U GOT ME GOING NOW.. The author of Matthew tries to prove that Jesus was the Messiah, so he searched the Old Testament for passages (sometimes just phrases) that could be construed as messianic prophecies and then created or modified events in Jesus' life to fulfill those "prophecies." Fortunately for those who really want to know the truth, Matthew made a blunder later in his gospel which leaves no doubt at all as to which of the above possibilities is true.
His blunder involves what is known as Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey (if you believe Mark, Luke or John riding one donkey) or (if you believe Matthew riding on two donkeys). In Matthew 21:1-7, two animals are mentioned in three of the verses, so this cannot be explained away as a copying error. And Matthew has Jesus riding on both animals at the same time in (matthew 21:7) literally says, "on them he sat." Why does Matthew have Jesus riding on two donkeys at the same time? Because he misread (Zechariah 9:9) which reads... "riding on an ass, on a donkey foaled by a she-ass".. Anyone familiar with Old Testament Hebrew would know that the word translated "and" (used in the septugaint/Vulgate and KJV bible does not indicate another animal, but is used in the sense of "even" which is used in many translations) for emphasis.
The Old Testament often uses parallel phrases which refer to the same thing for emphasis, but Matthew was evidently not familiar with this usage. It is also very revealing. It demonstrates conclusively that Matthew created events in Jesus' life to fulfill Old Testament prophecies, even if it meant creating an absurd event.
His blunder involves what is known as Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey (if you believe Mark, Luke or John riding one donkey) or (if you believe Matthew riding on two donkeys). In Matthew 21:1-7, two animals are mentioned in three of the verses, so this cannot be explained away as a copying error. And Matthew has Jesus riding on both animals at the same time in (matthew 21:7) literally says, "on them he sat." Why does Matthew have Jesus riding on two donkeys at the same time? Because he misread (Zechariah 9:9) which reads... "riding on an ass, on a donkey foaled by a she-ass".. Anyone familiar with Old Testament Hebrew would know that the word translated "and" (used in the septugaint/Vulgate and KJV bible does not indicate another animal, but is used in the sense of "even" which is used in many translations) for emphasis.
The Old Testament often uses parallel phrases which refer to the same thing for emphasis, but Matthew was evidently not familiar with this usage. It is also very revealing. It demonstrates conclusively that Matthew created events in Jesus' life to fulfill Old Testament prophecies, even if it meant creating an absurd event.
