The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 324

The apostlos were not consciously fulfilling the prophecy. They understood not these things at the first; they did not consider that they were doing the things that had been written of the Christ (John xii. 16). 'l'hey knew it afterwards• the Lord knew it now. The prophecy came through the prophet, but it came from 'ood; and now God, the Author of the prophecy, broul!:ht about its fulfilment. The prophecy Rnnounced the coming of the Christ as King. God brought it to pass, for that coming to Jerusalem BS Messiah the King was the beginning of the great series of events by which the redemption of the world was wrought. (2) Its substance. It is taken from the Prophet Zechariah, but prefaced by a few words from a similar prophecy in Isaiah (lxii. 11), "Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh." Prophets, apostles, evangelists, all proclaim the advent of the King. All his people must swell that proclamation, telling of his presence, sometimes with their lips, always in their lives. "Rejoice greatly," the prophet said (Zech. ix. 9). The coming of Christ brings exceeding great joy to the Christian heart. Those who know that joy must declare its sweetness to others, that their joy, too, may be full. "Behold, thy King cometh unto thee." The earthly Zion had not been the usual dwelling-place of the incarnate Lord. Yet he cometh now to Zion; he is the King of Zion, her King from the times of old. He is our King now-King of the Israel of God. He cometh to us-to each individual soul, as on that first Palm Sunday he came to the earthly Zion. Let us receive him with joy ; and oh I let us take heed lest we fall away like so many of those who then shouted, " Hosanna to the King!" He is meek; not, like earthly kings, proud and haughty. He is lowly, bowed down by much affliction, a Man of sorrows. The Hebrew word means "afflicted,"" poor;" the Greek word expresses that meekness which is the blessed fruit of affliction borne in faith and patience. The King is meek ; his followers must learn of him. Pride and violence are hateful in his sight. Blessed are the meek ; for they are like the Lord. He sat upon an ass. He approached Jerusalem as a King, but not as one of the kings of the earth; in festal procession, but not with pomp and mag- nificence; riding, but not as earthly kings would ride-riding meekly on an ass. He was a King, indeed, surrounded with a halo;of sweet dignity, and something of unearthly majesty that enforced reverence aud repelled presumptuous liberties. But his kingdom. was not of this world. The procession of Palm Sunday set forth both sides of the truth. He was a King; he claimed no earthly crown. (3) Its fulfilment. The two disciples obeyed at once. The owners of the asses recognized the mandate of the Lord. The disciples put their clothes upon the colt whereon never man sat, and they set the Lord thereon. II. Tm: PBOOEBBION. 1. The approach to Jerusalem. The modest procession climbed the road that slopes up the Mount of Olives till, as they passed the shoulder of the hill, Jerusalem lay clear before them, the temple glittering in all its glory of gold and marble. The Lord wept as he gazed upon it. He, the Prince of Peace, was coming to the holy city; but that city, Jerusalem, the inheritance of peace, had not known the things that belonged to her peace ; now they were bid from her eyes. There were outward demonstrations of joy ; in some that joy was deep and true ; in others it was, though not insincere, founded on mistaken hopes which would soon _be dissipated; in very many it was mere excitement, worthless and unreal,-one of those transitory bursts of apparent enthusiasm which are so contagious for a time, which run through unthinking crowds. The Lord was not dazzled by the popular applause; he estimated it at its true value. He wept as he looked upon Jerusalem; his eye gazed through the future, resting, not on his own approaching sufferings, but on the fearful doom which awaited the impenitent city. 2. The multitudes. The tidings of the Lord's approach reached Jerusalem; crowds of pilgrims, who had come thither for the Passover, went out to meet him. There were pilgrims from Galilee, who could tell of many mighty deeds; there were others who were present when be called Lazarus out of his grave (John xii. 17). That last wondrous miracle had for a time rekindled the old enthusiasm. The crowd issuing from Jerusalem joined tbo procession which came from Bethany; they swelled its numbers and increased tho excitement. They hailed the Lord as King, spreading their garments in the way, as men had done to welcome kings (2 Kings iL 13); they strewed his path with branches from the trees; they cried, "Hosanna to the Son of David! " they hailed the Lord as the Messiah. The Pharisees had agreed that if any man did confe1s that he was Christ, he should be put ea. xxt.1-46.] TRE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 329