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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 21:1-11

All the four evangelists take notice of this passage of Christ's riding in triumph into Jerusalem, five days before his death. The passover was on the fourteenth day of the month, and this was the tenth; on which day the law appointed that the paschal lamb should be taken up (Exod. 12:3), and set apart for that service; on that day therefore Christ our Passover, who was to be sacrificed for us, was publicly showed. So that this was the prelude to his passion. He had lodged at Bethany, a... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 21:1-11

21:1-11 When they had come near to Jerusalem, and when they had come to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent on two disciples ahead. "Go into the village which is facing you," he said, "and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her. Loose them, and bring them to me. And, if anyone says anything to you, say, 'The Master needs them.' Immediately he will send them on." This was done that there might be fulfilled that which was spoken through the prophet, when... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 21:1-11

We may then take it that Jesus' actions in this incident were planned and deliberate. He was following a method of awakening men's minds which was deeply interwoven with the methods of the prophets. Again and again in the religious history of Israel, when a prophet felt that words were of no avail against a barrier of indifference or incomprehension, he put his message into a dramatic act which men could not fail to see and to understand. Out of many Old Testament instances we choose two of... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 21:1-11

To conclude our study of this incident, let us look at Jesus in its setting. It shows us three things about him. (i) I shows us his courage. Jesus knew full well that he was entering a hostile city. However enthusiastic the crowd might be, the authorities hated him and had sworn to eliminate him; and with them lay the last word. Almost any man in such a case would have considered discretion the better part of valour; and, if he had come to Jerusalem at all, would have slipped in under cover... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 21:8

And a very great multitude ,.... Which consisted partly of the great multitude which followed Christ from Jericho, and partly of the much people that were come up to the feast of the passover from divers parts, and met him from Jerusalem; see John 12:12 . These, many of them, for it cannot be thought to be done by them all, spread their garments in the way ; either in the middle of the road, instead of carpets, to ride upon; the Persic version adds, "that he might pass over them": this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 21:9

And the multitudes that went before ,.... That is, that went before Christ; accordingly the Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions, and Munster's Hebrew Gospel, read, "that went before him": these seem to be the much people that met him from Jerusalem, and that followed him ; which were perhaps those that came from Jericho, and other parts; cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David : by calling Jesus the Son of David, they owned and proclaimed him to be the Messiah; this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 21:10

And when he was come into Jerusalem ..... The metropolis of the nation, the seat of the ancient kings of Judah, and of his father David, entering into it in this very public manner; as he never did before; riding in the manner the ancient judges and kings of Israel did, attended with a numerous retinue, shouting as they went along, and singing their "Hosannas" to him: all the city was moved ; as Bethlehem was, when Naomi with Ruth returned thither; and of which the same phrase is used,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 21:8

Cut down branches from the trees - Carrying palm and other branches was emblematical of victory and success. See 1 Maccabees 13:51; 2 Maccabees 10:7; and Revelation 7:9 . The rabbins acknowledge that the prophecy in Zechariah refers to the Messiah; so Rab. Tancum, and Yalcut Rubeni has a strange story about the ass. "This ass is the colt of that ass which was created in the twilight of the sixth day. This is the ass which Abraham found when he went to sacrifice his son. This is the ass... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 21:9

Hosanna to the son of David - When persons applied to the king for help, or for a redress of grievances, they used the word hosanna, or rather from the Hebrew נא הושיעה Hoshiah Na ! Save now! or, Save, we beseech thee! - redress our grievances, and give us help from oppression! Thus both the words and actions of the people prove that they acknowledged Christ as their king, and looked to him for deliverance. How easily might he have assumed the sovereignty at this time, had he been so... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 21:10

All the city was moved - Or, the whole city was in motion. Εσεισθη , was in a tumult - they saw and heard plainly that the multitude had proclaimed Christ king, and Messiah. Who is this? Who is accounted worthy of this honor? read more

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