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The life of Jesus

Prophecies Fulfilled: Triumphal Entry

Prophecy fulfilledProphecies fulfilled

The Sunday-before-Passion entry into Jerusalem fulfills two key OT prophecies. Recorded in all four gospels (Matthew 21:1-11 || Mark 11:1-11 || Luke 19:29-44 || John 12:12-19).

1. Humble king on donkey, Zechariah 9:9 → Matthew 21:5 + John 12:15

"Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you! He is righteous, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey." Zechariah 9:9

NT application:

  • Matthew quotes Zechariah 9:9 directly at Matthew 21:5, "Tell the daughter of Zion, behold, your King comes to you, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey"
  • John quotes a slightly abbreviated form at John 12:15, "Don't be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey's colt"
  • Mark + Luke narrate the same event but don't cite Zechariah 9:9 explicitly

Notes: Matthew's "two animals" (donkey + colt) follows the Hebrew parallelism of Zechariah 9:9 strictly (Hebrew poetic doubling); some critics see this as Matthew taking parallelism literally. Mark + Luke + John mention only one animal (the colt). Both readings are present in mainstream commentary; neither contradicts the other.

The "humility" of the donkey-mount contrasts deliberately with the warhorse a conquering king would ride. Zechariah 9:9-10 explicitly: this king "will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem", a peace-king, not a war-king.

2. Blessed-is-he-who-comes, Psalms 118:25-26 → Matthew 21:9 || Mark 11:9-10 || Luke 19:38 || John 12:13

"Save us now, we beg you, Yahweh! Yahweh, we beg you, send prosperity now. Blessed is he who comes in Yahweh's name!" Psalm 118:25-26

NT application: The crowd shouts "Hosanna!" (from Hebrew הוֹשִׁיעָה־נָּא hoshia-na "save now") + "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord", citing Psalms 118:25-26. All four gospels record the crowd's acclamation:

GospelAcclamation
Matthew 21:9"Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
Mark 11:9-10"Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
Luke 19:38"Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!"
John 12:13"Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!"

Notes: Psalms 118 is the closing psalm of the Hallel (Psalms 113-118), traditionally sung at Passover. The pilgrims arriving in Jerusalem for Passover are already chanting Psalms 118 in cultic context; applying it to Jesus as the "one who comes in the name of the Lord" is both natural and confessional. Jewish Talmudic tradition reads Psalms 118 as Messianic.

Jesus later cites Psalms 118:22 (the rejected-stone-becoming-cornerstone) at Matthew 21:42 || Mark 12:10-11 || Luke 20:17 in the parable of the wicked husbandmen, connecting the triumphal-entry acclaim to his coming rejection.

Related NT events

EventCitation
Entry from Bethphage / Mount of OlivesMatthew 21:1-7Mark 11:1-7Luke 19:29-35John 12:12-14
Crowd's acclamationMatthew 21:8-9Mark 11:8-10Luke 19:36-38John 12:13
Pharisees demand silence; Jesus's replyLuke 19:39-40 ("if these were silent, the stones would cry out")
Lament over JerusalemLuke 19:41-44 (foretelling AD 70 destruction)
Entry into temple areaMatthew 21:10-11Mark 11:11

Sources, trace every one

Every cited verse, in full. Tap any reference to open it in the reader.

  • Matthew 21:1bsb

    As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples,

  • Mark 11:1bsb

    As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples

  • Luke 19:29bsb

    As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent out two of His disciples,

  • John 12:12bsb

    The next day the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.

  • Zechariah 9:9bsb

    Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

  • Matthew 21:5bsb

    “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

  • John 12:15bsb

    “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion. See, your King is coming, seated on the colt of a donkey.”

  • Psalms 118:25bsb

    O LORD, save us, we pray. We beseech You, O LORD, cause us to prosper!

  • Matthew 21:9bsb

    The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”

  • Mark 11:9bsb

    The ones who went ahead and those who followed were shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

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Prophecies Fulfilled: Triumphal Entry · Bubble Bible