Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 21

And when they drew near to Jerusalem. They were going up now from Jericho (Matthew 20:29). The distance was about nineteen miles. Most of the way was a desert, or filled with caves, and rocks, and woods—a fit place for robbers. .

The Mount of Olives, or Olivet, is on the east of Jerusalem. Between this and Jerusalem runs a small stream called the brook Kidron, or Cedron. It is dry in the hot seasons of the year, but swells to a considerable size in time of heavy rains. .

The Mount of Olives was so named because it produced the olive in abundance. It was about a Sabbath day's journey from Jerusalem (Acts 1:12). On the west side of the mountain was the garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:39; Mark 4:32). On the eastern slope of the mountain were the villages of Bethphage and Bethany.

Mark and Luke say that he came near to both those places. He came nearest to Bethphage and sent his disciples to the village opposite them, to Bethany, [Bethpage?]. Bethany was the place where Lazarus lived, whom he raised from the dead (John 11:1); where Martha and Mary lived; and where Mary anointed him with ointment for the day of his burying (John 12:1–7).

These circumstances are omitted by the first three evangelists but are supplied by John, who wrote after them. The Mount of Olives is about a mile in length, and about seven hundred feet in height, and overlooks Jerusalem, so that from its summit almost every part of the city can be seen.

The mountain is composed of three peaks or summits. Our Saviour is supposed to have ascended from the middle one.

The olive is a fruit well known among us as an article of commerce. The tree blooms in June and bears white flowers. The fruit is small. It is first green, then pale, and, when fully ripe, black. It encloses a hard stone, in which are the seeds. The wild olive was common and differed from the other only in being of a smaller size.

There are two roads from Jerusalem to Bethany: one around the southern end of the Mount of Olives, and the other across the summit. The latter is considerably shorter but more difficult, and it was probably along this road that the Saviour went.

Go into the village opposite you. The village meant here was not far from Bethany, and about two miles east of Jerusalem (Mark and Luke). He had lodged at Bethphage (Bethany) the night before, and in the morning sent his disciples to the village opposite them; that is, to Bethany (Bethphage), John 12:1–12.

Ye shall find an ass tied, etc. In Judea there were few horses, and those were chiefly used in war. Men seldom employed them in common life and in ordinary journeys. The ass, the mule, and the camel are still most used in eastern countries. To ride on a horse was sometimes an emblem of war; on a mule and an ass, the emblem of peace. Kings and princes commonly rode on them in times of peace; and it is mentioned as a mark of rank and dignity to ride in that manner (Judges 10:4; Judges 12:14; 1 Samuel 25:20).

So Solomon, when he was inaugurated as king, rode on a mule (1 Kings 1:33). Riding in this manner, then, denoted neither poverty nor degradation, but was the appropriate way in which a king should ride, and in which, therefore, the King of Zion should enter into his capital—the city of Jerusalem.

Mark and Luke say that he told them they should find a colt tied. This they were directed to bring. They mention only the colt, because it was this on which he rode.

The Lord hath need of them. This means no more than the master has need of them. The word lord often means no more than master as opposed to servant (Matthew 10:24; Ephesians 6:6; 1 Peter 3:5–6).

The word is sometimes used in the Bible as applied to God, or as a translation of the name JEHOVAH. Its common use is a mere title of respect given by an inferior to a superior, by a servant to a master, by a disciple to a teacher. As a title of high respect it was given to Christ, or the Messiah.

The persons to whom these disciples were sent were probably acquainted with the miracles of Jesus and favourably disposed towards him. He had attracted great notice in that region, particularly by raising Lazarus from the dead, and most of the people regarded him as the Messiah.

All this was done. The prophecy quoted here is found in Zechariah 9:9. It was always applied to the Messiah by the Jews.

Daughter of Zion. This means Jerusalem. Zion was one of the hills on which the city of Jerusalem was built. The city of David and some strong fortresses stood on this hill. The names daughter and virgin were often given to it, in accordance with the Eastern figurative manner of expression. See Barnes on Isaiah 1:8; see Barnes on Amos 5:2; see Barnes on Psalm 137:8; see Barnes on Isaiah 47:1.

It was given to them as an expression of their beauty or comeliness.

Meek. See Barnes on Matthew 5:5.

The expression here denotes peaceful rather than warlike; not with pomp, ceremony, and the ensigns of ambition. He came in the manner that kings were accustomed to ride, but with none of their pride and ambitious feeling.

Sitting upon an ass. He rode on the colt (Mark and Luke). This expression in Matthew is common among all writers.

And put on them their clothes. This was done as a token of respect (2 Kings 9:13).