Thursday, March 6, 2014

Lenten Bible Study


ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM

Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Read Matthew 21:1-11.

Name the elements of the celebration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.  Of what does this procession remind you and why?

Notes on the text:

In verse 1, Matthew points out that Jesus came into Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a hill to the east of Jerusalem.  Zechariah 14 describes God coming from the Mount of Olives to rescue Jerusalem from enemy nations. 

Verse 5 is also a quote from Zechariah 9:9. The original text is a poetic parallelism.  In Hebrew poetry, the second line echoes the first line.  “On a colt, the foal of an ass” repeats the thought “Meek, and riding on an ass” rather than describing someone riding on 2 animals.  However, Matthew’s understanding of the text in Zechariah demands that 2 animals be present. 

Kings traditionally ride the finest stallions.  Riding on an ass emphasizes the humility of Jesus.

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