Amidst the joy that begins Holy Week, someone always dredges up an unfounded conjecture [today’s examples here,  here, here, and here] which says, “Apples are oranges.” That is this—that the crowds who shouted, “Hosanna!” were the same crowd that cried, “Crucify him!”

Such an idle charge has no foundation in the text, and bears false witness akin to that at Jesus’ trial. It is like saying that Peter not only denied Jesus, but also joined the mob that called for crucifixion.

We are told that Jesus, “six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead” (John 12:1).

Jesus, with the once-dead Lazarus, attracted a large crowd (v. 9). The next day, with pilgrims streaming into Jerusalem from every direction, some throngs on the east side who hear of Jesus’ approach, come and join the procession of Jesus and his disciples (remember, Jesus had more than twelve; he once sent out seventy). “As soon as He was approaching…the whole crowd of the disciples began…shouting:
‘BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD…’” (Luke 19:37f).

(Note: those who had earthly expectations of a King would not have expected fulfillment until after Passover. Israel was freed from bondage following Passover, not before.)

Those who are careless, would have us believe that  the whole crowd of the disciples later shouted, “crucify him.”

Days later, the chief priests and elders completed their stealthy plot to kill Jesus, but “not during the festival, otherwise a riot might occur among the people” (Matt. 26:5).

Remember, the Teachers of the Law all had their own disciples. A very different entourage accompanied the Jewish leaders as they held their night trial and then proceeded to Pilate’s judgment seat. It was the chief priests and elders, encouraging the crowd that they attracted, who together shouted, “Crucify him!” (Matt. 27:22).

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[“The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat,…they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi‘ by others.” (Matt. 23)

Every Rabbi/Teacher had his own disciples/learners. The scribes and Pharisees had their own entourage of followers.]

Time-line

Matthew 21:1 Bethphage (near the east side of Jerusalem)

The verses that sharply set the context of the two separate crowds: 

 Verse 9 And  {A} —the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna! Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” verse10 And when he entered       {B} –Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” verse11 {A‘ } —And the crowds [disciples and Galileans ] said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Passover Pilgrims and Disciples: “Hosanna”

v. 10 City residents: “Who is this?”

v. 12 Cleansing the Temple

v. 18 Teaching in the Temple (Next Day)

Mt. 24:45f “Chief Priests and Pharisees…when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the people.”

Mt. 26:4 “plotted to…kill Him.”

v. 19ff Last Supper, Mt. Of Olives, Gethsemane

Then, “a great multitude with swords and clubs came from the chief priests and elders…”

and “led him away to Caiphas the high priest where the scribes and elders were assembled.”

27:1ff “When morning came…they led him away..to Pilate.” (Luke: “Then the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate.”)

v. 20f “chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask [Pilate] for Barabbas and destroy Jesus…they all said, ‘Let him be crucified.’” Luke: “Crucify Him, crucify Him!“

With this behind us, Now Contemplate that event which Palm Sunday celebrates. Here– Holy Week: Hosanna (link)