Matthew 21:4 - Exposition

All this was done; now ( δε Ì ) all this hath come to pass . Many manuscripts omit "all," but it is probably genuine, as in other similar passages; e . g . Matthew 1:22 ; Matthew 26:56 . This observation of the evangelist is intended to convey the truth that Christ was acting consciously on the lines of old prophecy, working out the will of God declared beforehand by divinely inspired seers. The disciples acted in blind obedience to Christ's command, not knowing that they were thus fulfilling prophecy, or having any such purpose in mind. The knowledge came afterwards (see John 12:16 ). That it might be fulfilled ( ἱ ì να πληρωθῇ ). The conjuction in this phrase is certainly used in its final, not in a consecutive or ecbatie sense; it denotes the purpose or design of the action of Christ, not the result. Not only the will of the Father, but the words of Scripture, had delineated the life of Christ, and in obeying that will he purposed to show that he fulfilled the prophecies which spake of him. Thus any who knew the Scriptures, and were open to conviction, might see that it was he alone to whom these ancient oracles pointed, and in him alone were their words accomplished. By ( through, δια ì ) the prophet. Zechariah 9:9 , with a hint of Isaiah 62:11 , a quotation being often woven from two or more passages (see on Matthew 27:9 ).