Matthew 21:7

7 And they brought the ass and the colt and laid their garments upon them and made him sit thereon.

Matthew 21:7 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 21:7

And brought the ass and the colt
To Jesus, as Mark and Luke add, and who only make mention of the colt: both were undoubtedly brought; the colt being unloosed and taken away, the ass, its dam, followed after:

and put on them their clothes;
their loose upper garments, to be instead of saddles and trappings, and that Christ might sit thereon with ease and decency: the other evangelists say, that they cast their garments on the colt; and the Syriac version here reads, "they put their garments on the colt, and Jesus rode upon it": but as both were brought, it is clear from hence, that their clothes were put upon both; not knowing which Christ would choose to ride on. And it should seem, that it was not unusual to put garments on asses to ride on; for the Targumist on ( Judges 5:10 ) represents the princes of Israel as riding upon asses, strewed or saddled with all kind (Nyrwyu) , of "painted garments". The Persic version, without the least colour of authority from the original text, renders it, "and Jesus put his own garment on the colt, and sat thereon"; which is ridiculous, as well as contrary to truth:

and they sat him thereon,
or "on them": meaning either on the ass and colt, that is, on one of them, or both successively, or on the clothes they put upon them.

Matthew 21:7 In-Context

5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion: Behold thy king cometh to thee, meek and sitting upon an ass and a colt, the foal of her that is used to the yoke.

6 And the disciples going, did as Jesus commanded them.

7 And they brought the ass and the colt and laid their garments upon them and made him sit thereon.

8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way: and others cut boughs from the trees and strewed them in the way.

9 And the multitudes that went before and that followed cried, saying: Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.