Did Jesus ask his followers to steal a colt?

Theft is sinful (Ex. 20:15; Eph. 4:28), as is giving approval to any sort of sin (Rom. 1:32).  Since Jesus was sinless (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 1 Pet. 2:22; 1 John 3:15), we know that he did not ask his followers to steal a donkey and a colt when he told them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her.  Untie them and bring them to me.  If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once” (Matt. 21:2-3; cf. Mark 11:2-3; Luke 19:30-31).  Additionally, Mark’s account specifically says that they received “permission” to bring the animals to Jesus.

Thus, it is clear that either Jesus had made arrangements with the owners of the animals in advance to use them or he simply knew that the owners (perhaps disciples of his) would respond favorably when they heard that Jesus needed their animals.