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The Triumphant Entry

Harmonizing the Gospel Accounts


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Author's Bias | Interpretation: conservative
Inclination: promise | Seminary: none

The Triumphant Entry is recorded in all four gospels (Matt 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-46; John 12:1-19). When integrated together and read as a single recorded event, the details provide a more vivid account that is more easily observable and understood.


Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (John 12:1-3)

But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?" Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.

Therefore Jesus said, "Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me." (John 12:4-8)

The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus. On the next day (John 12:9-12a)

When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, (Matt 21:1; Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29)

saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt, on which no one yet has ever sat, with her; untie them and bring them to Me. (Matt 21:2; Mark 11:2; Luke 19:30)

"If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' you say, 'The Lord has need of it'; and immediately he will send it back here." (Mark 11:3; Matt 21:3; Luke 19:31)

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
"SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION,
'BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU,
GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY,
EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.'" (Matt 21:4-5)

The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, (Matt 21:6; Luke 19:32)

They went away and found a colt tied at the door, outside in the street; and they untied it. (Mark 11:4)

As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

They said, "The Lord has need of it." (Luke 19:33-34)

Some of the bystanders were saying to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?"

They spoke to them just as Jesus had told them, and they gave them permission. (Mark 11:5-6)

and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on the colt; and He sat on the coats. (Matt 21:6-7; Mark 11:7; Luke 19:35; John 12:14a)

as it is written, "FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY'S COLT." These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. (John 12:14b-16)

So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. (John 12:17-18)

the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, "Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel." (John 12:12b-13)

And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. (Mark 11:8; Matt 21:8; Luke 19:36)

As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, (Luke 19:37)

Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting:
"Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!" (Mark 11:8-10; Matt 21:8-9; Luke 19:38a)

Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (Luke 19:38b)

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples."

But Jesus answered, "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!" (Luke 19:39-40)

So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him." (John 12:19)

When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation." (Luke 19:41-44)

When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?"

And the crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee." (Matt 21:10-11; Mark 11:11a)

And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.

And He said to them, "It is written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER'; but you are making it a ROBBERS' DEN." (Matt 21:12-13; Luke 19:45-46)

And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they became indignant and said to Him, "Do You hear what these children are saying?"

And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, 'OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF'?" (Matt 21:14-16)

and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late, and spent the night there. (Mark 11:11b; Matt 21:17)

"Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian."

Aiden Wilson Tozer


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