July 6

Text: Matthew 21:10, 11

And when He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?"  And the multitudes were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee." (NASB)

It seems always to be an “us” and “them.”  “Us” are always correct, and “them” are always incorrect.  No matter the situation or the issue, “us” have the correct ideas, come to the correct conclusions, have the correct information, and have the correct procedures.  Sadly, “them” are always incorrect—looks like that “they” would learn not to be wrong all the time!  All “they” need is to listen to “us!”

There were two basic sections that contained most of the Jews in first century Palestine—Galilee and Judea.  Galilee was composed mostly of Jews who were considered the uneducated.  It was basically known for agriculture and fish.  Galileans spoke with their own dialect (Acts 2:6, 7), were not known for religious development or teaching, and were not known for centers of learning. 

Judea was the place to go if a Jew was interested in religious education.  It was the area of renowned rabbis, the holy city, the temple, the Counsel, and the high priest.  It was the religious center of the Jewish people in and out of Palestine.  If a person wished to locate the “who is who” in Israel, that person would go to Judea.

Though much of Jesus’ ministry is not found in the four gospels, they do indicate that most of Jesus’ time was spent in Galilee.  For Jesus to do what he did as a religious guide and teacher, he came from the wrong area.   (Consider John 1:45, 46 and 7:41, 52.)

Before Jesus entered Jerusalem, the multitude did not care if Jesus came from Galilee.  The first question asked when he entered Jerusalem was, “Who is this?”  The multitude said that he was Jesus the prophet “from Nazareth in Galilee.”  To Jerusalem’s “who is who,” Jesus was not one of “us.”

Suggestion for reflection: How do you distinguish “us” from “them?”  (Read Romans 10:1-12.)