“The Lord hath need of them” (Mt. 21:3).
What an amazing statement! The One who made this statement is the same One who said, “If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof” (Ps. 50:12). This is the same One who said, “Let there be light: and there was light” (Gen. 1:3). This is the same One who spoke the world and the heavens into existence. This is the same One who is the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16).
Why would the One who has no need look to us for anything? The truth is that the Lord delights in willing sacrifice that springs from hearts overflowing with love and devotion. As Samuel said, “Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you” (1 Sam. 12:24). The Lord delights in giving us a part in His plan. Did you ever ponder the fact that the joys of heaven for the Redeemer and the redeemed alike will be that “His servants shall serve Him” (Rev. 22:3)?
Returning to Matthew 21, we know why these animals were needed. Jesus was about to make His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. In preparation for this long-awaited event, He sent two of His disciples ahead to find a donkey and its colt. The Lord told the disciples to untie the animals and bring them to Him and, if they should be questioned, simply say, “The Lord hath need of them.”
The Lord required these animals in order to fulfill the Scripture written of Him 550 years before: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon a [donkey], and upon a colt the foal of a [donkey]” (Zech. 9:9).
The fact that the Lord was fulfilling Scripture centuries after it was written is amazing to us! What is perhaps equally amazing is that the Lord said He was in need of men’s involvement. He gave the owners of the donkey and colt a chance to be a part of what He was doing by letting go of what they had. Even though He knew the owners would send the donkey and colt, He was still asking and, thereby, giving men a chance to say yes or no.
Who’s asking?
Knowing who is asking us to let go of something determines our response. Nabal owned 4,000 sheep and goats, yet when asked to let go of a few to feed the future king of Israel and his men, Nabal selfishly spurned the opportunity and scorned David as just another renegade. Nabal said, “Who is David?” (1 Sam. 25:10). There is no question that Nabal knew who David was—everyone in Israel did! But he did not know David personally and did not love him devotedly. Being prepared is a condition of the heart. If we know Jesus Christ personally and love Him devotedly, our hearts will be prepared to hear and respond to His requests.
Jesus could have simply demanded use of the donkey and the colt. He could demand whatever He wants from us, too. But He doesn’t. Instead, He asks us to serve Him, just like He asked the owners of those animals. The Lord moved Paul to write these words, “I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1). Instead of demanding from us, the Lord appeals to us, urging us to offer our bodies for His service. Nothing could be more reasonable than that we should glorify the Lord by letting Him have our lives. But He doesn’t coldly demand we let go; instead, He pleads!
Jesus also could easily have created a donkey and colt specifically to ride into Jerusalem. After all, He is the Creator of all things! Instead, the Lord chose to put Himself in the hands of the men who were the owners of these animals. He does the same thing today with you and me. The Lord could use angels to do His will, but He has chosen to commit much of His work to creatures like you and me—creatures who are often far more stubborn than the donkey!
The Lord doesn’t argue with us or bargain with us, as some parents try to get their children to do as they should. Our God is so different! He speaks gently to us through His Word and through the ministry of His Holy Spirit. But He doesn’t force us. His Spirit can be quenched (1?Thes. 5:19). It is crucial for us to be sensitive to the Spirit of the Lord speaking to us through the Word of the Lord. We can be so focused on doing what we want to do that we aren’t attuned to His voice, and we don’t hear Him softly say, “I have need of you!” We can even be so afraid of what He might ask us to let go that we busy ourselves with other tasks.
The cost of being useful
There is a very important principle in this story: the owners of the donkey and colt had to let go of what they owned if they wanted to be useful to Him. Is the Lord seeking to loosen your grip on your life, yet you are reluctant to let it go? As you consider all that makes up your life—possessions, health, strength, skills, abilities, plans, pleasures, loved ones, friends, wealth, occupation—can you hear His words, “The Lord hath need of them”?
I love Isaiah’s attitude and response to the Lord’s question, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Even before hearing his assignment, Isaiah replied, “Here am I; send me.” The assignment turned out to be a difficult one, as Isaiah was to tell the people, “Hear ye indeed, but understand not,” but what mattered to the prophet was having a part in what the Lord was doing (Isa. 6:8f).
Are our hearts prepared in loving devotion to hear His voice? Are we prepared to let go?