Matthew 21:11
French Vigouroux 1902 Bible
Et le peuple disait : C'est Jésus, le prophète de Nazareth en Galilée.
What Does This Mean?
In this verse from Matthew's Gospel, a large group of people are identifying Jesus as the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee. The crowd is acknowledging his identity and reputation.
Explained for Children
Imagine you're at a school play and everyone knows who's playing the main character because they've seen them practice. It's like that, but with Jesus. Everyone knows him as the special teacher from where he grew up.
Historical Background
Matthew wrote this Gospel around AD 80-90 for Jewish Christians living in the Diaspora. The crowd's recognition of Jesus highlights his growing influence and reputation among ordinary people during a time when religious and political leaders were wary of him.
Living It Out Today
Today, we can apply this verse by considering how our actions and words may identify us to others. Like the crowd recognizing Jesus as a prophet, how do your choices show who you are to those around you?
Topics
recognitionfaithidentityprophetsgospelreputation
Related Verses
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the crowd in Matthew 21:11?
The crowd likely consists of people who have been following Jesus or those who've heard about his teachings and miracles, recognizing him as a prophet from Nazareth.
Why does Matthew mention that Jesus was from Nazareth?
Matthew emphasizes Jesus' background to connect with the expectations for the Messiah. It also shows how Jesus is known by where he came from, rather than from Jerusalem, which might have been more prestigious at the time.
How did people know about Jesus as a prophet?
People likely knew of Jesus through word-of-mouth and his own teachings and miracles. His reputation had grown among the common folk who traveled with him or heard stories about him.
What does this verse tell us about how Jesus was perceived by ordinary people?
This verse shows that ordinary people recognized Jesus for who he was, a prophet from Nazareth, acknowledging his teachings and actions. This reflects their faith in him despite the skepticism of religious leaders.