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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 21:2 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 21:2 is a verse from the New Testament of the Christian Bible, in which Jesus is instructing his disciples to go to a village and find a donkey (an ass) and her colt, untie them, and bring them to him.

This verse is part of the narrative of Jesus's entry into Jerusalem, an event often referred to as the Triumphal Entry, which takes place shortly before the events of the Last Supper, Jesus's crucifixion, and subsequent resurrection.

The request for the animals is not merely a logistical arrangement for transportation; it is rich in symbolic significance. It depicts Jesus as a king who claims authority and requires a mount for his royal procession.

However, unlike the horses and chariots that would be characteristic of a conquering hero, Jesus chooses a humble donkey, in keeping with his nature and mission.

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Historical Context

This verse is situated within the context of the Gospel of Matthew, which is generally believed by scholars to have been written between A.D. 70 and 100.

The Gospel itself is largely focused on the Jewish audience, emphasizing Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.

The entry into Jerusalem occurs during the Passover festival, a time when Jews would have been gathering in Jerusalem to celebrate and remember their deliverance from slavery in Egypt.

The Passover itself was a time of heightened messianic expectation among the Jews, many of whom were longing for a liberator to free them from Roman occupation.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives see this event in the life of Jesus in varying ways.

From a Christian viewpoint, the entry into Jerusalem is seen as a deliberate fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, which speaks of a king coming in humility on a donkey. This perspective argues that Jesus orchestrates the event to publicly assert his messianic identity.

Some theologians also see this as an act of peaceful revolution. Jesus's choice of a donkey, rather than a warhorse, symbolizes his alternative vision of kingship, one grounded in peace and service rather than power and domination.

Practical Applications

The actions of Jesus in Matthew 21:2 can serve as a model for humility and peaceful intentions.

In daily life, individuals can strive to emulate the simplicity and selfless nature of Jesus, choosing service over authority, and peace over conflict.

It can serve as a reminder to seek out non-violent solutions and to use one's influence for the good of others.

Cross-References

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."
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."
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

"Ass" in this context refers to the domesticated donkey, an animal commonly used for work and transport during biblical times.
"Colt" denotes a young donkey and has connotations of innocence and humility.
"Loose" or "untie" implies freedom and unbinding, signifying the release of the animals for a special purpose.

These words in the original Greek manuscripts carry meanings that reinforce the themes of humility and divine purpose.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient cultures, the entry of a king or important figure into a city was often marked by ceremonial processes. The Roman Triumph, for example, involved a victorious general entering the city with pomp and splendor.

In contrast, Jesus's choice of a donkey has similarities with Eastern traditions where spiritual leaders or avatars are portrayed with humble attributes, emphasizing their accessibility and their connection with the common people.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understandings do not directly intersect with the claims of this verse, as it does not make assertions about the natural world or laws of science.

However, animal behavior studies may offer insights into the domestication and temperament of donkeys, which could help modern readers understand why a donkey would have been an especially suitable choice for Jesus's purposes.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have offered interpretations of Matthew 21:2 over the years.

Some emphasize the fulfillment of prophecy and messianic expectations, while others highlight the deliberate counter-cultural statement Jesus was making.

Many commentaries observe the contrast between the expectations of a political/military Messiah and the peaceful nature of Jesus's ministry, as reflected in his choice of the humble donkey as his mount.

Matthew 21

Matthew 21

What does Matthew 21:2 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 21:2 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?