21:8 The people where acknowledging Jesus as a King by spreading their garments on the road before Him (cf. 2 Kings 9:13). Likewise throwing small branches before Him symbolized the same thing (cf. 1 Macc. 13:51; 2 Macc. 10:7).760
21:9 Crowds preceded Jesus and followed Him as He approached Jerusalem.
"Apparently the Galilean pilgrims accompanying Jesus and the Jerusalem crowd coming out to greet him formed a procession of praise."761
Undoubtedly word of Jesus' coming had preceded him, so the people of Jerusalem were anticipating His arrival.762Their words of praise came from Psalm 118:25-26. The Jews used this psalm at the Passover as part of "the great Hallel"(Pss. 113-18).763"Hosanna"transliterates the Hebrew word for "Save!"(cf. 2 Sam. 14:4; 2 Kings 6:26). It had become an acclamation through usage (cf. Rev. 7:9).764"Son of David"is the messianic title that stressed the kingly role Messiah would play. "He who comes in the name of the Lord"is likewise a messianic reference (23:39; cf. 3:11; 11:3).765"Hosanna in the highest"probably meant "Glory to God in the highest"(Luke 2:14).766This quotation voiced praise to God for sending the Messiah and cried out to Him for deliverance.
"The enthusiastic multitudes thus acclaim Jesus as being blessed by Jehovah, not merely with a verbal benediction, but, as Jehovah always blesses, with the gifts and the treasures implied in the benedictory words; and they acclaim him as coming and bringing all these blessings to them and to their capital and their nation."767
However the people, like the disciples, did not understand Messiah's role as the Suffering Servant who would have to die. They did not appreciate the universal, contrasted with the national, scope of the kingdom either.
21:10-11 Jesus probably entered Jerusalem through the sheep gate (St. Stephen's gate, a name given to it after Stephen's martyrdom; cf. Acts 7:58). This gate pierced the eastern city wall to the north of the temple enclosure. Worshippers brought sheep into the city through this gate for sacrificing because it was the closest gate to the temple. It was fitting that the Lamb of God should enter Jerusalem through this gate. Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem became the popular topic of conversation (cf. 2:3). The residents wondered who He really was. Most people who knew about Him described Him as a prophet from Nazareth whose arena of ministry had been mainly Galilee (cf. 2:23; 16:14; 21:46). This description reflects popular disbelief that He was the Messiah.768
"The significance of the triumphal entry is tremendous in this Gospel. To Matthew it is the final and official presentation of Jesus to Israel as its Messiah. This is evident for several reasons. The first is the manner in which Christ acts throughout this whole course of events. He deliberately makes very careful preparations to fulfill every detail of the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. In addition He planned His movements with understanding of their significance. . . .
"A second indication of the fact that Jesus presented Himself to Israel is seen in that the people recognized it as such. . . .769
"A third proof that the Lord presented Himself as the King of Israel is seen in the parables which the Messiah gives following this event. . . .
"A fourth indication . . . is the time in which it occurred. Sir Robert Anderson has shown that the entry of Christ into Jerusalem occurred on the very day that the sixty-ninth week of Daniel's prophecy had run out.770This is the exact time in which the Messiah was to come (Daniel 9:25).
"Because Israel refused to accept the King when He was presented in exact fulfillment of their Scripture, their unbelief was confirmed beyond the shadow of a doubt. The reception which was given the King was without genuine faith and understanding. However, it did give a brief glimpse of that which will characterize the King's reception when He appears to Israel for a second time."771
