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Matthew 21:3
ESV If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”
NIV If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.'
NASB And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them on immediately.'
CSB If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them at once."
NLT If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.'
KJV And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

What does Matthew 21:3 mean?

Jesus is sending two of the disciples into a nearby village. Upon entering the village, they will immediately find a donkey tied up, along with her young colt. They are to bring the pair of animals to Jesus. He will ride into Jerusalem instead of continuing to walk (Matthew 21:1–2).

Now Jesus prepares the two disciples with an answer for anyone who might ask why they are taking away the donkey and the colt. The disciples should say, "The Lord needs them." He then assures them that anyone asking about the situation will understand and send the disciples on their way. It's been suggested the donkeys' owner might have been one of those who saw Jesus raise Lazarus (John 11:44–45; 12:12–13) and has already been asked to provide the animals.

Who does Jesus mean by "Lord"? Matthew, Mark, and Luke all quote Him as using the word. Most commentators agree that He is talking about Himself, specifically, and not about the Lord God—Yahweh—in a wider sense. As Jesus nears Jerusalem and His crucifixion, He is becoming more and more open about who exactly He is. He has stopped telling those He heals not to reveal what happened to them. Now He specifically tells His disciples to describe Him to others as "the Lord." Earlier moments were too soon for this proclamation, but this is "the hour" (John 2:4; 7:8) when it was meant to happen.
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