I’ve heard of people trying to disprove that Jesus Is the Son of God,
because there are some inconsistencies in the Bible. They call those
inconsistencies lies and say that it’s a lie that Jesus Is the Son of God, but
is that really true?
In order to determine this, I will use the New King James Version [NKJV]
of the Bible and possibly internet resources, as needed. I will analyze the
major Bible passages related to Jesus riding to town on a donkey/colt to see if
there are any inconsistencies. I will, then, copy any pertinent portions of
these together to further evaluate to see if they are significant enough
to disprove that Jesus rode to town on a donkey/colt or that Jesus Is the
Son of God.
There are times where the word he and him will be within the same Bible
verse. I will use brackets to let you know who is speaking and who is being
spoken to if it isn’t clear by the context. I will put my analysis,
evaluations, comments and opinions within brackets, as well. This will allow
those who would like to go to either of the two blogs I felt led to create
where I post this research. This allows people to read the research more
thoroughly or to share it with others. The blogs are Biblical Proof! at https://BiblicalProof.blogspot.com/ or Do Biblical Inconsistencies Really Matter? at https://Biblicalinconsistencies.blogspot.com/
Matthew 21:1-11 says: Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to
Bethphage, at the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to
them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you
will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me.
“And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, “The Lord has need of
them,’ and immediately he will send them.” So, the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the
donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him [Jesus] on them. All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the
prophet, saying: “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘ Behold, your King is coming to
you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’” [This was
predicted in the Old Testament in Zechariah 9:9.] And a very great
multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the
trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and
those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is
He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” [That was
predicted in the Old Testament in Psalm 118:26] And when He [Jesus] had come into
Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” So the multitudes
said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Mark 11:1-10 says: Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and
Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He [Jesus] sent two of His disciples; and He
said to them, “Go into the village
opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on
which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. “And if anyone says to you, ‘Why
are you doing this? Say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will
send it here.” So they went their way,
and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it.
But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing
the colt?” and they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them
go. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He
said on it. And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down
leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then those who went
before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who
comes in the name of the Lord!’ Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That
comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest.” [This was
predicted in the Old Testament in Psalm 118:26.]
Luke 19:28-40 says: When He [Jesus] had said this, He went on ahead,
going up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and
Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples,
saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter
you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it
here. “And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to
him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’' So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to
them. But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why
are you loosing the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” Then they
brought him [the colt] to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt,
and they set Jesus on him. And as He went, many spread their clothes on the
road. Then, as He was now drawing near 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 they had seen, saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King
who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
[This was predicted in the Old Testament in Psalm 118:26.] And some of the
Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But
He [Jesus] answered and said to them, “I
tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry
out.”
John 12:12-16 says: The next day a great multitude that had come to the
feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of
palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He
who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” [This was predicted in
the Old Testament in Psalm 118:26.] Then Jesus, when He had found a young
donkey, sat on it; as it is written: “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold your
King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.” [This was predicted in the Old
Testament in Zechariah 9:9.] His disciples did not understand these things at
first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things
were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.
[First of all, did the four Gospels have Jesus in the same general
location when He was about to enter town on the donkey/colt? Below, I will
analyze related portions of the previous passages.]
Matthew 21:1 says: Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to
Bethphage, at the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
Mark 11:1 says: Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and
Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He [Jesus] sent two of His disciples;
Luke 19:28-29 says: When He [Jesus] had said this, He went on ahead,
going up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and
Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples,
John 12:12 says: The next day a great multitude that had come to the
feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
[All four Gospels are consistent about Jesus coming to Jerusalem. The
Gospel of Matthew mentions Bethphage at the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem. The
Gospel of Mark says the same, but also mentions Bethany and Luke mentions all
those, but calls the mountain Olivet, instead of Mt of Olives. I checked https://bibleatlas.org/olivet.htm and they are the same thing. Additionally, I need to check to see
how close these are to Jerusalem, because the Gospel of John doesn’t mention
Bethany, Bethphage or the mount of Olives/Olivet.]
I found this information at: aboutbibleprophesy.com at http://www.aboutbibleprophecy.com/s13.htm
The Mount of Olives is located on the east side of
Jerusalem. It is one of the most revered places for Christians. The view of
Jerusalem from the Mount is one of the most spectacular scenes in the world. On
its slopes are the Garden of Gethsemane, Bethany and Bethpage. It was on the
Mount of Olives where Jesus sometimes taught his disciples, where he began his
Palm Sunday entrance into Jerusalem, where he prayed and sweated drops of
blood, where he was arrested, and where he rose up to Heaven.
[Next, what does Jesus tell the two disciples to do to
prepare for Him to ride into town on a donkey/colt?]
Matthew 21:1-3 says: Now when they drew near
Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two
disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village
opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her.
Loose them and bring them to Me. “And if anyone says anything to you, you shall
say, “The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
Mark 11:1-3 says: Now when they drew near Jerusalem,
to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He [Jesus] sent two of His
disciples; and He said to them, “Go into the village
opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on
which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. “And if anyone says to you, ‘Why
are you doing this? Say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will
send it here.”
Luke 19:28-31 says: When He [Jesus] had said this, He went on ahead,
going up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and
Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples,
saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter
you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it
here. “And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to
him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’”
John 12:14-15 says: Then Jesus, when He had found a
young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold
your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.” [This was predicted in
the Old Testament in Zechariah 9:9.]
[The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke all
consistently report that Jesus asked two of His disciples to get the
donkey/colt, where it would be and what to say if anyone asked them why they
were loosing it. The Gospel of John doesn’t say this. Is that significant? I
will discuss this further after I add the following Biblical proof.]
Matthew 21:6-7 says: So, the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the
donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him [Jesus] on them.
Mark 11:4-6 says: So they went their way, and
found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. But
some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the
colt?” and they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them
go.
Luke 19:32-34 says: So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to
them. But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why
are you loosing the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of him.”
[This serves as additional proof, because in addition
to the eyewitness accounts of the two disciples who had Jesus ask this of them,
the above passages from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke show that those
who stood there/the owners were also witnesses and agreed to let the two
disciples take the donkey/colt just as Jesus told the disciples.]
[The Gospel of Matthew says that Jesus asked the two
disciples to find a tied up donkey and a colt with her and bring them to Him,
where the Gospels of Mark and Luke just say a colt. The Gospel of John
clarifies that Jesus sat on a donkey’s colt, although it doesn’t give
information about Jesus giving instructions to two disciples about where to
find the colt. Is that significant?]
[Whether they brought a donkey’s colt and its mother
or just the colt isn’t significant. Also, they would probably bring the mother
donkey along with the colt and wouldn’t leave it where they started the
procession into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Neither of these disprove that Jesus
rode into town on a donkey’s colt or that Jesus Is the Son of God.
Additionally, they would most likely tie the donkey’s colt up and not just let
it wander around. So, Jesus found the donkey’s colt tied up where the disciples
had tied it and then He [Jesus] sat on it as in John 12:14 which says: Then
Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:]
[Would a donkey colt be old enough for Jesus to ride
on him?]
I went to The Donkey Sanctuary at https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/what-we-do/knowledge-and-advice/about-donkeys
Donkey definitions
Colt: A colt is a young
male donkey which is less than four years of age.
Filly: A filly is a young female donkey which is less
than four years of age.
Foal: A foal is a baby male or female donkey up to one
year old.
[So, Jesus wasn’t riding on a baby donkey called a
foal, which is up to one year old. He was riding on a colt, a young male
donkey, which was up to four years of age.]
[What happened when Jesus got the donkey/colt?]
Matthew 21:7-11 says:They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and
set Him [Jesus] on them. And a very great multitude
spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and
spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who
followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who
comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when He [Jesus] had
come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” So the
multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Mark 11:7-10 says: Then they brought the colt to Jesus
and threw their clothes on it, and He said on it. And many spread their clothes
on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them
on the road. Then those who went before and those who followed cried out,
saying: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Blessed is
the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest.”
Luke 19:34-38 says: Then they brought him [the colt]
to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on
him. And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. Then, as He was now
drawing near 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 they had seen, saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of
the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
John 12:12-15 says: The next day a great multitude
that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” Then
Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: “Fear
not, daughter of Zion; Behold your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s
colt.”
[The Gospels of Matthew and Mark both say that they laid their clothes
on the donkey/colt and set Jesus on them and the people spread their clothes
and others spread branches on the road, that they had cut down from trees. The
Gospel of Luke says that many spread their clothes on the road and the Gospel
of John just mentions that a great multitude took branches of palm trees and
went out to meet Him [Jesus]. Is it significant if they only put clothes on the
ground or only branches or both? Of course not! It most definitely doesn’t
disprove that Jesus rode into town on a donkey/colt or that Jesus Is the Son of
God.]
[Why is it significant that Jesus rode into town on a donkey/colt?]
Matthew 21:4-11 says: All
this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet,
saying: “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘ Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’” [This was
predicted in the Old Testament in Zechariah 9:9.] And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road;
others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who
followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who
comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” [That was predicted in
the Old Testament in Psalm 118:26] And when He [Jesus] had come into
Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” So the multitudes
said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Mark 11:9-11 says: Then those who went before
and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Blessed is the kingdom of
our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the
highest.” [This was predicted in the Old Testament in Psalm 118:26.]
Luke 19:37-40 says: Then, as He was now drawing
near 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 they had seen, saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King
who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
[This was predicted in the Old Testament in Psalm 118:26.] And some of
the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”
But He [Jesus] answered and said to them, “I
tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry
out.”
John 12:12-16 says: The next day a great multitude that had come to the
feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to
Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:
“Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of
Israel!” [This was predicted in the Old Testament in Psalm 118:26.] Then
Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold your King is
coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.” [This was predicted in the Old Testament
in Zechariah 9:9.] His disciples did not understand these things at
first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things
were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.
[When Jesus went into town riding on a donkey/colt, He was fulfilling
what had been predicted about the Savior hundreds of years before His birth,
which is pretty significant! Not only did Jesus fulfill prophecy about Him when
He did this, but His telling the two disciples exactly where the donkey/colt
would be and what to say to those standing there/the owners and that the
donkey/colt would be given to them was a miracle unto itself! Who but the Son
of God would know exactly where the donkey/colt was? Who but the Son of God
would know exactly what the two disciples should say in order for those
standing there/the owners to agree to give them the donkey/colt? Pretty amazing
if you ask me!]
[Don’t let people confuse you with inconsistencies in the Bible saying
that it disproves that Jesus Is the Son of God, because they are totally
inaccurate! They try to confuse people, but God gave us intelligent minds to
check things out and decide for ourselves!]
[Remember John 3:16-21 says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but
that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe
is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God. “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come
into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds
were evil. “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to
the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. “But he who does the truth comes
to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in
God.”
