Matthew 21:1-7

1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

² 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.

³ And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”

⁴ All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

⁵ “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

⁶ So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them.

⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.

This begins the final six days before Christ’s crucifixion.

This account also appears in Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-38; John 12:12-19.

Bethphage (v.1) — a village near Bethany, a mile east of Jerusalem, on the eastern side of the Mount of Olives. The name means “house of unripe figs.”

two disciples (v.1) — Mark’s details may indicate that Peter was one (because Mark’s account came from Peter), so the other one may have been John.

The quote in verse 5 is from Isaiah 62:11 and Zechariah 9:9, from the Septuagint.

on a donkey (v.5) — probably on the colt as it says in the other gospels. Kings come riding horses (Revelation 6:2; 19:11)