Focused Passage

Matthew 21:1-11

The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership

Matthew moves from messianic entry, to temple judgment and healing, to children’s praise and leader indignation, to the prophetic sign of the fig tree, to a challenge over Jesus’ authority, to parables exposing false obedience and murderous stewardship, and finally to Jesus’ declaration that the rejected stone becomes the cornerstone and the kingdom will be given to a fruit-bearing people.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples,

2 saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to Me.

3 If anyone questions you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

5 “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.

7 They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.

8 A massive crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

9 The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”

10 When Jesus had entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

11 The crowds replied, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

- Καὶ G2532 Conjunction As ὅτε G3753 Adverb they approached ἤγγισαν G1448 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition Jerusalem Ἱεροσόλυμα G2414 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction came ἦλθον G2064 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural to εἰς G1519 Preposition Bethphage Βηθφαγὴ G967 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular on εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular Mount ὄρος G3735 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Plural of Olives Ἐλαιῶν G1636 Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural - τότε G5119 Adverb Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular sent out ἀπέστειλεν G649 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular two δύο G1417 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural disciples μαθητὰς G3101 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Verse 2

Original words

saying λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular to them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural Go Πορεύεσθε G4198 Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular village κώμην G2968 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular ahead κατέναντι G2713 Preposition of you ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction at once εὐθέως* G2112 Adverb you will find εὑρήσετε G2147 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural a donkey ὄνον G3688 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular tied [there] δεδεμένην G1210 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Feminine Singular with καὶ G2532 Conjunction [her] colt πῶλον G4454 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular beside μετ’ G3326 Preposition her αὐτῆς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular Untie [them] λύσαντες G3089 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural [and] bring [them] ἀγάγετέ G71 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural to Me μοι G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Verse 3

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction If ἐάν G1437 Conjunction anyone τις G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular questions εἴπῃ G2036 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . τι G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural tell [him] ἐρεῖτε G2046 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Lord Κύριος G2962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular vvv ἔχει G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular needs χρείαν G5532 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular them αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural and δὲ G1161 Conjunction he will send ἀποστελεῖ G649 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular them αὐτούς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural right away εὐθὺς G2112 Adverb
Verse 4

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction This Τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular took place γέγονεν G1096 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to ἵνα G2443 Conjunction fulfill πληρωθῇ G4137 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular what τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular was spoken ῥηθὲν G2046 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Neuter Singular through διὰ G1223 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular prophet προφήτου G4396 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - λέγοντος G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 5

Original words

Say Εἴπατε G2036 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural to the τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular Daughter θυγατρὶ G2364 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular of Zion Σιών G4622 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular See Ἰδοὺ G2400 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular King Βασιλεύς G935 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular comes ἔρχεταί G2064 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular to you σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular gentle πραῢς G4239 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction riding ἐπιβεβηκὼς G1910 Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition a donkey ὄνον G3688 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition a colt πῶλον G4454 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular [the] foal υἱὸν G5207 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular of a donkey ὑποζυγίου G5268 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular

BSB notes

  • Zechariah 9:9
Verse 6

Original words

So δὲ G1161 Conjunction the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural disciples μαθηταὶ G3101 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural went Πορευθέντες G4198 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction did ποιήσαντες G4160 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural as καθὼς G2531 Adverb - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular had directed συνέταξεν G4929 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Verse 7

Original words

They brought ἤγαγον G71 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular donkey ὄνον G3688 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular colt πῶλον G4454 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction laid ἐπέθηκαν G2007 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural their τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural cloaks ἱμάτια G2440 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural on ἐπ’ G1909 Preposition them αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction [Jesus] sat ἐπεκάθισεν G1940 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular on ἐπάνω G1883 Preposition them αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Verse 8

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular A massive πλεῖστος G4118 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - Superlative crowd ὄχλος G3793 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular spread ἔστρωσαν G4766 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural their ἑαυτῶν G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural cloaks ἱμάτια G2440 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural on ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular road ὁδῷ G3598 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular while δὲ G1161 Conjunction others ἄλλοι G243 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural cut ἔκοπτον G2875 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural branches κλάδους G2798 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Plural trees δένδρων G1186 Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction spread [them] ἐστρώννυον G4766 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural on ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular road ὁδῷ G3598 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Verse 9

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction The Οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural crowds ὄχλοι G3793 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural that οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural went ahead προάγοντες G4254 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural of Him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction those that οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural followed ἀκολουθοῦντες G190 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural were shouting ἔκραζον G2896 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural - λέγοντες G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Hosanna Ὡσαννὰ G5614 Hebrew Word to the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular Son υἱῷ G5207 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular of David Δαυίδ G1138 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Blessed is Εὐλογημένος G2127 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular He G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular who comes ἐρχόμενος G2064 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition [the] name ὀνόματι G3686 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular of [the] Lord Κυρίου G2962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Hosanna Ὡσαννὰ G5614 Hebrew Word in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Plural highest ὑψίστοις G5310 Adjective - Dative Neuter Plural - Superlative

BSB notes

  • Hosanna is a transliteration of the Hebrew Hosia-na, meaning Save, we pray or Save now, which became a shout of praise; see Psalm 118:25; also in verse 15.
  • Psalm 118:26
  • Or “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” See Psalm 118:25 and Psalm 148:1.
Verse 10

Original words

- Καὶ G2532 Conjunction When [Jesus] αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular had entered εἰσελθόντος G1525 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition Jerusalem Ἱεροσόλυμα G2414 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular whole πᾶσα G3956 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular city πόλις G4172 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular was stirred ἐσείσθη G4579 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular [and] asked λέγουσα G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Singular Who Τίς G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular this οὗτος G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 11

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction The Οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural crowds ὄχλοι G3793 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural replied ἔλεγον G2036 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural This Οὗτός G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular prophet προφήτης G4396 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition Nazareth Ναζαρὲθ G3478 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular in Galilee Γαλιλαίας G1056 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.