Matthew Henry Commentary Matthew 21:1-11

"And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village that is over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose [them], and bring [them] unto me. And if any one say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. Now this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, Meek, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did even as Jesus appointed them, and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their garments; and he sat thereon. And the most part of the multitude spread their garments in the way; and others cut branches from the trees, and spread them in the way. 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. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, Who is this? And the multitudes said, This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee." — Matthew 21:1-11 (ASV)

This coming of Christ was described by the prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 9:9). When Christ would appear in his glory, it is in his meekness, not his majesty, that he appears, in mercy to work salvation. Since meekness and outward poverty were fully seen in Zion's King and marked his triumphal entrance to Jerusalem, how wrong covetousness, ambition, and the pride of life must be in Zion's citizens! They brought the ass, but Jesus did not use it without the owner's consent.

The trappings were whatever came to hand. We must not think the clothes on our backs too precious to part with for the service of Christ. The chief priests and the elders afterwards joined the multitude that abused him on the cross; but none of them joined the multitude that honored him. Those who take Christ for their King must lay their all under his feet.

Hosanna signifies, "Save now, we beseech you!" Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! But of how little value is the applause of the people! The changing multitude joins the cry of the day, whether it is Hosanna or Crucify him. Multitudes often seem to approve the gospel, but few become consistent disciples.

When Jesus came into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred; some perhaps were stirred with joy, who waited for the Consolation of Israel; others, of the Pharisees, were stirred with envy. So various are the emotions in the minds of people at the approach of Christ's kingdom.