And if any man say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them and straightway he will send them (46:10) All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, (46:11) Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. (mat 21:1-5) (46:12) see Commentary (46:13) Once again, we can see that the tongue of the prophet moves from symbolic to literal language in the same sentence, as if it matters not what style is used, and giving no hint that he is doing this. Might not the significance of the prophet's speaking in this way be that it really doesn't matter whether the words are to be taken literally or symbolically? That prophecy is not intended as a signpost pointing the way to the Christ? That it is enough simply to glorify Christ, to tell of His wonderful qualities, or events in His life? (46:14) The prophet was simply speaking the holy words that were revealed to him. Eventually the meaning of these words would become clear to those who believed in Christ. Isn't this all that really matters? (46:15) Speaking of the use of literal and symbolic language, we can see now that both His Kingship and riding upon a donkey can have both literal or both symbolic meanings. In a sense Christ was, and is, King in a symbolic way. In another sense, he is King in a more real and literal sense than any king whose kingdom was ever of this earth. At the same time, it can be said that His riding upon a donkey was a symbol of His meekness before men, a meekness, which despite His great power, no man can ever hope to attain. At the same time, the manner of His entrance into Jerusalem fulfilled in a literal sense the words spoken by Zechariah, some five hundred years previous
(46:16)
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