And the clause Binding His colt unto a vine, and to the vine-tendril the ass’s colt, was a foretelling both of the works which should be done by Him at His first Advent, and likewise of the Gentiles who should believe Him. For these were like a colt unbroken that had no yoke on its neck, until this Christ of ours came, and sent by His disciples and made disciples of them, and they bare the yoke of His word, and subjected their back to endure everything, because of the good things to which they looked forward, and which had been promised by Him.
And in truth an ass with its colt, bound in a certain entrance of a village called Bethphage, when our Lord Jesus Christ was about to enter into Jerusalem, did He command His disciples to bring to Him, and He sat upon it, and entered into Jerusalem. This, after having been expressly foretold as to be done by Christ, when it was done by Him and known to others, made it plain that He was Christ. Yet, when all these things have taken place, and are proved from the Scriptures, ye are still hard of heart!
But it was prophesied by Zechariah, one of the Twelve, that this should take place, in the following words: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion, shout aloud, proclaim, O daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, thy King shall come to thee, righteous, and Himself saving (thee) and meek, and poor, riding upon a beast of burden and an ass’s colt.Zechariah 9:9
Now that the prophetic spirit, as well as the patriarch Jacob, mentioned at that time also an ass, a beast of burden, together with her colt as being in His possession, and further that He bade His disciples, as I have already said, bring forth the beasts, was a foreannouncement of those of your synagogue who should believe on Him, and also of those who should come from the Gentiles. For as the unbroken colt was a figure of those from among the Gentiles, so also the ass which was broken to the yoke was of those from among your people. For the Law which came to you through the Prophets you have laid upon you.
Further, it was prophesied by the prophet Zechariah, that this Christ should be smitten and His disciples scattered, which also has come to pass. For, after He was crucified, His disciples that were with Him were scattered, until He rose from the dead, and persuaded them that it was thus prophesied concerning Him that He should suffer. And when they were thus persuaded they went out even into all the world and taught these things.
For this reason we also are firm in His faith and discipleship, gaining our persuasion both from the Prophets and from those who throughout the world have been seen to have become worshippers of God in the name of Him who was crucified. Now this is what was said by Zechariah: Arise, O sword, upon My shepherd, and upon the man of My people, saith the Lord of hosts. Smite the shepherd, and His sheep shall be scattered.