Matthew 21:2, commentary and pictures

Jesus sends two disciples to the village opposite them to find at once a donkey tied with her unridden colt and to loose them and bring them to him, showing foreknowledge of what they will meet. In procuring and riding them he fulfills Zechariah's prophecy of the promised King coming to Jerusalem lowly on an ass and its colt, the mount of Israel's kings. By this deliberate choice he publicly presents himself as Messiah and King, heir to David's throne, though he had before refused royal honors, displaying works of mercy rather than conquest. The entry is planned to fix all attention on the crowning sacrifice that ends his mission, when at Passover he sets himself apart as the antitypical Lamb giving his life for the sins of the world. The crowds hail him expecting an earthly reign and deliverance from oppressors, but within days see him crucified, and their hopes fail until his resurrection opens the prophecies of his suffering. Even in triumph he remains lowly, dimly foreshadowing his coming in the clouds with power and glory, while the entry with the cleansing of the temple and the blighting of the fig tree warns of Jerusalem's doom for fruitless profession.

Instructions and Immediate Setting

Jesus sent two disciples to the village opposite them, Bethphage nearby, on the errand that prepared his entry into Jerusalem. They were told they would straightway find an ass tied and a colt with her, the colt with its mother, and were commanded to loose them and bring them to him, directions showing foreknowledge. The colt was one that no one had ever ridden.

The disciples did as instructed though puzzled, since he had always traveled on foot. The request was granted through a stranger's kindness. He chose the colt and rode the donkey.

This happened as he approached the Passover at Jerusalem in the beautiful season when many had come for the feast. The raising of Lazarus had drawn a large enthusiastic crowd to where he was staying. Guided by Lazarus and surrounded by people he had healed and delivered, he rode in amid accompanying crowds. The slopes of the Mount of Olives echoed with shouts and the joyful crowd welcomed him with palm branches and garments spread on the road.

Promised King Proclaimed

The fetching of the tied ass and her colt and the riding upon them fulfills Zechariah's prophecy of the promised King coming to Jerusalem lowly, riding on an ass and its colt, the scene Isaiah saw amid praise and rejoicing. The animal so prepared was the kind ridden by Israel's kings, and by mounting it He presented Himself publicly to the people as Messiah and King, the promised heir to David's throne. Though He had always traveled on foot and had previously refused royal honors, His detailed directions showed foreknowledge, the request was granted through a stranger's kindness, and He chose the colt which no one had ever ridden for His royal entry.

The procession was guided by Lazarus and ringed by people He had healed and delivered praising God, displaying the results of His works of mercy and salvation rather than trophies of military conquest. The disciples, though puzzled by the unusual mount, understood the instruction to ride as the sign that He was about to claim kingly power, enter the capital as King of the Jews, and take David's throne. They brought the animals as instructed, He rode the colt into the city, and the entry prompted the crowd to hail Him as Messiah and King with Hosanna to the Son of David.

When priests and elders wanted the multitude silenced, the praise had to continue because prophecy must be fulfilled, that if the people held their peace even the stones would cry out. The disciples and followers expected Him to be crowned to reign on David's throne and to deliver Israel from its oppressors with an earthly kingdom. Within a few days those same disciples saw the Master they expected to reign stretched upon the cruel cross above mocking Pharisees, then crucified and buried, their high hopes disappointed and the darkness of death closing about them, a disappointment greater than any later disappointment over His expected coming. They did not understand the prophecies of His suffering and resurrection until He rose and appeared to them, yet He remained true to His promises with sweet consolation and rich reward for the true and faithful.

Sacrifice and Judgment Foreshadowed

The sending for the colt begins His deliberate public entry to draw all attention to the crowning sacrifice that would end His mission to a fallen world. At Passover, as the people assembled at Jerusalem, He by a voluntary act set Himself apart as an oblation, the antitypical Lamb giving His life for the sins of the world. In all future ages the church must make His death a subject of deep thought and study, with every fact connected with it verified beyond doubt, so the demonstrations preceding His great sacrifice had to call the attention of all people to the sacrifice itself and cause all eyes to follow His rapid progress to the final end.

The startling events of the ride were calculated to be the talk of every tongue and to bring Him before every mind. After His crucifixion those events would be connected with His trial and death, searched prophecies would reveal Him as the Messiah, and converts would be multiplied in all lands. Even in this one triumphant scene of His earthly life He remained true to the life of humiliation He had accepted, bearing the burden of humanity till His life was given for the life of the world, instead of appearing escorted by heavenly angels and heralded by the trumps of God. That humble ride dimly foreshadowed His future coming in the clouds of heaven with power and glory, amid the triumph of angels and the rejoicing of the saints.

The triumphal entrance, together with the cleansing of the temple and the blighting of the barren fig tree, pointed to Jerusalem's coming doom. The entry became the setting for warning the disciples about the nation's pride and apostasy and its failure to recognize its Redeemer. The rejoicing was followed by His tears over Jerusalem, His final pleading with the city in love and compassion. The pretentious, fruitless fig tree warned that professed service to God without lives bearing fruit does not glorify Him.

Preaching the riding into Jerusalem exalts and lifts up Jesus, showing salvation is not by law, and draws hearers to baptism and uniting with the church. It calls hearers to let the word take hold upon souls, to do their part well, and to stand acquitted when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened and everyone's account is balanced. It shows the Son of God came to draw all men unto Him. Yet His coming brings not peace but a sword, so His followers must walk in the light of His glorious example without questioning the cost in labor and trial and suffering, each having work to maintain the truth in its purity and to push the triumphs of His cross and extend His kingdom.