“When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives… And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves” (Matt 21:1, 12).

Matthew presumes upon his reader’s familiarity with the Hebrew Scriptures to catch his allusions to the final chapter of the book of Zechariah. The Mount of Olives is mentioned only twice in the Hebrew Bible, and both times in a verse that refers to the LORD’S coming to Jerusalem (Zech 14:4). A few verses after Matthew mentions the Mount of Olives, he tells us that Yeshua enters the temple and drives out the merchants. This is an allusion to the final verse of Zechariah 14: “And there will no longer be a Canaanite [tradesman] in the house of the LORD of hosts in that day” (v. 21). [Although not readily apparent, the word “Canaanite” also means “tradesman” in Biblical Hebrew (see Prov 31:24; Zech 11:7 in the LXX).]

Now let’s consider the radical theological implications of Matthew’s linking of Yeshua’s actions in Matthew 21 to the final chapter of Zechariah. Matthew is not only proclaiming that Yeshua is Israel’s king, but also identifying him as the embodiment of Israel’s God. After all, Zechariah says quite explicitly that it is Y-H-W-H himself who will stand upon the Mount of Olives on that final day (see Zech 14:3-4).

No doubt, Matthew knew that Zechariah’s prophecy will only be fulfilled at Yeshua’s second coming.

No doubt, Matthew knew that Zechariah’s prophecy will only be fulfilled at Yeshua’s second coming. But the purpose of his allusions to Zechariah 14 is to make it absolutely clear to his readers that Yeshua is the LORD (God with us!) who has come to save his people. And just like the wise men of old (Matt 2:1-2), genuinely wise people still seek and worship him! “And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one” (Zech 14:9).