21:1 Bethphage Likely located near Bethany on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives.

Mount of Olives East of Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley. It offers a panoramic view of Jerusalem and the temple. See 2 Sam 15:30; Zech 14:4.

21:2 the village before you Refers to Bethphage or perhaps Bethany, which was nearby.

21:4 the prophet Refers to Zechariah. The quotation that follows is from Zech 9:9 (compare Isa 62:11).

21:5 daughter of Zion Refers to Jerusalem and its inhabitants. See note on Isa 1:8; compare 2 Kgs 19:21; Psa 9:14; Jer 4:31.

Jesus’ Fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy Table

on a donkey, and on a colt Zechariah 9:9 refers to the same animal twice, using poetic parallelism.

21:7 the donkey and the colt Matthew includes both animals; the other Gospels mention only a colt (Mark 11:1–7; Luke 19:30–35; John 12:14–15). See note on 1 Kgs 1:33.

put their cloaks on them The disciples pay homage to their King (see 2 Kgs 9:13).

he sat on them Another son of David, Solomon, rode in a similar royal procession (1 Kgs 1:38–40).

21:8 a very large crowd This crowd probably consists of peasants, most of whom seem to have accompanied Jesus from Galilee. Unlike the city dwellers who later call for Jesus’ death (Matt 27:22–25), these peasants believe that He is the Messiah.

spread their cloaks on the road See v. 7 and note.

spreading them on the road Part of the crowd’s acknowledgment that Jesus was King. Compare 2 Kgs 9:13 and note.

21:9 Hosanna This Hebrew expression, meaning “help” or “save us,” developed into a liturgical expression of praise.

the Son of David A messianic title (see note on Matt 1:1).

who comes in the name of the Lord The crowd understood that Jesus was declaring Himself to be the Messiah. Their shouts of praise reflect Psa 118:25–26.

Messianic Psalms Table

21:10 he entered into Jerusalem This procession symbolizes Jesus’ messiahship.

21:11 the prophet This title came to have messianic overtones (compare Deut 18:18).

21:12 selling and buying Merchants were selling animals for sacrifices, and money changers converted the foreign currency of pilgrims into the temple’s official currency. See note on Mark 11:15.

doves The poor offered these in place of lambs (Lev 5:7–10). Jesus’ reaction may have been prompted, in part, by injustice done to the poor.

21:13 cave of robbers Jesus’ rebuke—which quotes Isa 56:7 and Jer 7:11—suggests that He is condemning corruption of the temple. This judgment might be aimed at commercial activity within the temple courts, or it might signal that oppressive (or unjust) practices were involved.

21:15 Hosanna to the son of David See Matt 21:9 and note.

21:16 Do you hear The religious leaders are disturbed not only because the people hail Jesus as the Son of David, but also because He does not disavow this messianic title.

Out of the mouths of children By quoting Psa 8:2, Jesus appears to confirm that the crowd’s messianic praises are appropriate.

21:17 Bethany A village roughly two miles from Jerusalem. Jesus might have stayed with His friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (Luke 10:38–42; John 11:1–44; 12:1–3).

21:19 the fig tree withered at once The fig tree is a common ot metaphor for Israel, and fruitless fig trees represented judgment (e.g., Isa 34:4; Jer 24:1–10; Hos 2:12; Joel 1:7). Compare Mark 11:12–14, 20–21.

21:21 you say to this mountain Compare Matt 17:20.

21:22 whatever you ask in prayer The qualifiers about asking in prayer and with faith restrict the requests that God will grant. He will not give the disciples their every whim and desire; He will grant those things that align with His will and plan for the kingdom.

21:24 I also will ask you one question As a means of instruction, rabbis often answered a question by asking another one.

If you tell the answer to me The answer to His question would reveal the answer to theirs. That is, if the Jewish officials answered correctly about John’s authority (that his baptism was from heaven), then they would have their answer about Jesus’ authority (also from heaven). What was true of John was true of Jesus, since John served as His prophetic forerunner.

21:25 from heaven A way of referring to God without using His sacred name.

Parables of Jesus Table

21:28 the first Symbolizes repentant sinners (i.e., the tax collectors and prostitutes; v. 32).

21:30 the second Represents the religious leaders, who ultimately reject Jesus (vv. 45–46).

21:33 a vineyard Jesus draws on imagery from Isaiah’s parable of the vineyard (Isa 5:1–7). In Isaiah, the problem is the lack of fruit, and the solution is the destruction of the vineyard. In Jesus’ parable, the problem is the tenants, who refuse the owner his fruit. The solution is replacing the tenants.

tenant farmers Represents the religious leaders of Israel who rejected Jesus.

21:42 The stone A quotation of Psa 118:22–23; the rejected stone is Jesus, who comes from Yahweh.

21:43 will be taken away Together with the quotation in the previous verse, Jesus’ declaration here confirms that the judgment predicted by the religious leaders will indeed come to pass (Matt 21:41).

to a people who produce its fruits Compare the barren fig tree (vv. 18–22 and note).

21:44 on this stone Refers to the cornerstone of v. 42. Jesus likely is alluding to Isa 8:14; 28:16. Compare Dan 2:34–35, 44–45.

21:45 Pharisees See note on John 1:24.