Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 21:10
And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
10. all the city was moved ] By a census taken in the time of Nero it was ascertained that there were 2,700,000 Jews present at the Passover. We may picture the narrow streets of Jerusalem thronged with eager inquisitive crowds demanding, with Oriental vivacity, in many tongues and dialects, “who is this?”
was moved ] The word in the original is forcible, “convulsed” or “stirred” as by an earthquake, or by a violent wind. Cp. ch. Mat 27:51, and Rev 6:13, where the same verb is used.
Monday, Nisan 10.
The events of this day extend to the end of ch. 25.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved – There was great excitement. The sight of such a multitude, the shouts of the people, and the triumphant procession through the city, excited much attention and inquiry.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. All the city was moved] Or, the whole city was in motion. , was in a tumult – they saw and heard plainly that the multitude had proclaimed Christ king, and Messiah. Who is this? Who is accounted worthy of this honour?
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Such an unusual sight might well affect a great number in Jerusalem with admiration and astonishment, the people, especially, giving honour to him as a King, and calling him the Son of David; and certainly, but that the meanness of his appearance and meanness of his followers put uninterested men out of fear, and gave Herod and Pilate some security that there was no attempt on foot against the civil government, our Saviour and his followers would have been apprehended, as raisers of a sedition and rebellion. But the multitude now gave him no other title than that of Jesus the Prophet; which yet was enough to distinguish him from other prophets, for he was Jesus a Saviour, and the Prophet foretold, Deu 18:15,18,19.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And when he was come into Jerusalem….. The metropolis of the nation, the seat of the ancient kings of Judah, and of his father David, entering into it in this very public manner; as he never did before; riding in the manner the ancient judges and kings of Israel did, attended with a numerous retinue, shouting as they went along, and singing their “Hosannas” to him:
all the city was moved; as Bethlehem was, when Naomi with Ruth returned thither; and of which the same phrase is used, as here, Ru 1:19.
all the city was moved about them; which the Chaldee paraphrase renders,
“all the inhabitants of the city were gathered in troops about them.”
And so here the sense is, that the inhabitants of the city of Jerusalem were in general alarmed at the uncommon apparatus, and shouting, and ran in great numbers to inquire what was the matter:
saying, who is this? They knew him not; for though he had preached unto them, and wrought miracles among them, yet they had never seen him in any such pomp and state; and could not devise who he should be, that entered their city in such a manner, amidst the shouts and acclamations of so great a multitude: it seemed greatly to affect them, and fill them with concern, astonishment, and fear.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Was stirred (). Shaken as by an earthquake. “Even Jerusalem frozen with religious formalism and socially undemonstrative, was stirred with popular enthusiasm as by a mighty wind or by an earthquake” (Bruce).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Was moved [] . Moved is hardly strong enough. It is shaken as by an earthquake. Rev., stirred. As Morison happily observes, “a profounder ground – swell of feeling.”
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
Mat 21:10
. When he entered into Jerusalem. Matthew says that the city was moved, in order to inform us that the transaction did not take place secretly, or by stealth, but in the presence of all the people, and that the priests and scribes were not ignorant of it. Under this despicable aspect of the flesh the majesty of the Spirit was apparent; for how would they have endured that Christ should be conducted into the city, attended by the splendor of royalty, with so great danger to themselves, if they had not been seized with astonishment? The substance of it therefore is, that Christ’s entrance was not made in a private manner, and that his enemies abstained from opposing it, not because they treated him with contempt, but rather because they were restrained by secret fear; for God had struck them with such alarm, that they dare not make any attempt. At the same time, the Evangelist glances at the careless indifference of the city, and commends the piety of those who have just reached it; for when the inhabitants, on hearing the noise, inquire, Who is this? it is manifest that they do not belong to the number of Christ’s followers.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(10) All the city was moved.It was the beginning of the Paschal week, and the city was therefore filled with pilgrims of many lands. To them this was a strange prelude to the usual order of the feast, and they asked what it meant. The answer fell short of the full meaning of the shouts of the people, but it expressed that aspect of the character of Jesus which was most intelligible to strangers. He was the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. All the city was moved The masses and the common people from Galilee, brought by the passover, who were upon his side, were moved with joy and gratulation. The Jewish rulers, especially of the party of the Pharisees, were moved with bitter opposition, but were held in check by the popular influences. Joh 12:19. The Romans saw nothing sufficiently alarming in the excitement to give it their attention.
Who is this? This question was perhaps put by the home population of Jerusalem, and was answered by the new comers from Galilee and other places where our Lord had taught and wrought miracles.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And when he arrived in Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?”
The massed crowds, and the noise, and the excitement inevitably caused a reaction in the inhabitants of Jerusalem and in many Jewish visitors from around the world (the crowds following Jesus were probably mainly Galileans and Peraeans), so that their interest was stirred and they began to say,’ Who is this?’
We can compare here the stir caused by the Magi when they too entered Jerusalem, in their case seeking the Son of David (Mat 2:3).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Reception in Jerusalem:
v. 10. And when He was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
v. 11. And the multitude said, This is Jesus, the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. The demonstration before Jesus continued all the way down the western slope of the Mount of Olives, across the Valley of the Kidron, and into the very city of Jerusalem itself. As usual under the circumstances, the excitement spread rapidly and carried many with it that knew nothing of the actual reason. Even the city of Jerusalem, with its multitudes of festival pilgrims, was most violently moved, as by an earthquake. The popular enthusiasm was transmitted to all classes of people. Every one began to question as to the identity of the man who thus came into the city. The inhabitants of Jerusalem had had plenty of opportunity to know Him, but many had forgotten the great miracles done in their midst, others had come from a distance, and had never come into contact with His glorious work and message. Everywhere it was openly heralded before Him that He was Jesus, the Prophet from Nazareth in Galilee. Their knowledge was not at all clear, and those that had a clear-cut understanding hesitated about making such a public profession of the same. To proclaim and confess Him as the Messiah was a dangerous undertaking in the chief city of the Jews, since the high priests and members of the council had openly threatened such confessors with excommunication. Thus even today many that are willing enough to proclaim Christ in the midst of a great multitude, are unwilling to stand up for Jesus when the individual confession might cause them unpleasantness and persecution.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
“And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? (11) And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.”
What an astonishing effect was wrought on the city at this approach of Jesus, Though the Lord had been so long going in and out among them, yet so astonished were they at this entrance of our God and Savior, that all men marvelled. Reader! have you never seen (I have) somewhat of the same kind in the present day, among the carnal and Christless, musing in their hearts when at any time hearing of Jesus! See a striking instance, Joh 7:40 to the end. I pray the Reader to remark, with me, the unconscious evidence the multitude gave to the real person of Christ, the only true. Nazarite of God, If my Reader hath near him my little penny publication of the “Poor Man’s Concordance, ” I would beg him to turn to the article Nazarene, for an explanation of the important name of Christ, as the only true Nazarite. He will discover that the name is of an infinitely higher import than perhaps he at first might suppose.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
Ver. 10. Who is this? ] Why? could not they tell after so many miracles done among them? Were they such strangers at Jerusalem? Many live and die very sots, even in those places where they had “line upon line, precept upon precept,” &c., and yet they are no wiser than the child newly weaned from the breast, Isa 28:9 ; their wits serve them not in spirituals, though otherwise shrewd enough.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 21:10 . : even Jerusalem, frozen with religious formalism and socially undemonstrative, was stirred by the popular enthusiasm as by a mighty wind or by an earthquake ( ), and asked (Mat 21:11 ), ; , etc.: a circumstantial answer specifying name, locality, and vocation; not a low-pitched answer as Chrys. (and after him Schanz) thought ( , , Hom. lxvi.), as if they were ashamed of their recent outburst of enthusiasm. Rather spoken with pride = the man to whom we have accorded Messianic honours is a countryman of ours, Jesus, etc.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
moved = agitated. Same word as “quake” (Mat 27:51) and “shake” (Mat 28:4. Heb 12:26. Rev 6:13).
Who is This? The city was evidently taken by surprise at this first entry; but the second entry (Mar 11:1-11. Luk 19:29-44) was known, and the people “met Him” (Joh 12:18), hence, there was no surprise.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mat 21:10. , saying) sc. from amazement.-, …, who? etc.) The chief personage is not immediately seen in a large concourse; nor had the Jews been accustomed to see Jesus journeying except on foot.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
all: Mat 2:3, Rth 1:19, 1Sa 16:4, Joh 12:16-19
Who: Son 3:6, Isa 63:1, Luk 5:21, Luk 7:49, Luk 9:9, Luk 20:2, Joh 2:18, Act 9:5
Reciprocal: Son 5:9 – What is Mar 11:11 – Jesus Luk 18:36 – he Joh 12:34 – who Act 21:30 – all
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
WHO WERE MOVED?
And when He was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
Mat 21:10
All the city was moved. Let us think of some different types of people who were represented in that great throng.
I. The common people.They heard Him gladly, and the same is true to-day. The Church is the Church of the poor, and experience teaches how gladly they hear the Gospel if it is preached to them in a tongue they can understand. If our words to them lack earnestness, or reality, or an intelligent appreciation of their position, they will not learn and we lose them, and what is worse, we weaken one of the strongest evidences in support of the truth of Christs Gospel, which when He preached it they heard gladly.
II. The suffering.They knew that He did all things well. The blind and the lame recognised Him; they came and were healed. It is a mistake to say that suffering, whether pain, or sickness, or misery, makes a man fanciful, imaginative, enthusiastic. It is from the sickbed that we often get clearer proof than can elsewhere be found what and who He is.
III. The children.Christ loves children, and the man must, indeed, be very ignorant, or very wicked, who can laugh at the testimony of childhood to Jesus Christ. Poverty loves Christ, suffering loves Christ, children love Christ.
IV. The disciples.Those who had companied with Jesus during those three years past, hearing His words, seeing His works, feeling His love, growing into His wisdom, gradually accustoming themselves to view men and things as He viewed them, and to admire till they adored the patience and self-denial, and the wonderful self-devotion of His characterthey, above all others, were ready with the answer to the inquiry, Who is this? You cannot really know what Christ is without first living with Him.
Dean Vaughan.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Mat 21:10. All the city was moved. Excited by this occurrence. The question indicates a discussion of His character rather than ignorance of His person. The effect on the Pharisees is mentioned in Luk 19:39-40; Joh 12:19.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
This is not the first or only time that Jerusalem was moved and troubled at the appearance of Christ; at his birth, Mat 2:3 we read all Jerusalem was troubled, together with Herod; and now that he rides into Jerusalem, though in so mean a port, yet there is a new commotion. Jerusalem, instead of being thankful for his company, is troubled at his presence.
Thence learn, That such persons and places as have the greatest helps and privileges afforded to them, are not always the most answerable in their returns of thankfulness. It is not Christ’s presence with us, but his welcome to us, that makes us happy. Christ is daily taught in our synagogues, and preached in our streets; yet alas! multitudes are ignorant of him, and say, with the men of Jerusalem, when Christ was before their eyes, Who is this?
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
21:10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, {g} all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
(g) That is, all the men of Jerusalem were moved.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Jesus probably entered Jerusalem through the sheep gate (St. Stephen’s gate, a name given to it after Stephen’s martyrdom; cf. Act 7:58). This gate pierced the eastern city wall to the north of the temple enclosure. Worshippers brought sheep into the city through this gate for sacrificing because it was the closest gate to the temple. It was fitting that the Lamb of God should enter Jerusalem through this gate. Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem became the popular topic of conversation (cf. Mat 2:3). The residents wondered who He really was. Most people who knew about Him described Him as a prophet from Nazareth whose arena of ministry had been mainly Galilee (cf. Mat 2:23; Mat 16:14; Mat 21:46). This description reflects popular disbelief that He was the Messiah. [Note: See Kingsbury, Matthew as . . ., pp. 80-81.]
Matthew stated that Jesus’ entry stirred up the whole city (cf. Mat 2:3). At this time a Herodian king no longer ruled Judea. Rome ruled it directly through a prefect. [Note: France, The Gospel . . ., p. 781.] The arrival of a Jewish king, from Galilee of all places, would, therefore, have caused great concern among Jerusalem’s residents. How would the Romans react?
"The significance of the triumphal entry is tremendous in this Gospel. To Matthew it is the final and official presentation of Jesus to Israel as its Messiah. This is evident for several reasons. The first is the manner in which Christ acts throughout this whole course of events. He deliberately makes very careful preparations to fulfill every detail of the prophecy of Zec 9:9. In addition He planned His movements with understanding of their significance. . . .
"A second indication of the fact that Jesus presented Himself to Israel is seen in that the people recognized it as such. . . . [Note: Footnote 48: Johnson, "The Argument . . .," p. 151.]
"A third proof that the Lord presented Himself as the King of Israel is seen in the parables which the Messiah gives following this event. . . .
"A fourth indication . . . is the time in which it occurred. Sir Robert Anderson has shown that the entry of Christ into Jerusalem occurred on the very day that the sixty-ninth week of Daniel’s prophecy had run out. [Note: Footnote 50: Robert Anderson, The Coming Prince, pp. 127-28.] This is the exact time in which the Messiah was to come (Dan 9:25).
"Because Israel refused to accept the King when He was presented in exact fulfillment of their Scripture, their unbelief was confirmed beyond the shadow of a doubt. The reception which was given the King was without genuine faith and understanding. However, it did give a brief glimpse of that which will characterize the King’s reception when He appears to Israel for a second time." [Note: Toussaint, Behold the . . ., pp. 241-42. See S. Lewis Johnson Jr., "The Triumphal Entry of Christ," Bibliotheca Sacra 124:495 (July-September 1967):218-29.]