Matthew 21:11 Meaning: Why the Crowds Called Jesus 'the Prophet'
The multitudes said, “This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
And the multitudes said, This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.
And the multitudes said, `This is Jesus the prophet, who is from Nazareth of Galilee.'
And the crowds said, This is Jesus the prophet who is from Nazareth of Galilee.
Meaning in one sentence
The crowds on Palm Sunday identified Jesus as the prophet from Nazareth, linking him to Moses' promise of a coming prophet like himself.
Context
Matthew 21 brings us to the climax of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem. The chapter opens with the Triumphal Entry: Jesus rides a donkey into the city as crowds spread their cloaks and palm branches on the road, shouting Hosanna. The whole city stirs with one question: Who is this? The crowds answer with this verse, calling Jesus the prophet from Nazareth. The Passover festival is approaching, and the air is thick with expectation. Matthew is showing us that Jesus is fulfilling what the prophets spoke, especially the prophecy of a coming prophet like Moses from Deuteronomy 18. But the answer the crowds give also carries a tension that will build through the week ahead.
Key Words
Three words shape this verse. The first is prophet (Greek prophētēs). In the Old Testament, a prophet was not a fortune-teller but God's appointed spokesman, someone who spoke the very words of God to the people. When the crowds call Jesus the prophet, they are reaching back to Moses' promise in Deuteronomy: God would raise up a prophet like Moses, and the people must listen to him. This title carries immense weight. It means the crowd sees Jesus as the long-awaited messenger who would finally speak God's word with authority.
The second word is Nazareth (Greek Nazareth). This tiny village in Galilee was despised. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” people asked. By naming Jesus as coming from Nazareth, the crowds give his hometown, a place of no reputation. Yet Matthew has already told us that Jesus being called a Nazarene fulfills prophecy (Matthew 2:23). God chooses the humble and overlooked.
The third is crowds (Greek ochloi). These are the common people, not the religious leaders. They see something the officials miss. They know a prophet when they hear one.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have noticed different things in this verse. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, points out that every expression of the multitude plainly intimated that they fully received our blessed Lord as the promised Messiah. Yet he also marks the fickleness: the same crowd would later cry for crucifixion. John Gill, a Baptist, observes that the common people knew Christ better than the rulers of Jerusalem did. Wesley, the Methodist founder, notes that the mention of Nazareth was a stumbling block: if Jesus was from Nazareth, how could he be the Messiah? But Wesley says those who earnestly desired to know the truth would inquire and discover he was actually born in Bethlehem. Each tradition finds here both encouragement and warning: the crowds got something right, but their understanding was incomplete.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think calling Jesus “the prophet” was a lesser title, as if the crowd didn't recognize him as the Messiah. In fact, “the prophet” from Deuteronomy 18 was understood by many Jews as a Messianic title. The crowds were saying something powerful: Jesus is the one Moses promised, the ultimate spokesman of God. Their understanding was real, even if it would deepen in the days ahead.
Living This Out
This week, notice where you expect God to show up. The crowds in Jerusalem looked for a prophet, and they found him in a man from Nazareth, a place they thought nothing good could come from. Maybe you have your own Nazareth: a person you dismiss, a situation you write off, a corner of your life you think God can't use. The crowds got it partly right: Jesus is the prophet who speaks God's word. But they didn't yet see that he is the Word himself. You can listen to him today. Let him speak into the Nazareth places of your heart.
Main takeaway: The crowds were right to call Jesus the promised prophet, but he is more than they yet understood.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people said, “This is Jesus, the prophet!” They were happy because God had promised to send a special messenger. Jesus is that messenger.
For ages 9, 12
The crowd called Jesus “the prophet” because they remembered God's promise to Moses that a great prophet would come. They didn't fully understand that Jesus is more than a prophet, he is God's Son. But they were right to welcome him. You can welcome Jesus too, even when you don't have all the answers. He came from a small town called Nazareth, to show that God can use anyone and any place.
Questions People Ask
Why did the crowd call Jesus 'the prophet'?
They called him 'the prophet' because they recognized him as the one Moses promised in Deuteronomy 18:15, a prophet like Moses who would speak God's words with authority. For many Jews, this was a way of saying Jesus was the Messiah.
What does 'from Nazareth of Galilee' mean?
Nazareth was a small, unimportant village in Galilee. The crowd used it to identify Jesus as the man they knew from his hometown, not realizing he was actually born in Bethlehem. But Matthew (2:23) says his being called a Nazarene fulfilled prophecy.
How does Matthew 21:11 connect to Deuteronomy 18?
Deuteronomy 18:15 says God will raise up a prophet like Moses. When the crowds call Jesus 'the prophet,' they are drawing a direct line to that promise. They see Jesus as the long-awaited spokesman of God, the one who would finalize God's revelation.
Did the crowd later turn on Jesus?
Yes, within a few days many of the same people who shouted Hosanna called for his crucifixion. Commentators like Adam Clarke note the fickleness of the crowd. It shows how quickly human praise can change, and how Jesus' mission was not about popularity.
Is 'the prophet' the same as 'the Messiah'?
Not exactly the same, but closely connected. Many Jews expected the Messiah to be a prophet like Moses, but also a king and deliverer. The crowd's use of 'the prophet' shows they saw Jesus as fulfilling God's promise, but they had not yet grasped that he was more than a prophet, the Son of God.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study