Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 11:7
And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.
7. and cast their garments on him ] over both indeed (Mat 21:7), to do Him regal honour, just as the captains “ took every man his garment, and put it under Jehu on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king ” (2Ki 9:13).
he sat upon ] the unused colt, while probably some of the Apostles led it by the bridle.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
See Poole on “Mat 21:8-9“. It appeareth by our Saviour sending for the colt, that this little rural triumph, and the acclamations attending it, were designed by him both to show the people:
1. That he was the King whom God had promised to set upon his holy hill of Zion; and;
2. That his kingdom was not of this world. For, as he elsewhere saith, if his kingdom had been of this world, his servants would have fought for him.
So it may be said: You may know his kingdom that he spake of was not of this world; for if it had there would have been found a more stately beast than the colt of an ass, or at least a saddle for that; the ways would have been covered with tapestry, rather than poor mens coats and cloaks; and other heralds would have been found than a company of children and poor men, crying Hosanna. This was such a thing as would but have ridiculed a government to be afraid of, nor indeed (to give Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor at this time in Jerusalem, his due) do we find him the least disturbed, though the scribes and Pharisees, (which were the Jewish churchmen), seeing their kingdom going down, were something nettled; and though they had more modesty than to bring this little triumph in judgment against him, yet their great charge was, his declaring and making himself a King, in order to which this was the greatest show he ever made.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And they brought the colt to Jesus,…. Where he was,
and cast their garments on him; their clothes to be instead of a saddle, for Christ to sit upon:
and he sat upon him; or “Jesus rode on him”, as the Syriac version renders it. The Ethiopic version reads, “they made him to mount him”; that is, the disciples assisted him in getting upon it, and having mounted it, he sat on it without any trouble, though it had never been backed before, and rode on his way to Jerusalem;
[See comments on Mt 21:7].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
They bring the colt unto Jesus ( ). Vivid historical present. The owners acquiesced as Jesus had predicted. Evidently friends of Jesus.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And they brought the colt to Jesus,” (kai pherousin ton polon pros ton lesoun) “And they gently led or brought the colt to Jesus,” in Bethphage, from which He sent for it, Mar 11:1-2.
2) “And cast their garments on him,” (kai epiballousin auto ta himatia auton) “And they threw their garments on it;” their loose outer robes, to make the ride more comfortable and sanitary for Jesus, Luk 19:35.
3) “And He sat upon him.” (kai ekathisen ep’ auton) “And He (Jesus) sat upon it,” or rode upon it, upon the colt that had the garments of the two spread upon it, Zec 9:9; Mat 21:7.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
‘And they bring the colt to Jesus, and throw their clothes over it, and he sat on him.’
The colt being brought they put some of their clothing on its back to make the equivalent of a saddle or to provide a softer seat. It was a sign that they were joining in with whatever He was attempting to do. They clearly saw it as having some kind of symbolic significance. Then Jesus sat on the colt and it seemingly accepted His presence without demur. Matthew tells us that its mother followed it, determined to keep her eye on her youngster, but Mark is less interested in the detail and more interested in the significance, for the future. Here was the portrayal of His kingship.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jesus’ Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem (11:7-9).
Jesus now portrayed Himself in terms of Zec 9:9, although Mark does not mention this latter. But in view of his descriptions, which reproduce the signs of the proclamation of a king of Israel, he certainly wants us to see it in terms of the king entering to take possession of what was His. It was, however, a view tempered by his later understanding. There is no suggestion that he sees Jesus’ ‘offer’ as rejected by the people. The people welcome Him. His emphasis will be on His rejection by the Jewish leadership.
Analysis.
a
b And many spread their cloaks on the roadway, and others foliage (layers of leaves) which they had cut from the fields (Mar 11:8).
b And those who went in front, and those who followed, cried, “Hosanna (‘save now’)! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (Mar 11:9).
a “Blessed is the kingly rule that comes, of our father David. Hosanna in the highest” (Mar 11:10).
Note in ‘a’ their action in putting their cloaks on the asses colt for Him to sit on, symbolic of the coming of the kingly rule of David in the parallel, while in ‘b’ they spread their cloaks in the way and lay the leaves of trees in the way, symbolic of the acceptance of One Who represents a king coming in the Name of the Lord (YHWH).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.
Ver. 7. See Trapp on “ Mat 21:7 “ See Trapp on “ Luk 19:35 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
brought = led.
to. Greek. pros. App-104. Not the came word as in verses: Mar 11:1, Mar 11:13, Mar 11:15.
him = it.
upon. Greek. epi. App-104.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the colt: Zec 9:9, Mat 21:4, Mat 21:5, Luk 19:35
and cast: 2Ki 9:13, Mat 21:7, Mat 21:8, Luk 19:36, Joh 12:12-16
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7
Brought the colt . . . he sat upon him. Jesus rode the mother of the colt also although Mark does not say so. For an explanation of this subject see the comments on Mat 21:5.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 11:7. Sat upon him. On the colt. Luke and John specify this. See on Mat 21:7.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Observe here, The obedience of his disciples. First, They did as Jesus had commanded, they do not dispute their Lord’s commands, nor raise objections, nor are afraid of dangers: when our call is clear, our obedience must be speedy; what Christ commands we are not to dispute, but to obey.
Observe, 2. The actions of the multitude in acknowledging Christ to be their King; they cast their garments on the ground for him to ride upon, according to the custom of princes when they ride in state; and do not only disrobe their backs, but expend their breath in joyful acclamations, and loud hosannas, wishing all manner of prosperity to their meek but mighty King. In this princely, yet poor and despicable pomp, doth our Saviour enter the famous city of Jerusalem.
O how far was our holy Lord from affecting worldly greatness and grandeur! He despised that glory which worldly hearts fondly admire; yet because he was a King, he would be proclaimed such, and have his kingdom confessed, applauded, and blessed. But that it might appear that his kingdom was not of this world, he abandons all worldly magnificence. O glorious, yet homely pomp! O meek, but mighty Prince!
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
The disciples made a saddle for Jesus from their outer garments. Jesus’ decision to enter Jerusalem this way fulfilled the messianic prophecy in Zec 9:9. It also indicated that He entered as a servant ruler, not as a political conqueror. When Israel’s rulers wanted to present themselves as servants of the people, they rode donkeys (e.g., Jdg 10:4; Jdg 12:14). When they acted as military leaders, they rode horses. Normally pilgrims to Jerusalem entered the city on foot. [Note: Ibid., p. 393.] Placing one’s garment on the ground before someone was a sign of royal homage (cf. 2Ki 9:12-13; 1Ma 13:51).