Matthew 21

“And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,” Naming All keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of…” Naming King and Sion keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.” The line’s distinctive content terms include clothes, colt. Its relationship to verses 6 and 8 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them…” The line’s distinctive content terms include branches, garments, multitude. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that…” Naming Hosanna and Blessed keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.” Naming Galilee and Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.” The line’s distinctive content terms include blind, healed, lame. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple…” Naming David and Hosanna keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.” Naming Bethany keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.” The line’s distinctive content terms include city, hungered, morning. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it…” The line’s distinctive content terms include tree, fruit, grow. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!” The line’s distinctive content terms include disciples, marvelled, soon. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do…” Naming Jesus and Neither keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.” The line’s distinctive content terms include repented. Its relationship to verses 28 and 30 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.” The line’s distinctive content terms include likewise, second. Its relationship to verses 29 and 31 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged…” Naming Hear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits…” The line’s distinctive content terms include drew, fruit, fruits. Its relationship to verses 33 and 35 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.” Naming Again keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.” The line’s distinctive content terms include last, reverence. Its relationship to verses 36 and 38 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include caught, slew, vineyard. Its relationship to verses 38 and 40 shows what work it does in this passage.

“When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.” Naming Pharisees keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.” The line’s distinctive content terms include feared, hands, multitude. Its relationship to verses 45 shows what work it does in this passage.