Matthew 21:3 (WEB)
If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
Catechism · 1
“Although Jesus had always refused popular attempts to make him king, he chooses the time and prepares the details for his messianic entry into the city of "his father David".” — Catechism footnote: Lk 1:32; cf. Mt 21:1-11; Jn 6:15.
Fathers and councils · 43
Augustine of Hippo
“…ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her;” and so on, down to the words, “Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxi. 1–9.
Read the whole comment“Here the account is briefly given: for how it all happened may be found at full length in the other evangelists.” — editor's note: Matt. xxi. 1–16; Mark xi. 1–11; Luke xix. 29–48.
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John Chrysostom
“And this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Zechariah the prophet, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh to thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxi. 1–5. [The textual variations are reproduced in the above rendering. The most interesting variation is ἀποστλλει (“he sendeth”), the reading attested…
Read the whole comment“For there too He saith, “If any man say aught unto you, ye shall say, that the Lord hath need of them;”and so likewise here, “The Master saith, I will keep the passover at thy house.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxi. 3.
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Jerome
“Let no one dare to forbid you, neither mother nor sister nor kinswoman nor brother: “The Lord hath need of you.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxi. 1–3.
Read the whole comment“Lastly, let them take as much pleasure as they please in their Gallican “geldings;” we will be satisfied with the simple “ass” of Zechariah, loosed from its halter and made ready for the Saviour’s service, which received the Lord on its back,…” — editor's note: Jerome’s detractors suggested this word instead of the simpler “ass” in Zech. ix. 9 and Matt. xxi. 2–5. The phrase “Gallican geldings” appears to be a…
Read the whole comment“Here it was that a restive foal typical of the Gentiles received the bridle of God, and covered with the garments of the apostles offered its lowly back for Him to sit on.” — editor's note: Matt. xxi. 1–7.
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Aphrahat
“…His dwelling place was in heaven, He had no place to lay His head; and though He is to come upon the clouds, yet rode on a colt and so entered Jerusalem; and though He is God and Son of God, He took upon Him the likeness of a servant; and though He was (for others) rest from all weariness, yet was Himself tired…” — editor's note: Matt. xxi. 2–7.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Evangelist related above that the Lord departed from Galilee, and began to go up to Jerusalem. Being now occupied with telling what He did by the way, he proceeds in his purpose, saying, “And when they drew nigh…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
Whence Bethphage is interpreted, The house of the Shoulder; for the shoulder was the priest’s portion in the Law. It follows, “Then Jesus sent two of his disciples.”
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
He said not to His disciples, Say, Thy Lord, or Your Lord, hath need of them; that they may understand, that He is Lord alone, not of the beasts only, but of all men; for even sinners are by the law of nature His,…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
And think not this a little thing which was now done, for who was it that wrought with the owners of the beasts that they refused not, but yielded them? By this also He instructs His disciples that He could have…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
it is to be understood, that after He had entered into Jerusalem, the beast was returned by Christ to its owner.
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, The owner of the beasts will straightway send them to be engaged for Christ’s service. Hereto is added the testimony of the Prophet, that it may be shewn that the Lord fulfilled all things which were written of…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
For the Prophet knowing the malice of the Jews, that they would speak against Christ when He went up to the Temple, gave them this sign beforehand, whereby they might know their King, “Say ye to the daughter of Sion.”
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
In history, Daughter of Sion is the name given to the city of Jerusalem, which stands on mount Sion. But mystically, it is the Church of the faithful pertaining to the Jerusalem which is above.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
“Behold,” is a word used in pointing out any thing; look, that is, not with the bodily eye, but with the spiritual understanding, at the works of His power. Also aforetimes He oft said, “Behold,” that He might shew…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
In this quotation from the Prophet, there is some variety in the different Gospels. Matthew quotes it as if the Prophet had expressly mentioned the she-ass; but it is not so quoted by John [marg. note: John 12:15],…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
But it seems that the Lord could not in so short a distance have sate upon both animals; seeing then that the history has either an impossibility or a meanness, we are sent to higher things, that is, to the…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
Notwithstanding, it was possible that the Lord might have sate upon both animals.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
To me it seems that He was mounted upon the ass, not only because of the mystery, but to give us a lesson of wisdom, teaching us therein that it needs not to be mounted on horses, but that it is sufficient to employ…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
The multitudes that came out of Jericho, and followed the Saviour, cast down their garments, and strewed the way with branches of trees; and therefore it follows, “But the multitudes spread their garments in the…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
And it is confounded of one perfect and one imperfect word. For ‘Hosi’ signifies ‘save,” ‘anna’ is an interjection used in entreating.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
For it signifies that the coming of Christ is the salvation of the world, whence it follows, “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” Which same thing the Saviour in the Gospel confirms, “I am come in my…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
Because, namely, in all His good actions, He sought not His own but His Father’s glory.
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
And the meaning is, “Blessed,” that is, Glorious, “is He that cometh,” that is, is incarnate; “in the name of the Lord;” that is, of the Father, by glorifying Him. Again they repeat, “Hosanna,” that is, “Save, I pray…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or by that which is added, “Hosanna,” that is, Salvation, “in the highest,” it is clearly shewn that the coming of Christ is not the salvation of man only, but of the whole world, joining earthly things to things…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or when they say, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord,” it is the dispensation of Christ’s humanity that they set forth; but His restoration to the holy places when they…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
“Hosanna,” some interpret ‘glory,’ some ‘redemption,” and glory is His due, and redemption belongs to Him who has redeemed all men.
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
The words of their song of praise, express His power of redemption; in calling Him the Son of David, they acknowledge His hereditary title to the kingdom,
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Never before had the Lord employed the services of beasts, nor surrounded Himself with the ornaments of green boughs, till now when He is going up to Jerusalem to suffer. He moved them that beheld to do that which…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Mystically; The Lord draws near to Jerusalem departing from Jericho, and taking great multitudes with Him, because great and laden with great wares, that is, the salvation of believers that has been entrusted to Him,…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Lord therefore sent His disciples from mount Olivet to the village, when He guided the preachers forth from the primitive Church into the world. He sent two, because there were two orders of preachers, as the…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, because there is theory and practice, that is, knowledge and works. By the ass which had been under the yoke, and was broken, the synagogue is understood. By the ass’s colt wild and unbroken, the Gentile people;…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
Whence Matthew, who wrote his Gospel to the Jews, is the only one who mentions that the ass was brought to the Lord, to shew that this same Hebrew nation, if it repent, need not despair of salvation.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Men are likened to animals, from some resemblance they bear in their not recognising the Son of God. And this animal is unclean, and beyond all other brutes incapable of reasoning, a stupid, helpless, ignoble drudge.…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
Whence also, when He ascended into heaven, He gave command to His disciples that they should loose sinners, for which also He gave them the Holy Spirit. But being loosed, and making progress, and being nourished by…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or by the ass and the colt is shewn the twofold calling from among the Gentiles. For the Samaritans did serve after a certain fashion of obedience, and they are signified by the ass; but the other Gentiles wild and…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
But as it was then said to the Apostles, “If any man say ought to you, say ye, The Lord hath need of them;” so now it is commanded to the preachers, that though any opposition he made to them, they should not slack…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Apostles’ clothes which are laid upon the beasts may be understood either as the teaching of virtues, or discernment of Scriptures, or verities of ecclesiastical dogmas, with which, unless the soul be furnished…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Lord sitting upon the ass goes towards Jerusalem, because presiding over the Holy Church, or the faithful soul, He both guides it in this life, and after this life leads it to the view of the heavenly country.…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
When He says, “The multitudes that went before and that followed,” He shews that both people, those who before the Gospel, and those who after the Gospel, believed on the Lord, praise Jesus with the harmonious voice…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Those prophesying spoke of Christ who was to come; these speak in praise of the coming of Christ already fulfilled.
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Cross-references · 14
Parallel passages
Matthew 21:3 and Mark 11:3 share the same wording (9 words).
Cited together with
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Matthew 21:2–9 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Pseudo-Chrysostom on Matthew 21:2–9 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Letters Letter 27.
Cited together in Letters Letter 27.
Cited together in Letters Letter 27.
Cited together in Letters Letter 27.
Cited together in Letters Letter 27.
Cited together in Letters Letter 27.
Cited together in Letters Letter 27.
Cited together in Letters Letter 27.
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 21:2–9 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Letters Letter 27.
Cited together in Glossa Ordinaria on Matthew 21:2–9 (Catena Aurea) and 1 other place.