Matthew 21 NLT
1 As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem,
they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives.
Jesus sent two of them on ahead.
2 “Go into the village over there,” he said.
“As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there,
with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me.
3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say,
‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.”
4 This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,
5 “Tell the people of Jerusalem,
‘Look, your King is coming to you.
He is humble, riding on a donkey—
riding on a donkey’s colt.’”
6 The two disciples did as Jesus commanded.
7 They brought the donkey and the colt to him
and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.
***
“He did not come as a conqueror but as a messenger of peace.
He rode on a donkey, not the steed of royalty,
but that of a commoner on a business trip.”
Merril C. Tenney
***
8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him,
and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,
“Praise God for the Son of David!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Praise God in highest heaven!”
***
When Christ entered into Jerusalem the people spread garments in the way:
when He enters into our hearts, we pull off our own righteousness,
and not only lay it under Christ’s feet but even trample upon it ourselves.
Augustus Toplady
***
10 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered.
“Who is this?” they asked.
11 And the crowds replied,
“It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
***
“Ride on, ride on in Majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die;
O Christ, thy triumphs now begin
O’er captive death and conquered sin.”
Henry Hart Milman