Zechariah 9.8-14.pdf

The structure in this post is rendered from the LXX, even though there are only minor differences from the MT text. The main chiasm is a simple ABBA pattern. All of the verbal repetition supports the chiastic parallels in one way or another - except the word “Fortress” which occurs at thee beginning and then marks the beginning of the second half of the structure. There is also a smaller chiastic structure tucked away within the first half and we will observe more about this below. One additional observation relates to what might be called “Old Testament synergy” reflected by the “1/1’” parallel terms. In the first term (vs 10) it is the king alone who will utterly destroy the tools of war.  However, in the second parallel term (vs 13), we see how God’s people participate in the king’s battle and victory. It is much the same in the New Testament where we work out our own salvation - for “it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Today’s post is Palm Sunday in the Eastern Orthodox church. The Sunday Gospel reading includes Matthew 21:1-11. This passage is is one of the three synoptic accounts of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the Sunday before his passion and resurrection. Matthew’s account is the only one that relates how Jesus’ riding on the colt is the fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9. This fulfillment reference occurs at the literary center and focal point of the Matthew pericope, which is itself a chiastic structure. Aside from minor editing and use of the ESV version, the Biblical Chiasm Exchange website displays the chiasm thus:

A. Matt. 21:1

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

B. Matt. 21:2

saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.

C. Matt. 21:3

If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”

X. Matt. 21:4-5

This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

“Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

C’ Matt. 21:6

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.

B’ Matt. 21:7-9

They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them.

Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

A’Matt. 21:10-11

And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?”

And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

The Bible says, when Jesus entered Jerusalem the whole city was (figuratively) shaken. The city was so stirred up it was thrown into an uproar. The reason for this was the perceived fulfillment of our Zechariah passage. This is because Zechariah revealed the coming of the Messianic king to bring the blessings of God’s kingdom victory to Zion! Jerusalem was stirred because they understood the Messianic promise to focus on the King’s warfare and defeat of the Gentiles. It was just the day before that Jesus had performed a powerful miracle when he raised Lazarus from the dead in Bethany. Luke 19:37 tells us in his account, “As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen.” Surely this one, though humbly riding on the foal of a donkey, was also the mighty one of whom Zechariah spoke. He would also be able to do the mighty work to free his people from the Gentile yoke - just as Zechariah said. Notice in the Zechariah 9:9-10 passage above, in the two central terms of the smaller chiasm: the humble Messiah is coupled with the mighty king who would defeat the enemy war machine (horses, chariots, and bow) in the land.

Yet, while Jerusalem was stirred in the flesh, Jesus knew the same was not the case inwardly. They had completely missed the mark spiritually in terms of their faith and faithfulness to the covenant. Luke 19:41-42 tells us, “And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.’” Zechariah 9:10 spoke about the “abundance and peace” that was to come. Yet this peace would only come through the universal rule and reign of the Messianic king. Jesus knew his own people were spiritually dull of heart. They would not believe and receive their Anointed One. Rather, he knew they would reject him. As he had previously taught his disciples from Isaiah 6, this sad state was, in fact, their judgment. They could not see or hear spiritually, and so they could not turn and be healed (Matt 13). However, Jesus also knew Zechariah 9:11 where it is written, God’s people would be freed from “the waterless pit” by “the blood of your covenant.” He knew God’s people were “prisoners” not just to Roman rule, but also to the rule of Satan, sin and death. Within that very week, Jesus would institute the sacrificial meal of the New Covenant saying “this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”  The next day he would die on the cross and go down to the pit of Hades himself in death. This was all so the promised Messianic king, who the author and prince of life, could conquer death through death!

Just as Zechariah spoke of God’s people participating in the warfare and the victory of the Messiah, so also, may we, the true sons and daughters of Zion, who have received the forgiveness of sins brought about through the blood of the covenant - may we have the eyes to see and ears to hear and obey the leading of our risen ascended Lord and King through the Holy Spirit in the body of the Christ, the church. May we be stirred inwardly to participate in the spiritual warfare this day and ever more, knowing that our King has already conquered death. Let us be encouraged in this regard, by St. Paul, who spoke in Romans 16:20, “the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”