Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 21:9

"And the multitudes that went before him, 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." — Matthew 21:9 (ASV)

Crowds ahead and behind may be incidental confirmation of two other details. (1)John 12:12 speaks of crowds coming out of Jerusalem to meet Jesus. Apparently the Galilean pilgrims accompanying Jesus and the Jerusalem crowd coming out to meet him formed this procession of praise. (2) That the Jerusalem crowds knew he was approaching supports the stopover in Bethany (see comment on vv.1–2), which allows time for the news to spread. Messianic fervor was high, and perhaps this contributed to Jesus’ desire to present himself as Prince of Peace.

The words of praise come primarily from Ps 118:25–26, a psalm that formed part of the “great Hallel” of the Passover. “Hosanna” (GK 6057) transliterates the Hebrew expression that originally was a cry for help: “Save!” In time it became an invocation of blessing and even an acclamation, the latter being the meaning here. “Son of David” is messianic and stresses the kingly role Messiah was to play. “He who comes in the name of the Lord” is cited by Jesus a little later (23:39; cf. 3:11; 11:3).

“Hosanna in the highest” is probably equivalent to “Glory to God in the highest” . The people praise God in the highest heavens for sending the Messiah and, if “Hosanna” retains some of its original force, also cry to him for deliverance.