LUKE 19:35-40 CORONATION OF SIN CONQUERING KING

CORONATION OF

SIN CONQUERING KING

Luke 19:35-40

Luke 19:35-36 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.

Susan: The Passion Translation translates the garments as being their prayer shawls. That is plausible since that was an outermost garment. However, the Greek word used is generic for the outer garment. The Hebrew word that specifically indicates a prayer shawl was not used.

Susie: One commentator claimed that the disciples would have chosen the best garments offered to them for the “saddle,” but that is not expressly stated either. However, the tradition of covering the path with clothes was indicative of welcoming a king, a red carpet of sorts:

MacArthur Study Bible

11:8 spread their clothes. Such action was part of the ancient practice of welcoming a new king (see note on Matt. 21:8). branches. Palm branches which symbolized joy and salvation and pictured future royal tribute to Christ (Rev. 7:9). The crowd was greatly excited and filled with praise for the Messiah who taught with such authority, healed the sick, and raised the dead (Lazarus; cf. John 12:12–18).

Luke 19:37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

Susie: As Jesus neared Jerusalem, a crowd gathered and began shouting praises. Luke does not mention the palm branches that the MacArthur Study Bible explained, but they are mentioned in Matthew’s account.

Reformation Study Bible

19:37 This entry into Jerusalem fulfilled prophecy (Zech. 9:9) and was a public claim to messiahship, but messiahship of a distinctive kind, since the donkey was the animal of a man of peace. A conquering king would ride a horse. The people seem to have recognized the kingship, but not to have seen the emphasis on peace.

Susan: Most Bibles label this passage “The Triumphal Entry,” but it would be better titled, “The Coronation Celebration.”

Susie: Even though the only crown Jesus would wear would be the crown of thorns placed upon his head by Roman soldiers, the disciples were recognizing Him as their Messiah, the King, with the praises they shouted.

Luke 19:38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

Susan: The crowd of Jesus’s followers specifically recited a well-known messianic Psalm indicating their conviction that Jesus was, indeed, the long-awaited Messiah:

Psalm 118:26a Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord

Luke 19:39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

Susie: Many commentators agree that these may have been Pharisees that recognized Jesus as a great Rabbi but felt His followers were going too far in proclaiming Him to be the Messiah. Other commentators made the point that this would have been in view of the fortress housing the Roman soldiers, and the Pharisees feared the enthusiasm of the crowds might be interpreted by them as an uprising against Rome.

Luke 19:40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

Susan: If people fail to occupy their rightful station of praising God, nature will fill the gap and take up the song. There are many scriptures that reveal this concept:

Psalm 96:11-13 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

Isaiah 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Susan: I can only imagine what it will be like to be able to clap my hands in praise to the Lord! I look forward to that day!

Ponder this and Apply it: The crowds praised Jesus as their king but failed to understand the nature of His kingship. He was not there to conquer Rome but to defeat Satan and sin for all who believe in and trust Him. Do you know that Jesus has conquered sin and death for you by His death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave? If so, are you shouting His praise; or will the rocks have to take your place? As Christians, we have the choice to use our voices as instruments of praise. We should not leave this privilege to hail Him as King to an orchestra of trees and a chorus of stones.