Jesus Entered Jerusalem on a Donkey

Matt 21:2-3 saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. "And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, `The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them." Key Points: - Messiah will enter Jerusalem in great humility, on a donkey (the symbol of humility). The opposite of worldly power and self exaltation. - Riding a donkey was a sign of the lowly character of Christ, since it was a despised thing to be seen riding on a donkey, put below the horse-rider. - This was in contrast to the Grecian conqueror, Alexander the Great, in all his pomp and glory. - Why were they to rejoice greatly and to shout? because "Behold, your King is coming to you" - Daughter of Zion and daughter of Jerusalem both speak of Jerusalem and the people of God. - To be "Just" was the first virtue of a good king. - "Having salvation" speaks of being endowed with salvation (Heb. yesha), this word speaks of liberty, deliverance, prosperity, safety and salvation. - The colt was an unbroken animal. It describes the ass of a young animal, but still running behind the she-asses made it even younger. - "al-chamor we'al-'ayir ben-'athonoth" means literally, "on an ass, and on an ass's colt, the son of the wild-asses". - War-chariots and horses speak of earthly (worldly) power. - Kings, high priests, judges, and the richest people of ancient and modern times have ridden on donkeys. - Donkeys were considered beautiful, strong, swift, surefooted and a beast of burden. - Donkeys carry burdens of greater weight in proportion to their size than any other animal. They bear the burdens that we lay upon them. - Donkey colts (Heb. Ayir) are also called foals, young donkeys, and colts in the Bible. - The Talmud states: "For the ass is not a more peaceful animal than the horse, but a more vicious one" (Kliefoth), therefore the ass was more of a symbol of lowliness than of peace.