Did Jesus ride into Jerusalem on one animal? The following is an alleged Bible contradiction:

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on how many animals?
(a) One – a colt (Mark 11:7; cf Luke 19:3,5). “And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their
garments on it; and he sat upon it.”
(b) Two – a colt and an ass (Matthew 21:7). “They brought the ass and the colt and put their garments
on them and he sat thereon.”

SCRIPTURAL EXAMINATION

Jesus obviously did not ride into Jerusalem on two animals, only on one.

“Behold, your king is coming to you; He is righteous and endowed with salvation, Lowly and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a pack animal” (Zechariah 9:9 LSB). This prophecy foretold, 550 years in advance, that the future King, the Messiah, would ride into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey.

Matthew quotes from Zechariah 9:9, as he records the fulfillment of the prophecy:
“This took place in order that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled, saying,
‘SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, “BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU,
LOWLY, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY, EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A PACK ANIMAL.”’
AND The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their garments on them; and He sat on the garments.”—-Matthew 21:5-7 LSB

We notice how Matthew records that he “sat on the garments” \ Thus, the so-called “contradiction” is cleared up, when we see that “sat thereon” applies to “the cloaks”.

“When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it”—Mark 11:7 NIV

“They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it”—Luke 19:35 NIV

Mark and Luke only mention the colt, because that is the animal that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on. They do not mention the donkey, because it is not essential to the narrative. 

“Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: ‘Do not be afraid, daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt”—John 12:14 NIV

John quotes Zechariah 9:9 in a way makes it obvious Jesus rode into Jerusalem “on a donkey’s colt” only.

CONCLUSION

By examining the scriptures carefully, we see that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on one animal.

For similar information related to this subject, please see the following article on this website:

“Contradictions About Peter’s Denials and Rooster Crowing? – https://bibleauthenticity.com/contradictions-about-peters-denials-and-rooster-crowing/