Matthew 21:1
New International Version
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,

New Living Translation
As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead.

English Standard Version
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

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

Berean Literal Bible
And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

King James Bible
And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

New King James Version
Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

New American Standard Bible
When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples,

NASB 1995
When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

NASB 1977
And when they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

Legacy Standard Bible
And when they had approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

Amplified Bible
When they approached Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples [ahead],

Christian Standard Bible
When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples,

American Standard Version
And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

Contemporary English Version
When Jesus and his disciples came near Jerusalem, he went to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives and sent two of them on ahead.

English Revised Version
And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When they came near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples ahead of him.

Good News Translation
As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives. There Jesus sent two of the disciples on ahead

International Standard Version
When they came near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples on ahead and

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

NET Bible
Now when they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,

New Heart English Bible
When they drew near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

Webster's Bible Translation
And when they drew nigh to Jerusalem, and had come to Bethphage, to the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

Weymouth New Testament
When they were come near Jerusalem and had arrived at Bethphage and the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of the disciples on in front,

World English Bible
When they came near to Jerusalem and came to Bethsphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And when they came near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

Berean Literal Bible
And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

Young's Literal Translation
And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, unto the mount of the Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

Smith's Literal Translation
And when they drew near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, to the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying to them,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
AND when they drew nigh to Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto mount Olivet, then Jesus sent two disciples,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when they had drawn near to Jerusalem, and had arrived at Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

New American Bible
When they drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,

New Revised Standard Version
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
WHEN he came near to Jerusalem, he came to Bethphage on the side of the Mount of Olives. Jesus then sent two of his disciples,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And then as he approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, by the side of the Mount of Olives, Yeshua sent two of his disciples,
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And when they drew near to Jerusalem, and had come to Bethphage, to the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

Godbey New Testament
When they drew near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent away two disciples,

Haweis New Testament
AND when they drew nigh to Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage to the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,

Mace New Testament
When they drew nigh to Jerusalem, and were come to Bepthphage, to the mount of Olives, Jesus dispatched two disciples,

Weymouth New Testament
When they were come near Jerusalem and had arrived at Bethphage and the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of the disciples on in front,

Worrell New Testament
And, when they drew near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, to the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples.

Worsley New Testament
And when they drew nigh to Jerusalem and were come to Bethphage at the mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Triumphal Entry
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples, 2saying 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.…

Cross References
Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Mark 11:1-10
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples / and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. / If anyone asks, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it shortly.’” ...

Luke 19:29-38
As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent out two of His disciples, / saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. / If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’” ...

John 12:12-16
The next day the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. / They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!” / Finding a young donkey, Jesus sat on it, as it is written: ...

Isaiah 62:11
Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the ends of the earth, “Say to Daughter Zion: See, your Savior comes! Look, His reward is with Him, and His recompense goes before Him.”

Genesis 49:10-11
The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his. / He ties his donkey to the vine, his colt to the choicest branch. He washes his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.

2 Kings 9:13
Quickly, each man took his garment and put it under Jehu on the bare steps. Then they blew the ram’s horn and proclaimed, “Jehu is king!”

Psalm 118:25-26
O LORD, save us, we pray. We beseech You, O LORD, cause us to prosper! / Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.

Isaiah 40:9
Go up on a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news. Raise your voice loudly, O Jerusalem, herald of good news. Lift it up, do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”

Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Jeremiah 23:5
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.

Jeremiah 33:15
In those days and at that time I will cause to sprout for David a righteous Branch, and He will administer justice and righteousness in the land.

Ezekiel 17:22-23
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take a shoot from the lofty top of the cedar, and I will set it out. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. / I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches.

Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.

Malachi 3:1
“Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts.


Treasury of Scripture

And when they drew near to Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, to the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

when.

Mark 11:1
And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,

Luke 19:28
And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.

Bethphage.

the mount.

Matthew 24:3
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Matthew 26:30
And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Zechariah 14:4
And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

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Matthew 21
1. Jesus rides into Jerusalem upon a donkey
12. drives the buyers and sellers out of the temple;
17. curses the fig tree;
23. puts to silence the priests and elders,
28. and rebukes them by the parable of the two sons,
33. and the husbandmen who slew such as were sent to them.














As they approached Jerusalem
The phrase "as they approached Jerusalem" signifies a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry. Jerusalem, the city of David, holds profound historical and theological significance as the center of Jewish worship and the location of the Temple. The Greek word for "approached" (ἐγγίζω, eggizō) implies drawing near with purpose. This approach marks the beginning of the culmination of Jesus' earthly mission, as He prepares to fulfill the prophecies concerning the Messiah. Jerusalem is not just a geographical location but a symbol of God's covenant with His people and the place where Jesus will ultimately offer Himself as the sacrificial Lamb.

and came to Bethphage
"Bethphage" is a small village on the Mount of Olives, whose name means "house of unripe figs" in Aramaic. This location is significant as it is situated near Jerusalem, serving as a staging point for Jesus' triumphal entry. The mention of Bethphage highlights the fulfillment of prophecy, as it is from here that Jesus will send His disciples to procure the donkey, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9. The village's proximity to Jerusalem underscores the immediacy of the events to unfold, bridging the journey from the Mount of Olives to the holy city.

on the Mount of Olives
The "Mount of Olives" is a ridge east of Jerusalem, known for its olive groves and its panoramic view of the city. Biblically, it is a place of significant events in Jesus' life, including His ascension (Acts 1:9-12). The Mount of Olives is also associated with eschatological prophecy, as seen in Zechariah 14:4, where it is prophesied that the Lord will stand upon it in the day of His return. This location serves as a backdrop for Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, symbolizing peace and kingship, as olives and olive oil are often associated with anointing and the Spirit of God.

Jesus sent out two disciples
The act of Jesus sending "two disciples" is deliberate and purposeful. The number two is significant in Jewish tradition, often representing a valid testimony (Deuteronomy 19:15). By sending two disciples, Jesus ensures the fulfillment of His instructions with reliability and witness. This action demonstrates Jesus' authority and foreknowledge, as He orchestrates the events leading to His entry into Jerusalem. The disciples' obedience to Jesus' command reflects the trust and faith required of His followers, serving as a model for Christian discipleship.

XXI.

(1) And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem.--Here again we have, as far as we can, to fill up a gap in St. Matthew's Gospel. We have to think of the journey up the narrow valley that leads from Jericho to Jerusalem. Our Lord, as before, was followed by the disciples, and they in their turn were followed by the crowds of pilgrims who were drawn to the Holy City either by the coming Passover or by wonder and curiosity to see what part the Prophet of Nazareth would take. Throughout the multitude, including the disciples, there was a feverish expectation that He would at last announce Himself as the Christ, and claim His kingdom (Luke 19:11). They reach Bethany "six days before the Passover," probably, i.e., on the Friday afternoon (John 12:1). They remain there for the Sabbath, probably in the house of Lazarus or Simon the leper (Matthew 26:6; John 12:2; and in that of the latter we have the history of the anointing, which St. Matthew relates, out of its chronological order, in Matthew 26:6-13). The point of time with which the narrative, which now becomes more continuous, opens, may be fixed at the dawn of the first day of the week, the daybreak of Palm Sunday. . . .

Verses 1-11. - Triumphal entry into Jerusalem. (Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19.) Verse 1. - We have come to the last week of our Lord's earthly life, when he made his appearance in Jerusalem as Messiah, and suffered the penalty of death. If, as is believed, his crucifixion took place on the fourteenth day of the month Nisan, the triumphal entry must be assigned to the ninth, which day was reckoned to commence at one sunset and to continue till the follow-lug evening. This is regarded as the first day of the Holy Week, and is called by Christians from very early times Palm Sunday (see on ver. 10). He had probably gone straight from Jericho to Bethany. and spent the sabbath there with his friends (Matthew 26:6; John 12:1). Bethphage. The name means House of figs, and was appropriate to a locality where such trees grew luxuriantly. The village has not been identified with certainty, though it is considered with great probability to be represented by Kefr-et-Tur, on a summit of Olivet, within the bounds of Jerusalem, i.e. two thousand cubits' distance from the city walls. Bethany is below the summit, in a nook on the western slope and somewhat further from the city. The Mount of Olives is separated from Jerusalem by the valley of the Kedron, and has three summits, the centre one being the highest; but though it is of no great elevation in itself, it stands nearly four thousand feet above the Dead Sea, from which it is distant some thirteen miles. Then sent Jesus two disciples. Their names are not given, and it is useless to conjecture who they were, though probably Peter was one of them. Alford suggests that the triumphal entry in Mark 11. is related a day too soon, and that our Lord made two entries into Jerusalem - the first a private one (Mark 11:11), and the second, public, on the morrow But there is no sufficient reason to discredit the common tradition, and St. Mark's language can be otherwise explained. The deliberate preparation for t. he procession, and the intentional publicity, so contrary to Christ's usual habits, are very remarkable, and can be explained only by the fact that he was now assuming the character and claims of Messiah, and putting himself forward in his true dignity and office as "King of the Jews." By this display he made manifest that in him prophecy was fulfilled, and that the seeing eye and the believing heart might now find all that righteous men had long and wearily desired. This was the great opportunity which his mercy offered to Jerusalem, if only she would accept it and turn it to account. In fact, she acknowledged him as King one day, and then rejected and crucified him.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
As
ὅτε (hote)
Adverb
Strong's 3753: When, at which time. From hos and te; at which too, i.e. When.

they drew near
ἤγγισαν (ēngisan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1448: Trans: I bring near; intrans: I come near, approach. From eggus; to make near, i.e. approach.

to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

Jerusalem
Ἱεροσόλυμα (Hierosolyma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 2414: The Greek form of the Hebrew name: Jerusalem. Of Hebrew origin; Hierosolyma

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

came
ἦλθον (ēlthon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

Bethphage
Βηθφαγὴ (Bēthphagē)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 967: Of Chaldee origin; fig-house; Beth-phage, a place in Palestine.

on
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Mount
ὄρος (oros)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3735: A mountain, hill. Probably from an obsolete oro; a mountain: -hill, mount(-ain).

of Olives,
Ἐλαιῶν (Elaiōn)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural
Strong's 1636: An olive tree; the Mount of Olives. Feminine of a presumed derivative from an obsolete primary; an olive.

Jesus
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

sent out
ἀπέστειλεν (apesteilen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 649: From apo and stello; set apart, i.e. to send out literally or figuratively.

two
δύο (dyo)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1417: Two. A primary numeral; 'two'.

disciples.
μαθητὰς (mathētas)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 21:1 When they drew near to Jerusalem (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 20:34
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