Matthew 21:6-10
Mat 21:6 (KJB)
And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
The disciples had obeyed the word of the Lord, the exact way that He told them
to respond to the man who owned them. They did not fully understand at that
moment what was happening but they obeyed Him because by now they knew that He
did not do anything on a random basis.
Mat 21:7 (KJB)
And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set
him thereon.
Then they had brought both the ass and the colt to where Jesus was. Once they
arrived, to make it a little more comfortable for Jesus to ride the ass they had
taken off their outer garments such as their cloaks and had placed it on the
back of the animals. Then once the clothes was set properly on the animal, then
Jesus sat on the back and was ready to enter the city of Jerusalem. Donkeys were
basically made for carrying heavy loads during times of peace and not times of
war because their stubbornness can cause a regiment to stall placing them in
harm’s way. Jesus came to bring the peace that would be between God and man.
(Rom 5:1 KJV) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ: So the donkey was a good representation about the
type of king Jesus was.
Mat 21:8 (KJB)
And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down
branches from the trees, and strowed them in the way.
While Jesus was coming down the path from Bethany, the people would have been
singing the words to Psalm 24 and as they came across the valley, they would see
Jesus riding the donkey and would know it would be a fulfillment of Zechariah 9.
While Jesus was coming into Jerusalem, a great crowd had honored Him by
spreading their garments in the way and even cutting down branches and filling
the road with them. This entrance into Jerusalem was a Messianic declaration and
no longer would there by any mystery about the claims of Jesus being the Messiah
because here He was publicly declaring it. Many would have known Jesus already
since people came to the Passover from areas of Galilee and Peraea where He did
much of His ministry for well over a year. (Zec 14:4 KJV) And his feet shall
stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the
east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east
and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the
mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
The glory of the Lord shall come from the Mount of Olives.
Mat 21:9 (KJB)
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.
Then the multitudes started breaking out in a cheer shouting Hosanna. Hosanna
was a prayer which meant “save us or save now.” The words “save us” is also
found in the Hallel psalms which are 113-118 and these psalms were sung during
the Passover. “Hosanna” originally was a call for help and deliverance which was
normally addressed to a king. (2 Ki 16:7 KJV) So Ahaz sent messengers to
Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up,
and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the
king of Israel, which rise up against me. It was also a call to God.
(Psa 118:25 KJV) Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send
now prosperity. Then in the following verse Psalm 118:26 we have the
appropriate follow up. (Psa 118:26 KJV) Blessed be he that cometh in the
name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. This
refers to all the pilgrims who traveled to the major feasts but later tradition
had applied it to the coming of Messiah in a restricted sense. The crowd that
followed praised the one who came as the Son of David.
Mat 21:10 (KJB)
And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is
this?
Then when Jesus had finally entered the city of Jerusalem, the spirits of the
people were running high as they were singing and exalting Jesus as the Messiah.
It must have been thunderous excitement because the Greek word in this verse for
“was moved” is also used for “earthquake” in Matthew 27:51. (Mat 27:51 KJV)
And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the
bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; The noise must have
been something and that was why the whole city was moved. Those who did not know
Jesus or know of Him began to ask the question, who is this? This Passover would
have brought many in from different areas where Jesus did not minister and these
people would not have known anything about Him, but soon they would. (Luke
24:18 KJV) And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him,
Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are
come to pass there in these days?