And some of them that stood there said to them: What do you loosing the colt?
και τινες των εκει εστηκοτων ελεγον αυτοις τι ποιειτε λυοντες τον πωλον
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
In an allegorical sense, this further explores the meaning of verse 4. Who were the masters of the donkey that hindered the apostles from taking it? Certainly, they were demons. Yet, the apostles possessed greater strength than these adversaries.
As the Sabbath concluded, individuals began to journey from Jerusalem to Bethany. In Jerusalem, many had already assembled for the feast, aiming to engage in the customary rituals and purifications necessary for the ensuing days. This time, their motivation extended beyond merely witnessing Jesus; they were also eager to see Lazarus and affirm his resurrection. In the morning, additional crowds emerged from Jerusalem. Under these circumstances, His entry into Jerusalem was bound to be distinct from previous occasions. The people joyfully anticipated the coming of the one who raised Lazarus and were prepared to escort Him with the reverence befitting the Messiah as they understood Him.
Yet, if the Lord had not intended this moment or desired such a grand entrance, He could have easily entered Jerusalem in secrecy, either with His disciples or alone, or even circumvented the journey altogether given the tense situation. However, He deemed this display necessary. It would be inaccurate to suggest He merely seized the moment for His benefit; rather, this intention was evident from His earlier actions. A similar disposition was seen in Jericho. His purpose became even clearer when, despite Bethany's proximity to Jerusalem, He instructed two disciples to go ahead to the village of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives to prepare for Him a colt. The disciples placed their garments on the animals, and Jesus mounted a young donkey that had never been ridden. This act aligned with the prophecy representing the Messiah’s entrance into Jerusalem, symbolizing Him as a gentle king who consciously chose a peaceful mount rather than one associated with warfare (Zechariah 9:9-10). As He made His way, He became visible to all, further igniting the enthusiasm of the crowd.
Jesus instructed His disciples to proceed to the nearby village. Upon your arrival at the village directly ahead, you will find a donkey securely tied alongside her colt. After untying them, bring them to Me, and if anyone inquires why you are doing this, tell them that the Lord has need of them (Matthew 21:2-3). The disciples followed His instructions and discovered the donkey and the colt tethered at the entrance. When they began to untie the donkey, the owners questioned their actions. They replied as Jesus had instructed them. They then brought the donkey and the colt to Him, covering them with their garments and placing Jesus on the young donkey.
Instead of entering the capital of the Jewish kingdom in a majestic chariot pulled by horses, Jesus made His entry on a young donkey, adorned only with the humble clothing of His disciples rather than luxurious attire. In this manner, as noted by the Evangelists Matthew and John, the prophecy was realized, which declared, "Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King comes to you, humble and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a pack animal.'"
The critical moment in Jesus' ministry was approaching. His adversaries intensified their hostility, attempting to undermine His standing among the populace and plotting to take His life. This was the moment to boldly affirm His role as the Messiah. Up to this point, Christ had revealed Himself as the foretold Messiah through private encounters; now the time had come for a public proclamation, emphasizing that He was indeed the rightful Messiah-King, the true Son of David. He made this declaration through His momentous entry into Jerusalem (Mt. 21:1-11, Mk. 11:1-11, Lk. 19:29-44, Jn. 12:12-19).
During significant religious festivals, throngs of worshippers customarily entered the sacred city with joy and reverence. Jesus, recognized as a prophet and esteemed teacher by the people, positioned Himself to make a grand entrance. He chose to seize this opportunity to unveil His glory one last time. Previously, He had typically approached Jerusalem on foot; now, He desired to enter it as His ancestor David had, riding on a donkey. This gentle and serviceable creature was highly regarded in Eastern culture, and the Jews held numerous historical associations that rendered it more honorable, in their perceptions, than the majestic steeds imported from Egypt. The significance of the donkey was further elevated by the prophet's proclamation that the Messiah-King would arrive in Jerusalem on such an animal (Zechariah 9:9). Therefore, this entry of the Savior into the holy city acted as a powerful and evident declaration of His Messiahship.
Early in the morning of the ninth Nisan, the Savior departed from His welcoming abode in Bethany and, in accordance with tradition, walked to Jerusalem with His disciples. As they descended into a small valley adorned with fig and olive trees, they approached the village of Bethphage, which was so close to Jerusalem that, according to rabbinical law, it was considered part of the city. In this time, secret disciples and followers of Christ resided in various locations, and Jesus sent two of His disciples to one such individual in Bethphage to procure a donkey for His significant entrance into Jerusalem. The disciples carried out His instructions faithfully, bringing back a donkey and her colt.
Greek text, 12 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS