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Matthew 21

And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.

And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,

And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.

Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.

And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

What does Matthew 21:1 mean?

Explanation

The verse Matthew 21:1 describes the beginning of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, an event often referred to as the "Triumphal Entry." In it, Jesus is approaching Jerusalem, coming to the area of Bethphage at the Mount of Olives.

He instructs two of his disciples to go ahead into a village, which later verses explain is to retrieve a donkey and a colt for Him to ride into the city.

This action is significant as it fulfills the prophecy from Zechariah 9:9, which speaks of a king coming to Jerusalem "gentle, and riding upon a donkey." The literal meaning reflects Jesus’ deliberate approach toward His final days in Jerusalem, while the deeper meaning ties to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and the presentation of Jesus as a Messiah.

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Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, Jerusalem was a city under Roman occupation, which brought about political tension and religious expectation for a messianic deliverer.

The Mount of Olives is east of Jerusalem, and Bethphage was a village located near the Mount of Olives.

Passover was near, bringing many Jews to Jerusalem for one of the most significant festivals of their religious calendar.

This event takes place in this broader context of expectation for divine intervention and national liberation.

Theological Insights

The event depicted in Matthew 21:1 has been interpreted in various theological ways.

Traditional Christian theology understands this event as Jesus openly declaring His messianic identity.

The choice of riding a donkey, in particular, is significant; it symbolizes peace, contrasting the war horses of conquering generals, suggesting that Jesus' kingdom is of a different nature.

Another theological viewpoint may highlight that Jesus orchestrates this event, demonstrating His sovereignty and control over the unfolding of biblical prophecy.

Others might focus on the theme of humility that is exemplified by His choice of transportation.

Practical Applications

This verse, and the event it commences, can serve as a reminder of the importance of fulfilling one's destiny with humility and adherence to divine will.

It encourages believers to seek peaceful resolutions, rather than force or aggression, as a reflection of the character of Jesus.

The idea of intentionally pursuing one’s purpose, even when that includes facing difficult circumstances, can provide guidance and encouragement for individuals in challenging situations.

Cross-References

Zechariah 9:9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."
Matthew 21:4-5 "All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass."
John 12:14-15 "And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt."

Language Study

The original Greek text uses key words such as "Bethphage," which comes from the Aramaic "beth phagi" meaning "house of figs." This suggests an actual location rather than a symbolic name.

"Mount of Olives" is translated from "oros ton elaiōn," indicating its prominence and association with olive trees.

When it says Jesus "sent" two disciples, the Greek verb "apostellō" is used, which means "to send out/off" and is the root of the English word "apostle" indicating a sending with authority.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

At the time of Jesus, entering a city on a donkey during major Jewish festivals was not an uncommon practice, but it held specific messianic connotations based on Jewish prophecies.

Other cultures have myths and legends about figures entering cities or completing journeys that signal a major shift or fulfillment of a destiny, though these are distinct from the biblical narrative of Jesus.

For example, Roman triumphal processions typically featured military conquest, whereas Jesus' entry on a donkey signifies a peaceful mission.

Scientific Perspectives

There are no direct scientific implications in this verse as it primarily deals with a historical event and theological significance.

However, scientific archaeology contributes to the understanding of historical context by shedding light on ancient Jerusalem, travel methods, festivals, and the flora around the Mount of Olives.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators offer various insights on Matthew 21:1. William Barclay notes the contrast between Jesus’ humble approach and the common expectation of a conquering messianic king.

Commentators like R.

France highlight the importance of prophecy fulfillment in Matthew's account, illustrating how each action of Jesus serves a purpose in the larger biblical narrative.

John Calvin reflects on Jesus' meticulous preparations, pointing to divine providence and Jesus' awareness of His mission.

Diverse interpretations exist, but many agree on the essential points of the fulfillment of prophecy and the representation of Jesus' kingdom.

Matthew 21

Matthew 21

What does Matthew 21:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 21:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?