לתשובת המינים

Zechariah 9:9
Who will enter Jerusalem on a Donkey?
Matthew 21:5, John 12:15

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout for joy, O daughter of Jerusalem! For behold, your king will come to you, righteous and victorious is he, a humble man riding upon a donkey, upon a foal, a calf of a she-donkeys."

The fact that this prophecy is as popular as it is surprises me. The only aspect in this entire passage fulfilled by the Nazarene is the fact that he rode a donkey into Jerusalem. Somehow I find it tough to imagine that the Nazarene was the only one who ever rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Somehow I find it tough to imagine that the Nazarene was the only one who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey the day of the "Triumphal Entry".

When you read the account of Matthew, you see how this is an example of the story of the Nazarene being made to fit their proof texts. Apparently Matthew understood the twice repeated reference to donkeys as an indication that the Moshiach would ride two donkeys, "They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus on them" (21:7). Of course Zechariah is merely narrowing down the subject from donkeys in general to specifically a foal. Matthew records this implausible account based on a misunderstanding of the text.

But what about the rest of the passage? The Nazarene was not victorious in any conventional or observable way. The passage goes on to say that God will eliminate instruments of war and the Moshaich will speak peace to the nations. The Nazarene "did not come to bring peace but a sword" (Matt. 10:34). The passage says Moshiach will rule from sea to sea, yet we are told the Nazarene’s kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). He was unable to fulfill the clear and unambiguous messianic prophecies so Christianity changed the expectations about what the Messiah would accomplish. Yet he rode a donkey, it’s not necessary to change that.

In the end we are faced with the expectation that we ignore that Matthew’s account seems to alter, if not entirely fabricate, details about the Nazarene’s entry into Jerusalem, while Luke, who does not cite this "proof-text" knows nothing of the two donkeys being ridden, only one is mentioned. We are then expected to ignore the fact that significant details of the prophecy where not fulfilled by the Nazarene. It is only with these issues ignored that one could somehow accept this as "evidence" that the Nazarene is the Messiah.