Luke 9:21

9:21 But he forcefully commanded them not to tell this to anyone,

Luke 19:31

19:31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

tn The combination of the participle and verb ἐπιτιμήσας and παρήγγειλεν (epitimhsa" and parhngeilen, “commanding, he ordered”) is a hendiadys that makes the instruction emphatic.

sn No explanation for the command not to tell this to anyone is given, but the central section of Luke, chapters 9-19, appears to reveal a reason. The disciples needed to understand who the Messiah really was and exactly what he would do before they were ready to proclaim Jesus as such. But they and the people had an expectation that needed some instruction to be correct.

sn The custom called angaria allowed the impressment of animals for service to a significant figure.