“And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.”
Matthew 21:8 — Greek Interlinear
Church Fathers on Matthew 21:8
The Evangelist related above that the Lord departed from Galilee, and began to go up to Jerusalem. Being now occupied with telling what He did by the way, he proceeds in his purpose, saying, 'And when they drew nigh to Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage.' Bethphage was a small village of the priests, situated on the declivity of Mount Olivet, one mile distant from Jerusalem. For the priests who ministered in the temple their apportioned time, when their office of…
Whence Bethphage is interpreted, The house of the Shoulder; for the shoulder was the priest’s portion in the Law. It follows, 'Then Jesus sent two of his disciples.'
He said not to His disciples, Say, Thy Lord, or Your Lord, hath need of them; that they may understand, that He is Lord alone, not of the beasts only, but of all men; for even sinners are by the law of nature His, though by their own will they are the Devil’s.