Matthew the apostle wrote, “And when they drew near unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway you shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, you shall say, The Lord has need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell you the daughter of Sion, Behold, your King comes unto you, meek, and sitting upon a donkey, and a colt the foal of a donkey. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse eight of his book, Matthew shares how, “a very great multitude spread their garments … cut down branches … and strawed them in the way” where we read:
And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way;
others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
The verse reads, “And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way;. Matthew began with the words, “and a very great multitude” or “and a huge and large crowd of people” “spread” which means “furnished and strew” “their garments” or “the people's clothing and apparel such as cloaks, tunics, and robes” “in the way” which means “upon the path and traveled road before Jesus”. Matthew shared how the large crowd of people responded to seeing Jesus ride into the city upon a donkey by spreading their clothing in His pathway.
The verse continues, “others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.” Matthew added the word, “others” or “other people” “cut down branches” which means “struck down limbs which were tender shoots and twigs” “from the trees” or “from the surrounding trees”, “and strawed them” which means “and furnished and spread the branches” “in the way” or “upon the path and traveled road before Jesus”. Matthew wrote how other people within the crowd began to cut down nearby tree branches and spread them in the pathway of the donkey and Jesus who was riding upon it.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus' entrance into the city of Jerusalem upon a donkey caused a great crowd of people to gather. In their excitement of seeing Jesus come, they began to cast their clothing and cut branches and strew them upon the ground in front of Him like a “red carpet” welcome. All these things fulfilled God's plan for the “salvation” of man, and when people search these scriptures and see their exact fulfillment, their response should be to lay down the “garments” of their souls before Him and allow entrance of Jesus into their hearts. Let it be so today, and bless the Lord as He comes in.
Next time Matthew shares how the multitude cries, “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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