Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem from a DonkeyBible World
21:4Matthew 21:4
All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
All this was done because Jesus riding into Jerusalem fulfilled what the prophet spoke of the coming of Israel's King, the promised Messiah and heir to David's throne. The prophecy was spoken by Zechariah five hundred years before Christ's birth, and to fulfill it Jesus sent two disciples to bring a colt and rode it into Jerusalem as the Passover crowds gathered. He came lowly and humbly without royal splendor or earthly conquest, yet riding as Israel's kings rode he accepted royal homage and public welcome as King. By entering publicly as King while remaining humble he presented himself as Messiah, Redeemer and Son of God come to draw all men to him, and as the antitypical Passover Lamb set himself apart as an offering for the sins of the world. The disciples and crowds misunderstood this to mean he would then be crowned as an earthly king to free Israel, and within days that hope broke at the cross, yet the fulfillment did not depend on their understanding, and after he suffered and rose they could see prophecy had also foretold his suffering and resurrection.
Prophecy Fulfilled in Entry
All this was done because the prophet's word about the coming of Israel's King had to be fulfilled in Jesus' ride into Jerusalem. By choosing to ride the colt into the city He came as the promised Messiah and heir to David's throne. The prophecy so fulfilled was spoken by Zechariah five hundred years before Christ's birth. To fulfill it He sent two disciples to bring the colt for the journey into Jerusalem as the Passover crowds gathered to accompany Him. That colt is described as one that had never been ridden, and as an ass.
The entry took place in the beautiful season of the feast, when many visitors had come hoping to see Jesus. The raising of Lazarus had drawn an enthusiastic crowd. As He rode in on the donkey the Mount of Olives echoed with the joyous shouts of the triumphant multitude. The crowd welcomed Him with garments spread in the path, palm branches waved, and cries of triumph.
He came lowly and humbly on the donkey, without royal splendor and without heavenly pageantry, and without taking royal honors by force. His triumph was unlike the triumphs of earthly conquerors, whose honors come from conquest, for His honors came from people He had delivered and healed, including those rescued from death. Riding the animal used by Israel's kings followed the custom of a royal entry. He accepted this royal homage and public welcome as King, entering with the honors and acclaim given to a king and hailed as Messiah.
All this was done deliberately, publicly, and exactly according to God's purpose, which men could not prevent. Because prophecy had to be fulfilled the shouting could not be stopped, and even the stones would have cried out if the people had held their peace. So fulfilled publicly and exactly, it gave unmistakable evidence that He was sent by God and revealed His character and mission. Isaiah also foresaw this coming amid the people's praise and rejoicing. Isaiah's words present Him as God coming to rule, bringing His reward and His work, and shepherding His flock with tender care by gathering the lambs and carrying them close.
By entering publicly as King while remaining humble He presented Himself as Messiah, Redeemer, and Son of God come to draw all men to Him. As the antitypical Passover Lamb He set Himself apart as an offering for the sins of the world, directing attention to His coming sacrifice. The entry and the events surrounding the ride would be remembered alongside His trial, death, and resurrection to prompt searching of the prophecies and confirm His identity. It was also a dim foreshadowing of His future glory and coming in glory, when He will be welcomed with the words about being blessed as the one who comes in the Lord's name.
King Misunderstood and Applied
The fulfillment was mistaken to mean that he would then be acknowledged and crowned as Israel's earthly king in Jerusalem, take David's throne, and free Israel from its oppressors. The crowds flocking and crying Hosanna to the Son of David fed that hope, while garments spread in the path, palm branches, and cries of triumph welcomed him riding a colt that had never been ridden. He accepted this royal homage and public welcome as King, carrying out God's purpose even though his followers misunderstood what would follow and mistakenly expected him to claim earthly royal power. Because prophecy had to be fulfilled the shouting could not be stopped, and even the stones would have cried out if the people held their peace.
Within days that hope broke when he suffered and was stretched on the cruel cross above mocking Pharisees, and the disciples believed their hopes had ended. They were left in disappointed darkness of death far deeper than later disappointment, yet the fulfillment of prophecy did not depend on their understanding of what his kingship meant. After he suffered and rose from the dead they could see that prophecy had also foretold his suffering and resurrection. Christ stayed true to his promises with sweet consolation and rich reward for the true and faithful.
The triumphal entrance, along with the cleansing of the temple and the cursing of the barren fig tree, pointed to Jerusalem's doom. His tears over the city were a final plea of love and compassion. The barren fig tree used shortly after the entry was a symbol of the Jewish nation, whose showy leaves without fruit represented a people whose pride and apostasy had separated them from God and blinded them to their Redeemer. Its blighting represented God's righteous anger and Jerusalem's destruction, warning against profession of service to God without a life bearing fruit to his glory.
The chapter containing the journey to Jerusalem for the triumphal entry calls for careful study. Its account of riding into Jerusalem exalts and lifts up Jesus, showing his centrality against the charge of being saved by law. Speaking on it brings conviction of Christ's exaltation and leads to baptism and uniting with the church. The entry gives his followers a glorious example to walk in, calling each one to maintain the truth in its purity and to push the triumphs of his cross and extend his kingdom without questioning the cost in labor and trial and suffering. Hearers are called to let the word take hold upon souls and to do their part well so as to stand acquitted in the day of final accounts when judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened and everyone's account is balanced.
All this was done because Jesus riding into Jerusalem fulfilled what the prophet spoke of the coming of Israel's King, the promised Messiah and heir to David's throne. The prophecy was spoken by Zechariah five hundred years before Christ's birth, and to fulfill it Jesus sent two disciples to bring a colt and rode it into Jerusalem as the Passover crowds gathered. He came lowly and humbly without royal splendor or earthly conquest, yet riding as Israel's kings rode he accepted royal homage and public welcome as King. By entering publicly as King while remaining humble he presented himself as Messiah, Redeemer and Son of God come to draw all men to him, and as the antitypical Passover Lamb set himself apart as an offering for the sins of the world. The disciples and crowds misunderstood this to mean he would then be crowned as an earthly king to free Israel, and within days that hope broke at the cross, yet the fulfillment did not depend on their understanding, and after he suffered and rose they could see prophecy had also foretold his suffering and resurrection.
Prophecy Fulfilled in Entry
All this was done because the prophet's word about the coming of Israel's King had to be fulfilled in Jesus' ride into Jerusalem. By choosing to ride the colt into the city He came as the promised Messiah and heir to David's throne. The prophecy so fulfilled was spoken by Zechariah five hundred years before Christ's birth. To fulfill it He sent two disciples to bring the colt for the journey into Jerusalem as the Passover crowds gathered to accompany Him. That colt is described as one that had never been ridden, and as an ass.
The entry took place in the beautiful season of the feast, when many visitors had come hoping to see Jesus. The raising of Lazarus had drawn an enthusiastic crowd. As He rode in on the donkey the Mount of Olives echoed with the joyous shouts of the triumphant multitude. The crowd welcomed Him with garments spread in the path, palm branches waved, and cries of triumph.
He came lowly and humbly on the donkey, without royal splendor and without heavenly pageantry, and without taking royal honors by force. His triumph was unlike the triumphs of earthly conquerors, whose honors come from conquest, for His honors came from people He had delivered and healed, including those rescued from death. Riding the animal used by Israel's kings followed the custom of a royal entry. He accepted this royal homage and public welcome as King, entering with the honors and acclaim given to a king and hailed as Messiah.
All this was done deliberately, publicly, and exactly according to God's purpose, which men could not prevent. Because prophecy had to be fulfilled the shouting could not be stopped, and even the stones would have cried out if the people had held their peace. So fulfilled publicly and exactly, it gave unmistakable evidence that He was sent by God and revealed His character and mission. Isaiah also foresaw this coming amid the people's praise and rejoicing. Isaiah's words present Him as God coming to rule, bringing His reward and His work, and shepherding His flock with tender care by gathering the lambs and carrying them close.
By entering publicly as King while remaining humble He presented Himself as Messiah, Redeemer, and Son of God come to draw all men to Him. As the antitypical Passover Lamb He set Himself apart as an offering for the sins of the world, directing attention to His coming sacrifice. The entry and the events surrounding the ride would be remembered alongside His trial, death, and resurrection to prompt searching of the prophecies and confirm His identity. It was also a dim foreshadowing of His future glory and coming in glory, when He will be welcomed with the words about being blessed as the one who comes in the Lord's name.
King Misunderstood and Applied
The fulfillment was mistaken to mean that he would then be acknowledged and crowned as Israel's earthly king in Jerusalem, take David's throne, and free Israel from its oppressors. The crowds flocking and crying Hosanna to the Son of David fed that hope, while garments spread in the path, palm branches, and cries of triumph welcomed him riding a colt that had never been ridden. He accepted this royal homage and public welcome as King, carrying out God's purpose even though his followers misunderstood what would follow and mistakenly expected him to claim earthly royal power. Because prophecy had to be fulfilled the shouting could not be stopped, and even the stones would have cried out if the people held their peace.
Within days that hope broke when he suffered and was stretched on the cruel cross above mocking Pharisees, and the disciples believed their hopes had ended. They were left in disappointed darkness of death far deeper than later disappointment, yet the fulfillment of prophecy did not depend on their understanding of what his kingship meant. After he suffered and rose from the dead they could see that prophecy had also foretold his suffering and resurrection. Christ stayed true to his promises with sweet consolation and rich reward for the true and faithful.
The triumphal entrance, along with the cleansing of the temple and the cursing of the barren fig tree, pointed to Jerusalem's doom. His tears over the city were a final plea of love and compassion. The barren fig tree used shortly after the entry was a symbol of the Jewish nation, whose showy leaves without fruit represented a people whose pride and apostasy had separated them from God and blinded them to their Redeemer. Its blighting represented God's righteous anger and Jerusalem's destruction, warning against profession of service to God without a life bearing fruit to his glory.
The chapter containing the journey to Jerusalem for the triumphal entry calls for careful study. Its account of riding into Jerusalem exalts and lifts up Jesus, showing his centrality against the charge of being saved by law. Speaking on it brings conviction of Christ's exaltation and leads to baptism and uniting with the church. The entry gives his followers a glorious example to walk in, calling each one to maintain the truth in its purity and to push the triumphs of his cross and extend his kingdom without questioning the cost in labor and trial and suffering. Hearers are called to let the word take hold upon souls and to do their part well so as to stand acquitted in the day of final accounts when judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened and everyone's account is balanced.