Matthew 21 · a question people ask

Matthew tells of "a donkey tied, and a colt with her" (21:2). Mark tells of "a young donkey" (Mark 11:2). How do the two tellings fit?

In the text

Each tells it in its own words. In Matthew, Jesus said, "you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me" (21:2), and the disciples "brought the donkey and the colt and laid their clothes on them; and he sat on them" (21:7). In Mark, Jesus said, "you will find a young donkey tied, on which no one has sat" (Mark 11:2), and "They brought the young donkey to Jesus and threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it" (Mark 11:7). Favor's Mark 11 sets all four Gospels' tellings side by side, in Four tellings of the way in. Matthew says no more about he sat on them (21:7), none of the Gospels explains the difference, and these notes don't either, or say how the tellings fit.

The verses

“saying to them, “Go into the village that is opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.”
Matthew 21:2 · World English Bible
“and brought the donkey and the colt and laid their clothes on them; and he sat on them.”
Matthew 21:7 · World English Bible
“and said to them, “Go your way into the village that is opposite you. Immediately as you enter into it, you will find a young donkey tied, on which no one has sat. Untie him and bring him.”
Mark 11:2 · World English Bible
“They brought the young donkey to Jesus and threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it.”
Mark 11:7 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Matthew 21

Matthew 21: Your King comes to you

In Matthew, those Jesus is speaking to answer his questions on both parables: "The first" (21:31), and "He will miserably destroy those miserable men" (21:41). And changed his mind (21:29) and repent (21:32) are one Greek verb, each with afterward.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions