How can Matthew 21:4–5 be considered a valid fulfillment of prophecy if the details differ from other Gospel accounts?

1. Context of the Prophetic Passage

Matthew 21:4–5 states:

“This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: ‘Say to the Daughter of Zion, “Behold, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”’”

This prophecy draws from Zechariah 9:9, which points forward to a King, described as humble and righteous, arriving upon a donkey. Understanding the background of Zechariah’s words helps us see that Matthew’s account stands firmly in the tradition of ancient Jewish prophecy. The “Daughter of Zion” is a personification of Jerusalem and by extension, the Jewish people. The King, understood as the Messiah, would enter not in a show of mighty chariots or horses but on a lowly donkey.

2. Apparent Differences Among the Gospels

Some find a discrepancy because Matthew mentions both a donkey and a colt (Matthew 21:2) while Mark, Luke, and John each focus on only a single donkey (Mark 11:2; Luke 19:30; John 12:14–15). At first glance, it appears that Matthew’s account might conflict with the others. However, a closer examination of the language and context offers explanations to harmonize these accounts.

3. Harmonizing the Accounts

1. Two Animals Present vs. One Emphasized

Matthew’s Gospel specifically notes that the disciples were told to untie both a donkey and a colt and bring them to Jesus (Matthew 21:2). Mark (11:2), Luke (19:30), and John (12:14–15) each mention only one donkey, typically focusing on the colt upon which Jesus rides. It does not exclude the possibility of a second animal being there; instead, these Gospels concentrate on the immediate fulfillment of prophecy by highlighting the colt that Jesus sat upon. In ancient narrative style, it was common for one writer to focus on the essential aspect—the colt—while another writer could include additional relevant details.

2. Typical Hebrew Parallelism

Zechariah’s prophecy (Zechariah 9:9) uses a form of Hebrew poetry known as parallelism (“on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey”). Matthew, writing primarily for a Jewish audience, may have preserved that parallel structure to show the direct link to the prophecy. This could explain the emphasis on both animals, ensuring readers knew the prophecy was taken literally and precisely, including the mention of both donkey and colt as prophesied.

3. Different Vantage Points

Each of the Gospel writers selectively included details to emphasize specific theological or narrative points. Matthew’s detail of two animals underscores the literal fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, while Mark, Luke, and John are comfortable with describing only the essential donkey that Jesus rode. These varying vantage points reflect complementary memories or reports rather than contradictory differences.

4. Matthew’s Emphasis on Fulfillment

Matthew explicitly states that Jesus’s entry on the donkey and colt “took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet” (Matthew 21:4). This clarifying phrase is used frequently in Matthew’s Gospel to underscore Old Testament prophecies that find fulfillment in Christ (see also Matthew 1:22, 2:15, 2:23, 4:14, 8:17, and others).

Rather than creating a conflict, Matthew’s direct, prophetic quotation strengthens the idea that every detail about Jesus’s Messiahship had been foretold, including the manner of His entry into Jerusalem. Bringing multiple Old Testament allusions together, Matthew demonstrates that Jesus is undeniably the prophesied King.

5. Addressing Common Concerns About Inerrancy

1. Precision vs. General Reporting

Inerrancy does not demand that every biblical author report every available fact in an identical way; rather, it means that what each writer records is truthful and free of error. When Mark, Luke, or John mention only one donkey, they are accurately reporting that Jesus rode a young donkey into Jerusalem. Matthew’s additional mention of an older donkey does not negate the accuracy of the other accounts; it simply supplies an extra element.

2. Eyewitness Differentiation

Ancient historical accounts often present the same events from different angles, highlighting or omitting specific elements. Modern courts and historical inquiry also recognize such varied testimony to be normal and even indicative of authenticity. So, the fact that Matthew includes mention of the older donkey alongside the colt is consistent with common patterns in ancient biography and does not undermine reliability.

6. The Old Testament Foundation in Zechariah 9:9

The original prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 is often cited among the cluster of messianic prophecies consistently referenced in early Christian writings (e.g., among the Dead Sea Scrolls we see evidence of widespread Jewish interest in messianic themes, although Zechariah 9:9 is not specifically quoted there). The text itself famously foretells a humble king arriving on a donkey rather than a warhorse:

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey—on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9)

Zechariah was written at a time when Israel was rebuilding after exile. The promise of a triumphant-yet-humble king provides powerful hope. Jesus’s entry fulfills this prophecy in both the near sense (physically riding a donkey) and the far sense (the spiritual significance of declaring Himself King in a humble, peace-bringing role).

7. Historical and Textual Evidence

1. Manuscript Consistency

Ancient manuscripts such as Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus preserve the accounts of the Gospel writers without contradiction in the original languages. Although each Gospel has a distinct approach and style, there is no evidence of scribes altering the content to smooth over the donkey question. This demonstrates the honest transmission of each Gospel’s authentic testimony.

2. Church Fathers and Early Testimony

Early Christian writers (e.g., Irenaeus, Justin Martyr) regularly referenced the Gospels as consistent in testifying to Christ. When they quote the Triumphal Entry, they speak openly about its fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy without indicating concern or embarrassment about multiple donkey references. Their acceptance of the text as it stood points to an early recognition of harmony rather than contradiction.

3. Archaeological Insights

Although archaeology does not often address textual subtleties like whether there was one donkey or two, it does affirm the first-century Jewish context and the steps that lead from Bethphage to Jerusalem—consistent with the Gospels’ geographical settings. Excavations around the Mount of Olives confirm the route’s plausibility for Christ’s Triumphal Entry, further grounding the biblical record in verifiable locations.

8. Theological Implications of the Fulfillment

Beyond simply satisfying historical curiosity, the question of one donkey or two underscores a deeper principle: the Messiah’s humility. Whether the donkey’s mother was present to calm the colt or merely part of fulfilling the poetic parallelism, the key takeaway is that Jesus chose a humble approach for His public acknowledgment as Messiah. This symbolism points to the nature of His Kingdom, one of peace and service rather than forceful coercion, thus fulfilling not only the words of Zechariah but the entire thematic tapestry of Scripture about God’s redemptive plan.

9. Conclusion

Matthew 21:4–5 can be considered a valid fulfillment of prophecy even though it includes details that differ from the other Gospel accounts. The differences lie in each author’s focus and audience, not in contradictory factual claims. Matthew preserves the literal, dual mention of donkey and colt to accentuate Zechariah 9:9’s parallelism and highlight Jesus’s humility exactly as the ancient prophecy proclaimed.

Rather than calling the scriptural accounts into question, these varying narratives complement one another, offering a more textured, holistic view of the event. Each Gospel writer emphasizes that Jesus truly enters as the promised Messiah—gently, humbly, and unmistakably fulfilling the prophets’ words.