The Whole City Was Stirred Up
Over a guy riding a donkey or two?
Today is the 10th Sunday after Pentecost. Happy Sunday to you.
This is one of those passages that those who decry the accuracy of the Bible go to as proof. When it comes to what Jesus rides into Jerusalem, Matthew adds something the other three gospels do not.1
The other three gospels show Jesus riding on a donkey. Matthew has him ride on a donkey and a colt. What’s going on?
We talked quite a bit - particularly early on in the first chapters - about Matthew’s desire to demonstrate Jesus’ placement with the story of Israel. It’s important to Matthew that his readers see Jesus as the fulfillment of scripture, both the narrative of Israel’s formation and the prophets.
In Zechariah 9, the prophet says that Israel’s king will come riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the donkey’s offspring. Most any Hebrew scholar would tell you that this is a poetic feature, a couplet of sorts that is actually naming the same animal. But Matthew is intent on demonstrating Jesus as fulfilling the scriptures, so he goes all-in on making it happen - a donkey and a colt.
Some biblical commentators have explained it away, noting that it actually was common for someone using a donkey-colt to bring the mother donkey alongside it to keep it calm. The other gospel writers just don’t mention this.
I’m not too worried about such accuracy. Trying to pinpoint the details of fact like this can really detract from the overall point. Which is…
Jesus didn’t come riding in on a war horse.
In a time when leaders and military officials would want those watching them enter a city to know of their position and authority, they’d be sure to create some fanfare. Jesus’ fanfare is a crowd of Jews waving tree branches whilst their savior rides a donkey (and perhaps her offspring as well, too.)
And it was borrowed.
The crowd likely didn’t understand it at the time. Many still don’t.
Whether it’s gold-encrusted ceilings, stealth bombers, motorcades, red carpets, chariots, or trumpets, leaders of yesterday and today will always find ways to demonstrate their power. Think of that what you will.
Just don’t align it with Jesus.
Matthew 21:1-11
When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus gave two disciples a task. He said to them, “Go into the village over there. As soon as you enter, you will find a donkey tied up and a colt with it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that their master needs them.” He sent them off right away. Now this happened to fulfill what the prophet said, Say to Daughter Zion, “Look, your king is coming to you, humble and riding on a donkey, and on a colt the donkey’s offspring.” The disciples went and did just as Jesus had ordered them. They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their clothes on them. Then he sat on them.
Now a large crowd spread their clothes on the road. Others cut palm branches off the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds in front of him and behind him shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up. “Who is this?” they asked. The crowds answered, “It’s the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Psalm 118:19-29
Open the gates of righteousness for me so I can come in and give thanks to the Lord!
This is the Lord’s gate; those who are righteous enter through it.
I thank you because you answered me, because you were my saving help.
The stone rejected by the builders is now the main foundation stone!
This has happened because of the Lord; it is astounding in our sight!
This is the day the Lord acted; we will rejoice and celebrate in it!
Lord, please save us! Lord, please let us succeed!
The one who enters in the Lord’s name is blessed; we bless all of you from the Lord’s house. The Lord is God! He has shined a light on us! So lead the festival offering with ropes all the way to the horns of the altar. You are my God—I will give thanks to you! You are my God—I will lift you up high! Give thanks to the Lord because he is good, because his faithful love lasts forever.
Prayer
God,
The city was stirred up, not by a warhorse, not by gold or trumpets, but by a man riding a borrowed donkey. Your Son entered in humility, yet with authority, fulfilling words we still sing: I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart!
As I prepare to gather with your people in worship today, stir me up too. Shake loose my assumptions about power. Disturb my comfort with leaders who parade strength, and open my eyes to the quiet strength of Jesus.
Grant me the grace to wave my branches honestly, not as a performance, but as a declaration that my king comes gentle and riding on a donkey. Teach me to receive him with joy, to follow him with humility, and to worship you not with empty fanfare, but with a heart made new.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
It’s rare for one of the gospels to diverge from the other three in a detail. Usually it’s John who is different in detail than the other three (what we call the “synoptic” gospels - Matthew, Mark, and Luke). But here, Matthew’s gospel does its own thing even against John’s.