Honors: Garments and Branches

• Laying Cloaks on the Road (08:07–08:54)

  • Alludes to 2 Kings 9:13 (Jehu’s coronation): Laying one’s robe is a submission to royal authority, the robe symbolizing personal honor and dignity.
  • Dr. Gray: “…to take your robe off for somebody else to walk over was saying, 'I'm submitting to your authority and to your kingship.'” (08:23)

• Branches and Victory (09:03–10:24)

  • The crowd’s actions mirror the Maccabean celebration of temple purification (Hanukkah, 2 Maccabees 10), using palm branches as symbols of victory.
  • “This is a significant detail because it reminds us of what happened at the time of the Maccabees… after their great victory… they took fronds of palm as part of the procession to the temple.” (09:34)

• Singing of Psalm 118 (10:24–11:43)

  • “Hosanna” and other phrases evoke Thanksgiving hymns and Messianic expectations.
  • Dr. Barber: “‘Hosanna to the son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest,’ which is what we say every time we celebrate.” (11:43)

• Liturgical Connection

  • The Mass echoes these triumphal acclamations, reminding believers of Christ’s presence entering “the temple of our own bodies.” (11:43–12:08)

4. Misunderstanding and Messianic Mystery

• Galilean vs. Jerusalem Response
  • Jerusalem’s elite seem unaware, while pilgrims from Galilee acclaim Jesus.
  • “The people who know are the pilgrims... The people of Jerusalem... they don't understand what's going on.” (12:08)

5. Cleansing of the Temple: Judgment and New Covenant

• Prophetic Action

  • Jesus overturns tables, symbolizing divine judgment (Greek: katastropho), not merely “cleansing” but signifying the end of Herod’s temple as the locus of God’s presence.
  • Dr. Barber: “By sending all the traders out, Jesus is saying, ‘this can't be the eschatological temple, because look, there are merchants here in this temple.’” (15:01)

• Scriptural Echoes

  • Cites Isaiah 56 (“My house shall be called a house of prayer”) and Jeremiah 7:11 (“den of robbers”)—the latter a strong word denoting violent brigands, tying the temple authorities to spiritual robbery (13:08–14:34).

• Jeremiah and Jesus

  • Jesus aligns Himself with Jeremiah, who also prophesied temple destruction and faced persecution (20:38–22:51).
  • Dr. Gray: “Jesus is quoting one of the most infamous speeches of any prophet that got that prophet Jeremiah in a heap of trouble. So that took a lot of chutzpah…” (21:23)

6. Healing of the Blind and Lame in the Temple

• Matthew’s Unique Detail

  • Only Matthew records that Jesus heals the blind and lame in the temple—significant given the Davidic tradition that the “blind and lame” were barred from the sanctuary (2 Samuel 5).
  • Dr. Barber: “The fact that Jesus then has the blind and the lame come to him in the temple is remarkable... Jesus demonstrates that he is the true son of David by lifting that ailment, by healing them of that ailment.” (17:05)

• Reversing Exclusion

  • Jesus fulfills messianic prophecy by welcoming the marginalized, reversing the “curse” connected to King David’s conquest.
  • Dr. Gray: “Jesus is reversing the Davidic curse, in a sense… Jesus wants to take down the barriers. He wants us to have access to him and here he's doing that…” (18:59–19:15)

• Praise from Children: True Sight and Revelation

  • Children praise Jesus, while the leaders (spiritually blind) question him; fulfilling Psalm 8 and correlating to Matthew 11 (“You have revealed these things to infants”). (19:29–20:30)

7. Cursing the Fig Tree: Symbolic Judgment and Restoration

• Event and Context

  • Jesus curses a barren fig tree en route from Bethphage (House of Figs). Though not fig season, He seeks “fruit.”
  • Dr. Gray: “So what is Jesus really looking for when he’s looking for fruit from that fig tree?” (23:31)

• Fruit as Repentance

  • Echoes John the Baptist’s earlier calls to bear “good fruit” (Matthew 3) symbolizing works of repentance.
  • Dr. Barber: “Jesus is announcing… judgment is going to come on the leaders… who reject him and who don’t bear fruits of repentance.” (24:54)

• Allusion to Eden

  • Fig tree linked in Jewish tradition and Genesis 3 to the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (clothing of fig leaves after the fall).
  • Dr. Gray: “[T]here was a Jewish tradition that the fig tree was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil… Cursing the fig tree… could be a sign that Jesus is cursing the source of sin, so to speak, and that he is overturning the sin of Adam and Eve.” (25:08–26:23)

• Jesus as New Adam

  • By cursing the fig tree, Jesus symbolically deals with the root of humanity’s fall, positioning Himself as the new Adam restoring access to communion with God (26:32–27:40).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Meekness:

  • “Meekness is not weakness... the king, like Solomon, doesn't have to demonstrate his might by riding a majestic horse. He comes riding on a donkey.” – Dr. Barber (05:00)

• On Royal Submission:

  • “To take your robe off for somebody else to walk over was saying, ‘I'm submitting to your authority and to your kingship.’” – Dr. Gray (08:23)

• On the Cleansing of the Temple:

  • “This is not the future temple of the eschatological age. This is not the temple that the prophets announce will be the new temple.” – Dr. Barber (14:58)

• On Reversing Exclusion:

  • “Jesus is reversing the Davidic curse… Jesus wants to take down the barriers. He wants us to have access to him and here he's doing that…” – Dr. Gray (18:59)

• On Cursing the Fig Tree:

  • “Jesus is not just a new David… He's the new Adam.” – Dr. Barber (27:40)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:00–01:28 — Podcast intro, new studio, Matthew 21 context
• 02:28–07:28 — Triumphal entry: Zechariah’s prophecy, Davidic echoes, royal humility
• 08:07–10:24 — Garments, palms, and Maccabean background
• 10:57–12:08 — Psalm 118, “Hosanna”, liturgical echoes
• 12:50–15:01 — Cleansing the temple: Isaiah, Jeremiah, prophetic sign
• 16:05–20:30 — Healing the blind and lame, echoing 2 Samuel 5
• 21:23–22:51 — Jesus acting as a new Jeremiah and challenging the temple
• 23:16–27:40 — Cursing the fig tree, repentance, allusion to Eden, new Adam
• 27:40–End — Reflections, encouragement for Lent, plug for Formed and upcoming studies

Tone and Style

The hosts maintain an engaging, scholarly yet accessible tone, blending deep exegesis with lively banter and practical reflections. They intersperse teaching with humorous asides (“woke up on the wrong side of the bed… hangry”) and pastoral encouragement, grounding biblical insights for both study and devotion.

Final Thoughts

Listeners are invited to reflect on these pivotal events in Matthew 21 as essential to understanding Jesus’ messianic identity, the nature of true worship, judgment and mercy, and the invitation into the new temple of Christ’s body. The episode serves as a rich resource for Lenten or Holy Week preparation, with encouragement to continue reading and join the next installment.