Matthew 21:4–5

The Lord then enters Jerusalem according to prophecy. He enters it, however, not in the outward pomp and glory that the nations look for. He comes as the prophet's words now literally came true: Jehovah's King sitting on a donkey in the spirit of humiliation. But this very thing gave the fullest proof that He was Jehovah Himself. The word to the owner of the donkey and colt was, "The Lord has need of them."

Note that it is "your" King. As another has written, "He does not say a king, but your King, your own, the long-promised, the long-expected."

Kings were always presented in great pomp and dignity, riding at least a beautiful horse. To come in meekness instead of authority, on a donkey's colt instead of a war horse, is so unlike a king's usual presentation that Israel should have been woken up by such a prophecy. They should have recognised this occasion as its clear fulfilment.

In the purest days of the Jewish government, the leading men in Israel used no animals but donkeys (Judges 5:10; Judges 10:4; Judges 12:14). Horses only came in during the corrupt times of Solomon. So when the Lord took up the style of "King of Israel," He of course took every feature, however small, that belonged to the only pure and true form of such a character... and His being "meek and lowly" was as kingly a feature as any other. Moses had ruled that the king later appointed over Israel must not surround himself with the pomp that might lift up his head in pride above his brothers. Christ the King would surely follow the model Moses gave (Deut. 17:14).

We ask the reader to notice the omission of the words, "just, and having salvation." Why are they not quoted? Because they would not apply to the Saviour's circumstances then. He was going to certain and known rejection. It was always true that He had salvation for those who put their trust in Him. But He was not at that time going to bring salvation to the daughter of Zion. Nor did He present Himself to her then as the "just," or righteous One. Had He entered her gates in righteousness then (as He will do when He establishes the kingdom), it would have been for her destruction. ... One part of the prophecy has come true. Zion's King did come, lowly, sitting on a donkey. The rest waits for His return to Zion in glory. Then He will be seen as "just, and having salvation."

Matthew and Paul are not the ones quoting the Old Testament. The same Spirit of God who gave the Old Testament Scriptures through the prophets is quoting His own words in the New.

Here, in Matthew, the old Israel and the renewed nation are thus connected. The Lord's entry into Jerusalem is upon the "colt, the foal of a donkey" — the new Israel will bring Him in with Hosannas! ... The donkey was, according to the law, "unclean"; but its foal might be redeemed. See Job 11:12; Ex. 13:13; Ex. 34:20.

We are apt to forget that meekness is His abiding character. It was not produced by His circumstances of trial and sorrow down here, but is a trait of His perfection as man. Whether in the glory at God's right hand, or appearing to Israel as their long-awaited Messiah, He is still the lowly or meek One.

Today God's earthly people, the Jews, are neither meek nor beautiful as a nation; nor were any of us in our natural condition. If there is anything beautiful about any of us, it is the fruit of the salvation that has reached us. When Israel at last becomes humble and meek, she will be like her King, who was meek and brought salvation.