We're finally here! This chapter marks a dramatic turning point in the Gospel. Jesus has arrived at Jerusalem, the place he set his face like flint to move toward. But He doesn't enter like a conquering king the people are used to and might expect from their Messiah. He comes humbly, riding on a donkey, deliberately fulfilling the words of Zechariah: "Behold, you King is coming to you...humble, and mounted on a donkey."
For centuries, Israel had waited for their King to arrive. And now, the fullness of time has come upon them, and it's done so in the most humble of ways. The people receive Him with desperation in their voice, crying out, "Hosanna to the Son of David," a plea that literally translates into "Save us now." They were hungry and thirsty for freedom, for a way out of their bondage. But what they had yet to discover is exactly what kind of bondage Jesus intended to save them from.
Jesus makes it clear very quickly that He didn't come to confront earthly empires, like the Roman regime Isreal suffered under. He came to confront the powers of sin and death. He came to expose false religion and to establish an everlasting kingdom. He came to provide eternal salvation, not earthly deliverance.
His first confrontation with evil was in the place reserved for the most Holy of purposes, the Temple, God's dwelling place on earth. He examined the filth in His Father's house and exposed it with the authority of a true King, a righteous King. And he cleansed it with the actions of a true High Priest. He defends the most vulnerable against the greed and exploits of the ones charged with protecting them.
Then Matthew records a strange cursing of a barren fig tree. A tree, covered in leaves, showing all the signs of fruitfulness, had no fruit to offer. The imagery was clear. Israel had matured into a pretender. They had all the outward signs of righteousness, but Jesus found no fruit.
And so Jesus delivers a scathing message of hypocrisy to the religious leaders. They are worse than tax collectors and prostitues. They remind Him of evil wretches who murder God's messengers. They were just one more example in a long line of obstinance throughout Israel's history, and now they were about to confirm all of the Messiah's warnings by rejecting the Son of God.