Understanding Matthew 21:9: Hosanna, King Has Come

The Meaning Behind 'Hosanna' and 'Son of David'

To fully appreciate Matthew 21:9, we need to understand the powerful cultural and biblical meaning behind the crowd’s words: 'Hosanna to the Son of David!'

The title 'Son of David' was a well-known way of referring to the promised Messiah - the rightful king from King David’s line who would rescue Israel and restore God’s kingdom. 'Hosanna' originally meant 'save us now' in Hebrew and was part of the praise sung during the Feast of Tabernacles, a joyful festival celebrating God’s deliverance. By shouting these words as Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, the people were publicly declaring Him to be that promised King, fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9: 'Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you. He is righteous, brings salvation, and is humble, mounted on a donkey.

This moment wasn’t merely spontaneous excitement - it was a fulfillment of God’s plan and a bold, public claim about who Jesus is.

The Shout That Carried a Kingdom's Hope: 'Hosanna' and 'Son of David' in Their Biblical Setting

Building on the cultural and messianic weight of the crowd’s cry, it’s important to see how deeply rooted these words are in Scripture, especially Psalm 118:25, where 'Hosanna' first appears as a plea for salvation.

In Psalm 118:25, the Hebrew prayer is 'Ana Adonai, hoshia na' - 'Please, Lord, save us now!' - a line recited during major feasts when Jews waved palm branches and celebrated God’s faithfulness. By the time of Jesus, this cry had become both a prayer and a shout of praise, especially during Passover, when hopes for national deliverance ran high.

They weren’t just cheering a teacher - they were welcoming the promised King in the way people of their time honored royalty.

The title 'Son of David' wasn’t merely a nod to ancestry - it was a direct claim to kingship and divine promise, recalling God’s covenant with David in 2 Samuel 7, where He promised an eternal throne. When the crowd used this title while Jesus rode on a donkey, they were echoing Zechariah 9:9’s image of a humble king bringing peace, not conquest. And yet, their hope was not merely political - they were calling on God’s promised deliverer, using the language of Psalm 118 to hail the one they believed would finally set Israel free.

Welcoming Jesus as King Today

The joyful praise of the crowd in Matthew 21:9 isn’t merely a moment from the past - it’s an invitation for us to welcome Jesus as King in our own lives today.

Back then, people honored Him by laying down cloaks and shouting 'Hosanna!' Now, we honor Him by trusting His leadership, following His words, and praising Him in everyday life.

This simple act of faith - recognizing Jesus as the promised King - still brings hope and peace, as it did when He entered Jerusalem.

How Jesus Fulfills Psalm 118 and the Path to the Cross

The joyful 'Hosanna!' of Matthew 21:9 is rooted in Psalm 118, a song of praise and deliverance that Jesus Himself fulfills - even in His coming suffering.

Psalm 118:25-26 says, 'Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord.' This is the very cry the crowd shouts as Jesus enters Jerusalem, showing He is the long-awaited one the psalm points to.

Jesus is the one who was rejected but became the cornerstone, bringing God's salvation exactly as Psalm 118 foretold.

Yet the same psalm also foreshadows rejection - verse 22 says, 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone' - a verse Jesus applies to Himself in Matthew 21:42, showing that the King they welcome will also be the one they crucify, fulfilling God’s plan of salvation through unexpected suffering.

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