The Gospels when compared contain parallels. These
are sometimes puzzling and leave unresolved questions. Some commentators
may find ways to explain (away) the puzzles, or others to make them part of an argument.
Take a prominent example, in which we notice Gospel
authors (Matthew 21; Mark 11; Luke 19; John 12) following their own
paths in relating an episode (I think everyone would agree the event was
the same in the four). The images will enlarge:
This comparison gives us pause for thought, does it not? Note the unique records in Matthew, in Mark, in Luke, in John. They each bear reflection. (Those distinctive contributions are what seem to me really important.) Compare with each other and Matthew the often mentioned donkeys:
they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them (Matthew 21:7, NRSV).
Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it (Mark 11:7; NRSV).
Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it (Luke 19:35, NRSV).
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written:
“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.
Look, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!” (John 12:14-15, NRSV)
What was that Matthew said?
7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. (ESV)
Donkey and colt? How many quadrupeds? It surely is a little hard to accept that neither the author of Matthew, nor his first readers (hearers), noticed the implausibility of sitting on two animals, even if cloaks could be put on two. The text stood, and stands, as is, regardless. (The puzzle was felt from ancient times, as shown in many 'secondary' Greek manuscript witnesses using singular pronouns instead of plural. There is a list of documents with the alternate wording but the weight of expert opinion obviously favours those with the plurals.)
(By the way, modern translations reproduce the OT poetry forms similarly to the Zechariah quote above, thus making clear the translators' view of the nature of the text.)
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| Is one a colt? |
This comparison gives us pause for thought, does it not? Note the unique records in Matthew, in Mark, in Luke, in John. They each bear reflection. (Those distinctive contributions are what seem to me really important.) Compare with each other and Matthew the often mentioned donkeys:
they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them (Matthew 21:7, NRSV).
Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it (Mark 11:7; NRSV).
Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it (Luke 19:35, NRSV).
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written:
“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.
Look, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!” (John 12:14-15, NRSV)
What was that Matthew said?
7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. (ESV)
Donkey and colt? How many quadrupeds? It surely is a little hard to accept that neither the author of Matthew, nor his first readers (hearers), noticed the implausibility of sitting on two animals, even if cloaks could be put on two. The text stood, and stands, as is, regardless. (The puzzle was felt from ancient times, as shown in many 'secondary' Greek manuscript witnesses using singular pronouns instead of plural. There is a list of documents with the alternate wording but the weight of expert opinion obviously favours those with the plurals.)
A consideration might be the poetic nature
of the quoted OT Scripture. (Apparently poetry was a prominent part of
the language. The poetry is not like 'ours' and it is not completely
understood as a form.) Here is the NIV version of the original from Zechariah 9:
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!Surprising for Matthew, the most Jewish of the Gospels, to get muddled over parallelism? Muddled? Really? Is there a purpose not immediately (!) evident to me? Maybe it is just a question best left pending for now. None of us actually knows everything!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (NIV)
(By the way, modern translations reproduce the OT poetry forms similarly to the Zechariah quote above, thus making clear the translators' view of the nature of the text.)
And, one from left field - I once visited the National Environment Centre's organic farm at Thurgoona, NSW (TAFE Albury). There I saw a flock of sheep being moved from one paddock to another, very easily, very calmly - no machines, no yapping dogs. Their sheep management secret lay in a quiet equine helper (donkey?) hanging out with the flock. The donkey was amiable and easily directed. The sheep followed readily. One animal leading...another, and another, and another,... following. Probably quite unrelated to the donkey/colt question from Matthew, but interesting all the same?
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Note: I retain in the publishers' text where they occur the references to footnotes, but usually not the notes. You can check footnotes out by viewing the text on-line. Often they are replicated in different translations.
Bible passages accessed via BibleGateway.com
Image courtesy Pixabay
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Note: I retain in the publishers' text where they occur the references to footnotes, but usually not the notes. You can check footnotes out by viewing the text on-line. Often they are replicated in different translations.
Bible passages accessed via BibleGateway.com
Image courtesy Pixabay
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