Matthew 21:9

Multitudes. The throng that gathered as Jesus moved on toward the summit of the Mount of Olives. Among these, undoubtedly, who constituted the throng were many who had come to Bethany to see Jesus and to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had but a few short weeks before raised from the dead (see John 12:17, 18). Even the priests and rulers came out to join the vast concourse of people. In this triumphal procession were many who had been captives of Satan and whom Jesus had delivered from demons, from blindness and dumbness, from sickness and lameness, from leprosy and death.

Cried, saying. According to the Greek, they kept on shouting and repeating the words. Compare the joyous acclamation first used in welcoming the ark to Jerusalem (see on Ps. 24:7-10).

Hosanna. Gr. hosanna, a transliteration of the Aramaic hosha‘ na’, meaning “save, now” or “save, I pray thee” (see on Ps. 118:25). Here the expression may be considered a prayer to God that salvation may come to Israel through Messiah King.

Son of David. See on ch. 1:1.

Blessed is he. The quotation is based on Ps. 118:26. The parallel passage in Mark reads instead, “Blessed be the kingdom of our father David” (Mark 11:10).

Hosanna in the highest. See on Luke 2:14. Only Luke gives an account of the climax of the Triumphal Entry, when the priests and rulers from Jerusalem met Jesus, and only he records Jesus’ exclamation of grief over the doomed city of Jerusalem (see on ch. 19:39-44).