Matthew 21 1

Matthew 21:1 kjv

And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

Matthew 21:1 nkjv

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

Matthew 21:1 niv

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,

Matthew 21:1 esv

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

Matthew 21:1 nlt

As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead.

Matthew 21 verses

Matthew 21 1 Meaning

Matthew 21:1 initiates the narrative of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, marking the commencement of Passion Week. It describes Jesus and His disciples approaching the vicinity of Jerusalem, specifically reaching Bethphage on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. At this precise geographical and chronological point, Jesus intentionally dispatches two of His disciples with a specific instruction to retrieve a donkey and a colt. This deliberate action sets the stage for the dramatic and prophetic events that immediately follow, highlighting Jesus' sovereign control over His circumstances and His fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning His entry as King.

Matthew 21 1 Context

Matthew 21:1 opens the final week of Jesus' earthly ministry, often referred to as Passion Week, leading directly to His crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus had purposefully made His way to Jerusalem, concluding His itinerant ministry in Galilee and Judea. He was moving towards the ultimate purpose of His incarnation. Jerusalem, especially during the Passover festival, was bustling with pilgrims from across the Jewish world, creating a vibrant, yet religiously and politically tense, atmosphere. The verse describes Jesus’ proximity to the city and the specific villages that served as a critical threshold before His public and climactic entry, an event laden with Messianic significance. Historically, Jewish expectations for a Messiah were strong, with many anticipating a conquering king who would liberate Israel from Roman rule. Jesus' actions in this chapter, initiated by this verse, are a deliberate, divinely orchestrated fulfillment of prophecy, yet one that redefines traditional Messianic expectations.

Matthew 21 1 Word analysis

• And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem,
  • And when: Marks the beginning of a significant transition in Matthew's narrative, shifting focus to the climactic final days.
  • they drew nigh (ἐγγίζω, engizō): Greek word meaning "to come near," "to approach." This verb highlights the imminent arrival, signaling that a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry is at hand. It implies a deliberate and directed movement, not a casual one.
  • unto Jerusalem (εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, eis Hierosolyma): The capital city, central to Jewish worship and identity, the seat of religious and political power. This destination is key to Jesus' mission, as it is where the Messiah must suffer and accomplish redemption.
• and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives,
  • Bethphage (Βηθφαγή, Bethphage): An Aramaic place name, likely meaning "House of Unripe Figs" or "House of Dates." Its exact location is disputed but generally understood to be on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, very close to Jerusalem (closer than Bethany, but between Bethany and Jerusalem). It served as the boundary for the Sabbatical journey from Jerusalem and as a place where ritual impurity rules regarding produce were distinct. Its mention immediately places the scene in a specific, religiously significant landscape on the immediate outskirts of the holy city.
  • unto the mount of Olives (ὄρους τῶν Ἐλαιῶν, orous tōn Elaiōn): A ridge on the eastern side of Jerusalem, separated by the Kidron Valley. This mount is highly symbolic and prophetic. It's the place from which Jesus would weep over Jerusalem (Lk 19:41), spend His final night praying (Mt 26:30), and from which He would ascend to heaven (Acts 1:12). Prophetically, it's also where the Messiah's feet would stand when He returns (Zech 14:4). Its mention underscores the Messianic and eschatological implications of Jesus' arrival.
• then sent Jesus two disciples,
  • then sent (τότε ἀπέστειλεν, tote apesteilen): "Then" indicates immediate consequence following arrival at the specific location. "Sent" (ἀποστέλλω, apostellō) denotes a formal mission, a commissioning with specific instructions, emphasizing Jesus' authority and control over the events. This is not an impromptu request but a planned action.
  • Jesus (ὁ Ἰησοῦς, ho Iēsous): The subject, highlighting His deliberate action and sovereignty.
  • two disciples (δύο μαθητάς, dyo mathētas): Specifies the number, underscoring the legal requirement of two witnesses (Deut 19:15) and indicating a task that likely required mutual support. This mirrors other instances where Jesus sent out disciples in pairs (e.g., Mt 10:1, Mk 6:7). The text doesn't name them, maintaining focus on Jesus' directive rather than the messengers.
• Word-Groups Analysis:
  • "When they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives": This phrase establishes the geographical and temporal context with meticulous detail. It frames the entry not as an accidental occurrence but as a purposeful culmination of Jesus' journey towards Jerusalem. The locations—Jerusalem, Bethphage, Mount of Olives—are not just points on a map but places rich with religious, historical, and prophetic significance, setting the stage for the dramatic fulfillment of prophecy.
  • "then sent Jesus two disciples": This immediately preceding clause signifies Jesus' proactive and sovereign control over the unfolding events. His "sending" of the disciples emphasizes His divine knowledge and authority, as the instructions given to them imply prior awareness of a specific colt's availability and the owners' willingness to comply. This is not a request born of necessity but a command rooted in foreknowledge and divine orchestration.

Matthew 21 1 Bonus section

The positioning of Bethphage, between Bethany (where Jesus had spent the night, as seen in parallel accounts like John 12:1) and Jerusalem, highlights the immediate approach to the city's gates. Pilgrims typically stopped just outside the city to perform final purification rites before entering for Passover. Jesus’ specific location points to His intention to make a public entry. This also underscores the idea of Jesus fulfilling all righteousness and entering into the full prophetic sequence for His identity as Messiah and Suffering Servant. The Passover atmosphere also intensifies the Messianic expectation, as many pilgrims would be yearning for deliverance, setting up a sharp contrast between their expectations of a military king and Jesus' humble arrival.

Matthew 21 1 Commentary

Matthew 21:1 functions as a deliberate transition point, shifting the narrative's focus from Jesus' Galilean and Perean ministry to the critical Passion Week in Jerusalem. Jesus' arrival at the strategic location of Bethphage, near the Mount of Olives, is not coincidental but pre-ordained, fulfilling the geographical pathway of the returning Messiah. His dispatching of two disciples, without first checking if the animals were there, demonstrates His divine omniscience and sovereign authority, revealing a foreknowledge that transcends human understanding. This act sets into motion the exact fulfillment of prophecy that would unfold immediately afterward (specifically Zech 9:9 in subsequent verses), emphasizing that Jesus was not swept up by events but orchestrating them according to His divine plan for redemption. The quiet confidence in Jesus' command indicates His complete mastery of the circumstances, even those that appear mundane, serving the larger divine purpose of His Messianic unveiling and sacrificial mission. This verse sets the stage for His climactic presentation as King to Israel, albeit a King who comes in humility.