This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,
Parallel translations
- WEB All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying,
- KJV All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
- BSB This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
- NKJV All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
- NASB Now this took place so that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
All this happened to fulfill what the prophet had spoken. Jesus' entry deliberately fulfills Old Testament prophecy.
Overview
Matthew pauses to note that the manner of Jesus' entry fulfills Scripture, specifically Zechariah 9:9. This shows that Jesus' coming as King was foretold and intentional, not improvised. The fulfillment underscores that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, acting in conscious obedience to God's revealed plan.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Zech 9:9Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you! He is righteous, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
- John 12:15“Don’t be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey’s colt.”
- Matt 1:22Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,
- Matt 26:56But all this has happened, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him, and fled.
- John 19:36–37For these things happened, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “A bone of him will not be broken.”
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 21:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.