Matthew 21:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Consider the humility of the Jewish people. Earlier, when Christ performed numerous miracles, they did not express their amazement to the same extent; yet now, as they witness the throngs gathering, they are filled with wonder. 'And when He entered Jerusalem,' it is noted, 'the whole city was stirred, and they asked, Who is this?' Even as they appeared to express something profound, their thoughts remained earthly and base. However, Christ acted not out of pride, but rather to fulfill prophecy, provide valuable teaching, and comfort the disciples who mourned His impending sacrifice, demonstrating that He faced all of this willingly. You will be astonished by how precisely the prophets foretold these events: some through David and others through Zechariah.

As Jesus made His entry into Jerusalem, the entire city was stirred, with the crowds asking, “Who is this man?” The throngs were in awe, marveling at the scene, yet unaware of the truth, they inquired, “Who is this?” In another scripture, the angels pose the question, “Who is this King of glory?” (Psalm 24:8). While some were skeptical or uncertain, the humble assembly boldly proclaimed Him, starting from the least to the greatest, declaring, “This is Jesus, the Prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” He is the prophet of whom Moses spoke, indicating that one like him would arise, and in the Greek language, His name is correctly articulated with a member (άρθρώ). He is identified as from Nazareth in Galilee because that is where He was raised, signifying that the beauty of the fields emerges from the essence of virtues.

Zion resembled Egypt (Isaiah 19:1): there the lifeless were shaken, but here it was the living who trembled when You, O Savior, arrived—not as a source of chaos since You are the stem of creation—but as the one who dismantles the spells of the adversaries, being the Architect of all, who expels them from every corner, reigning over all places. Their idols crumbled long ago, and now like those idol worshippers, those with a similar mindset are filled with fear upon hearing the voices of children: ‘Blessed is He who comes to call Adam!’

The journey moved forward. As Jesus made His way into the city, He was met by an even larger crowd, leading to the echo of St Matthew’s words that the entire city was stirred (Matthew 21:10). People were eager to discover the identity of the figure entering so majestically.

As He arrived in Jerusalem, the entire city was stirred with excitement. Those who had not yet departed were curious and questioned, "What does this celebration signify?" They were all inquiring, "Who is this?" The thought that it might be Jesus would not have taken those familiar with His humble transformation and the impending condemnation from the Sanhedrin by surprise.

The narratives of the Evangelists regarding the Lord's arrival in Jerusalem and His time there reflect a profound dynamic of mutual reinforcement. The Evangelist Matthew describes the impact of Jesus Christ's majestic entry into the city, noting that the entire city was stirred. Those who had traveled to Jerusalem for the festival from far-off lands, unfamiliar with Jesus, inquired, “Who is this?” The crowds that accompanied the Lord responded, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”

The triumphant entry of Jesus stirred the entire city. While the residents of Palestine were likely aware of His arrival, the visitors to Jerusalem, including Jews from Babylon and Egypt, may not have recognized Him and responded with wonder, asking, ‘Who is this?’ Those who were part of the gathering with Christ explained that it was Jesus, the Prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.

As the crowds gathered in the Kidron valley and around the walls of Jerusalem, the worshippers encamped in their makeshift shelters on the lush hillsides below noticed a large assembly approaching from the mountains. The sounds of jubilant cries reached their ears, and they understood the significance of the moment. They eagerly gathered green branches from the trees and hurried up the road to welcome the Prophet. When the two groups converged—one traveling from Bethany and the other setting out from Jerusalem—Jesus found Himself surrounded by a throng, with people preceding and following Him, proclaiming ‘Hosanna’ and waving their branches on the way to the gates of the holy city. Among the throng were several Pharisees, who felt a piercing concern over the fervor of the crowd.

The entire city was stirred to action: this significant event, the vast crowd, the cheers, and the celebratory parade engaged all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Those who had traveled from distant lands for the festival likely inquired, "What does this signify? Who is receiving such honor?" The individuals who encountered Christ responded by proclaiming that Jesus was a prophet.

As the Lord Jesus Christ made His entrance into Jerusalem, the entire city surged with excitement. Observing the throngs that followed Him, fervently voicing their praises, both the locals and the visiting pilgrims gathered for the feast inquired, "Who is this?" The crowd responded, "This is Jesus the Prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." Those who traveled from Bethany, well-acquainted with the events surrounding Lazarus' resurrection, recounted how He had called the man who had been dead for four days out from the tomb and restored him to life. The wondrous news of this miracle swiftly spread, igniting genuine amazement among all who heard it. Meanwhile, the envious Pharisees, unable to partake in the joy that enveloped the people, exchanged frustrated remarks, declaring to each other, "You see, there is no advantage in this, for the world is turning toward Him."