Does Psalm 118 prophesy about Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem? ~ Cross reference of Matthew 21:8 to Psalm 118:26


Matthew uses Psalm 118:26 to say that David prophesied that 1700 years later Jesus will enter Jerusalem and all the people will say "blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord". Is this true?

Let's examine what Psalm 118 is all about and decide if Matthew is correct.

All Images are links to Google Images. Copyright violations not intended.
All Greek Text references are from NIV and Tanakh references are from Chabad.

This post is not intended to offend anyone's faith but for those people who are Seeking the truth of THE ONE TRUE G-D of the universe to who we owe all our love, gratitude & devotion.

My encouragement to you is that you read the whole chapter of Tanakh that the Greek text quotes so you get the context and understand what G-d actually said.

G-d Bless and Seek THE Truth.

Matthew 21:8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna[b] to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[c] “Hosanna[d] in the highest heaven!” 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Psalm 118:26 Blessed be he who has come in the name of the Lord; we have blessed you in the name of the Lord. 27 The Lord is God, and He gave us light. Bind the sacrifice with ropes until [it is brought to] the corners of the altar.
  • Very true that Psalm 118:26 says "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" and this exactly what the people shouted when Jesus came into Jerusalem. Let us review Psalm 118 and see if this cross reference is correct.
  • The Author of this psalm is not mentioned but most scholars believe that David wrote it and it was sung during the 3 major festivals when all the males came to the sanctuary of G-d. 
  • This is such as beautiful Psalm where it narrates how good and kind G-d is and that Israel should trust in G-d.
  • There are several verses that talk about how the writer is being attacked by his enemies but G-d has always been with him and will be with him in trouble.
  • If you read verses 19 & 20 you will see that people are entering through G-d's gates and so Rabbis say that this is how people who came to the sanctuary to worship G-d were welcomed by saying blessed is he ...
  • If you see verse 27, you see that these people are bringing the sacrifices to be made on the altar. You can safely say that this is about worshippers coming to the temple and not about Jesus entering Jerusalem. 
  • Verse 20 says that "we have blessed you in the name of the Lord" and it is referring to the people who came not one person Jesus.   
  • There are a few verses in the Psalm that clearly show that this Psalm was not about Jesus but about the writer and the nation of Israel.
    • Psalm 118:6 The Lord is for me; I shall not fear. What can man do to me? - Romans crucified him
    • Psalm 118:10 All nations surrounded me; in the name of the Lord that I shall cut them off. - Jesus was cut off, he never cut of any nations.
    • Psalm 118:17 I shall not die but I shall live and tell the deeds of God. - 3 days after of his triumphant entry he was killed.
    • Psalm 118:18 God has chastised me, but He has not delivered me to death. - Jesus was sinless, why does Jesus have to be chastised?
    • Psalm 118:28 You are my God and I shall thank You; the God of my father, and I shall exalt You. - the write is saying that G-d is his his G-d and the G-d of his father. This clearly 

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