Luke 19:29-30

Luke located what happened for his readers’ benefit. Probably Mark and Luke mentioned Bethany because it was a better-known town than Bethphage, though Bethany was slightly farther east. [Note: Marshall, The Gospel . . ., p. 712.] Bethphage was "the village opposite" or "ahead" (Matthew 21:1). The mention of Mt. Olivet (lit. olive orchard) recalls the prophecy of Messiah’s coming there (Zechariah 14:4). The preparations to enter Jerusalem riding on a colt, the foal of a donkey, were to fulfill Zechariah 9:9-10. The disciples were to borrow or rent this animal for Jesus to ride on. Evidently such animals were available to assist travelers. [Note: J. D. M. Derrett, "Law in the New Testament: The Palm Sunday Colt," Novum Testamentum 13 (1971):244.] However, this colt was tied up (cf. Genesis 49:11), and no one had ridden it previously (cf. Numbers 19:2; Deuteronomy 21:3; 1 Samuel 6:7; 2 Samuel 6:3). When a royal or sacred person rode on such an animal, its owners did not normally put it to customary use from then on. [Note: Ibid., pp. 248-49.]