LUKE 19:28-34 BORROWING A BURROW (ANCIENT UBER?)

BORROWING A BURROW

(ANCIENT UBER?)

Luke 19:28-34

(See also Matthew 21:1-8 & Mark 11:1-8, John 12:12-19)

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

Susie: After finishing the parable about the servants who invested wisely (or not), Jesus began His final ascent up the hill from Jericho to Jerusalem. We saw Him determined to fulfill His purpose by going to Jerusalem back in chapter nine.

Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem

Susan: Although Jesus traveled many other places along the way, Jerusalem and His foreordained destiny were always in the back of His mind.

Luke 19:29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

Susan: Bethany was the home of some of Jesus’s closest friends, Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. He had stayed with them many times for rest and familyship.  Their home seemed to be a place of respite for Him where He could make Himself at home.

Susie: They lived near Mt. OIivet, so named because at one time it was covered with olive trees. Bethany was about two miles from Jerusalem, easy walking distance to go back and forth to the Temple during the week of Jesus’s “passion,” the last few days before His sacrifice on the cross.

Luke 19:30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.

Susie: Jesus had not physically scouted out a place to rent a ride beforehand. There was no Enterprise™ to bring a rental to Him. This shows His omniscience (the fact that He knows everything) because He was able to describe exactly where the disciples would find the donkey colt. Matthew’s gospel notes that it was tied next to its mother.

Susan: This a fulfilment of prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9:

Zechariah 9:9 (NIV) Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Susie: Wouldn’t the mare have been more suitable for an adult male to ride on? Why the baby donkey?

Susan: The donkey needed to be a young colt that had never even had anyone sit on it because this honor was symbolic of holiness and purity. Matthew’s gospel tells us the disciples brought the mare along as well. This may have been done to insure the colt’s cooperation.

MacArthur Study Bible

The Jews regarded animals that had never been ridden as especially suited for holy purposes (cf. Num. 19:2; Deut. 21:3; 1 Sam. 6:7).

Luke 19:31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

Susan: Jesus had no way to send a message ahead to the owners of the colt that He would need to borrow it.

Susie: There were no cell phones or even telegraphs. Since He knew most people would question someone just taking off with their beast, He gave the disciples instructions in case they asked them, “What do you think you’re doing?!”

Susan: Jesus specifically instructed them to say, “The Lord needs him.” The owners would understand that by “the Lord” they meant Jesus of Nazareth and release the donkey to them.

Luke 19:32-33 And they that were sent went their way and found even as he had said unto them. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?

Susie: The two disciples found the colt tied next to his mother just as Jesus had described the scene.

Susan: The owners confronted the two disciples asking, “Why are you untying our colt, and where are you taking him?”

Luke 19:34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

Susie: They answered exactly as they had been instructed and were given the colt to take back to Jesus.

Susan: After hearing the appropriate answer, the owners released the donkey for his royal appointment.

Ponder this and Apply it: Jesus knew in advance that the donkeys would be there and would be released for His purposes. He sees our needs ahead of time and knows how He will meet them, too. We need not fret about anything. Also, note that the disciples did exactly as Jesus told them even though they may have wondered how He knew these things. They simply obeyed immediately, completely, and without questioning. How often is our obedience to the Lord performed like that?