(1) The riding on a donkey
a. 11:3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here soon.’ ”
(NET) The custom called angaria allowed the impressment of animals for service to a significant figure.
b. 11:7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it.
(NET) The action is like 2 Kgs 9:13.
9:13 Each of them quickly took off his cloak and they spread them out at Jehu’s feet on the steps. The trumpet was blown and they shouted, “Jehu is king!”
(NET) The action is like 2 Kgs 9:13.
9:13 Each of them quickly took off his cloak and they spread them out at Jehu’s feet on the steps. The trumpet was blown and they shouted, “Jehu is king!”
c. (NET) See Zech 9:9, a prophecy fulfilled here
9:9 Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion!
Shout, daughter of Jerusalem!
Look! Your king is coming to you:
he is legitimate and victorious,
humble and riding on a donkey—
on a young donkey, the foal of a female donkey.
Look! Your king is coming to you:
he is legitimate and victorious,
humble and riding on a donkey—
on a young donkey, the foal of a female donkey.
(2) The content of the shouting
“Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!11:10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”
(NET) Hosanna is an Aramaic expression that literally means, “help, I pray,” or “save, I pray.” By Jesus’ time it had become a strictly liturgical formula of praise, however, and was used as an exclamation of praise to God.
(BKC) Hosanna in the highest, in highest places, likely means “Save us, O God, who lives in heaven.”
(BKC)The acclamation, Blessed (lit., “May … be blessed”) calls for God’s gracious power to attend someone or to effect something. He who comes in the name of the Lord (as God’s representative and with His authority) originally referred to a pilgrim coming to the festival.
The coming kingdom... in association with David reflected the peoples’ messianic hope for the restoration of the Davidic kingdom (cf. 2 Sam. 7:16; Amos 9:11–12).
(3) Repeated words: "the Lord needs it" v.3, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!" v.9, "Blessed is the coming kingdom" v.10a, "Hosanna in the highest!" v.10b
In other words, Jesus is the Master, the One who was sent by God, the presence of the King made people think about the coming of the Kingdom of God, and when people saw Him they needed to praise God in the highest heaven.
(3) Summary: Jesus arranged a situation for people to perceive that He was the coming Messiah by fulfilling what the OT said about the Messiah. People did respond and shouted out their praises. In other words, one should have expected that the kingdom of God would have come at this time, but it did not. We will find out more from the following days' passage. One thing is sure. Jesus did whatever was needed to show people Who He is. Whether people received the blessings or not depends on ourselves.
(4) Reflection: At this time, even a blind beggar in the nearby city, Jericho knew Who Jesus was and he called Him, the Son of David. The bystanders of a village recognize the disciples of Jesus and let them take the colt. A crowd of people on the road to Jerusalem shout for Him. There is no ambiguity left, but people did not really receive Jesus (and therefore the kingdom did not really come). Are we willing to change sometimes has nothing to do with whether we understand the truth or not. Even if we know very clearly what the facts are, our hearts need to change as well. Pray that we will not be like that today.
Audrey
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