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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 21:8 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 21:8 describes an event known as the Triumphal Entry, where Jesus Christ enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey.

The verse highlights the actions of the multitude, emphasizing the honor and recognition they give to Jesus as He approaches.

Spreading garments was a sign of respect and homage in ancient times, while the cutting of branches and spreading them on the road had symbolic meaning of victory and celebration.

The act of spreading these items before Jesus as He entered the city reflects the crowd’s recognition of Him as a significant figure, possibly as a prophet, king, or the long-awaited Messiah.

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Historical Context

The event took place during the time of Passover, a Jewish festival commemorating the Exodus from Egypt.

It was a period when Jerusalem would be crowded with Jews who had come to the city to celebrate the festival.

The act of spreading garments and branches was a cultural expression of royalty or the arrival of a significant person.

This background gives insight into why the crowd treated Jesus in such a manner, seeing Him in a messianic light and associating Him with the prophecies of a coming King.

Theological Insights

Different Christian denominations interpret this verse with varying emphasis. Traditional interpretation sees the event as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, specifically Zechariah 9:9, which speaks of a king coming on a donkey.

Theologically, this event is seen as an acknowledgment of Jesus’ kingship in a humble form, contrasting with the expectations of a political or military Messiah. It also prefigures the ultimate victory of Jesus over death.

Practical Applications

This verse can be applied in daily life as a model for how to receive and honor Christ.

Believers are encouraged to prepare their hearts, represented by the spreading of garments and branches, as a way to welcome Jesus as their leader and savior.

It serves as a reminder of the humility of Christ's approach and the importance of recognizing Him with reverence in one's life.

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.”
John 12:12-13 - “On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
2 Kings 9:13 - “Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king.”

Language Study

In the original Greek text, “a very great multitude” is translated from the word “οχλος πολυς σφοδρα” indicating an exceedingly large crowd.

The word "spread" from "εστρωσαν," points to the act of strewing or laying down.

“Garments” is translated from “ἱματια,” referring to items of clothing, symbolizing respect and submission. The significant term here is "branches" or “κλαδους,” which can indicate freshly cut twigs or boughs and are symbolic of celebration and victory.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The spreading of garments and branches has parallels in other ancient cultures where subjects would lay down cloaks or greenery before a king or victorious leader as a sign of submission and respect.

The Roman Triumph also involved victors being honored with the strewing of flowers and garments.

In other religious contexts, similar acts could be signs of worship or veneration of deities or revered individuals.

Scientific Perspectives

While Matthew 21:8 is not directly related to scientific discourse, the reference to branches can be connected to the agricultural practices and the natural environment of the region.

The types of trees available for branch cutting and the significance of palm branches, which are commonly assumed to be the type of branches used, could be studied from a botanical and ecological perspective to better understand the environment during the time of Jesus.

Commentaries

Commentators from various traditions have observed this event in Matthew 21:8 from different angles.

Some see this moment as a deliberate act of Jesus to fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah and present Himself as the promised Messiah to Israel. Others underscore the spontaneity of the crowd's act, emphasizing the authentic popular recognition of Jesus' authority.

Scholars also debate the level of messianic expectation among the crowd, with some suggesting political hopes while others propose a more spiritual or eschatological anticipation.

Matthew 21

Matthew 21

What does Matthew 21:8 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 21:8 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?