Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

Biblical Text and Narrative

All four Gospels record this event (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19). When Jesus came near Bethphage and Bethany by the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples to bring Him a donkey's colt. He then rode it into Jerusalem. The crowds spread their garments and branches on the road and cried out, "Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord" (Matthew 21:9).

Each Gospel includes its own distinctive details.

• Matthew mentions two animals, a donkey and her colt, while the other Gospels mention only one.
• In Luke, when the Pharisees urge Jesus to rebuke His disciples, He replies, "I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out" (Luke 19:40). Jesus then looks upon the city and weeps over it.
• John writes that the crowd came out to meet Jesus because they had heard of the raising of Lazarus (John 12:17-18).

Background

The event took place as pilgrims were gathering in Jerusalem ahead of the Passover. John places it on the day after Jesus arrived in Bethany, six days before the Passover (John 12:1, 12). "Hosanna" derives from a Hebrew expression meaning "save now." The crowd's acclamation draws on the words of Psalm 118:25-26. Palm branches are mentioned only in John (12:13); Mark refers instead to branches cut from the fields (11:8).

Significance in the Wider Biblical Narrative

Matthew (21:4-5) and John (12:14-15) present the event as the fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9: "thy King cometh unto thee … lowly, and riding upon an ass." A king riding a donkey rather than a warhorse is commonly interpreted as signifying a humble and peaceful Messiah. The cry "Son of David" reflects the expectation of the king promised in the Davidic covenant. Because the cleansing of the Temple, the Last Supper, and the crucifixion follow in sequence, the entry marks the beginning of the Passion narrative in the Gospels.

Interpretations and Debates

• The two donkeys: Interpreters differ over Matthew's account. Some hold that there were in fact two animals; others that the mother donkey followed her colt; and still others that Matthew reproduces the poetic parallelism of Zechariah.
• The crowd's expectations: Many interpreters hold that the crowd expected a political king who would deliver them from Rome. John notes that even the disciples did not understand the meaning of these things at the time (12:16).
• A commonly added detail: Many sermons claim that "the crowd that shouted 'Hosanna' cried 'Crucify him' a few days later." The Gospels, however, do not say that the two crowds consisted of the same people. The crowd at the trial is recorded as having been stirred up by the chief priests (Mark 15:11).
• The day of the week: The tradition of commemorating the event on a Sunday is ancient, but scholars differ on the precise reckoning of the day.

In the Korean Church

Korean churches observe the Sunday one week before Easter as Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week. Churches of many denominations, including Presbyterian, Methodist, and Holiness churches, preach on this passage on that day. Churches that emphasize the liturgical year, such as the Anglican Church of Korea, sometimes hold a procession with palm branches.