In Luke 19:29-35 we find the account of Jesus sending two of His disciples to search for a colt tied up in the village. They were instructed to loose the colt and bring them back to Jesus. We are going to examine this passage verse by verse.

Verse 29
"And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples"

We’ve learned that the number 2 in the Bible, when it has spiritual significance, identifies with those who are responsible for bringing the Gospel (see Number Study on 2). Jesus sending two of his disciples is a picture of Christ sending the believers into all the world to share the Gospel:
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)

Verse 30
"Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither."

The colt is referred to in the Bible as an unclean animal:
"The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean." (Leviticus 11:26)
As an unclean animal, it is used as a picture of mankind in his naturally born state of being under the wrath of God as a sinner who is in need of a redeemer:
"And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem." (Exodus 13:13)
The fact that the colt was tied is a reminder that we are born into spiritual bondage:
"For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness." (Romans 6:20)
"The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies." (Psalm 58:3)

Verse 31
"And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him."

The loosing of the colt is a picture of an unsaved person being freed from spiritual bondage, which takes place at the moment of salvation. God has designed His salvation program so that it is through the hearing of the Gospel that He saves people:
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

As we share the Gospel, we are often focused on that listener’s specific need for a Savior. We don’t often think of the impact on God’s overall salvation program when another individual becomes saved. Since it is through the hearing of the Gospel that God saves people, each newly saved individual is another person God can use to forward His salvation program.

Verse32
"And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them."

Verse 33
"And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?"

The owners’ reaction to the loosing of the colt is a picture of the way unsaved man reacts to the Gospel if the Holy Spirit is not working to apply God’s Word to his heart: he doesn’t understand. By nature, mankind doesn’t see the need for a Savior. Sure, on an intellectual level, he may have an interest in God because he doesn’t want to end up in hell, but he is not committed to God in a way that would have him forsake the pleasures of this world. In that sense, unsaved man doesn’t really see the need for a Savior. This is illustrated by the colt owners’ question, “Why loose ye the colt?” When believers share the Gospel, they are often ignored, mocked, or hated.

Verse 34
"And they said, The Lord hath need of him."

The interesting thing here is that the Bible doesn’t record any pushback from the owners of the colt. Based on the information we are given, it appears as though the owners allowed the colt to be taken by the disciples. This illustrates the fact that no one can stand in the way of God saving His people. As the believers go into the world with the Gospel, God uses the Gospel to save His people and nothing can prevent God from completing His salvation program.

Verse 35
"And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon."

The garments being placed on the colt is a picture of the believer being robed in Christ’s righteousness and the garments of salvation:
"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." (Isaiah 61:10)
"I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem." (Job 29:14)

We then read that Jesus sat on the colt. The act of sitting is often used in the Bible in connection with ruling:
"Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thessalonians 2:4)
We read in Revelation chapter 17 about the great whore that sits upon many waters:
"And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters" (Revelation 17:1)
We are told that the many waters represent great multitudes of people:
"And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." (Revelation 17:15)
In other words, the language of the great whore sitting on many waters is language that points to the fact that she is ruling over them or has authority over them. The picture of Jesus sitting on the colt is one that points to the fact that He rules over those who have become saved. The believers bow to His authority.