Luke 19:28–44

The Triumphant Approach to Jerusalem

²⁸After Jesus said this, he went on ahead of them to Jerusalem. ²⁹As he came near Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead ³⁰with these instructions: “Go to the village there ahead of you; as you go in, you will find a colt tied up that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³¹If someone asks you why you are untying it, tell him that the Master^x needs it.”

³²They went on their way and found everything just as Jesus had told them. ³³As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying it?”

³⁴“The Master^y needs it,” they answered, ³⁵and they took the colt to Jesus. Then they threw their cloaks over the animal and helped Jesus get on. ³⁶As he rode on, people spread their cloaks on the road.

³⁷When he came near Jerusalem, at the place where the road went down the Mount of Olives, the large crowd of his disciples began to thank God and praise him in loud voices for all the great things that they had seen: ^38*“God bless the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory to God!”

³⁹Then some of the Pharisees in the crowd spoke to Jesus. “Teacher,” they said, “command your disciples to be quiet!”

⁴⁰Jesus answered, “I tell you that if they keep quiet, the stones themselves will start shouting.”

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem

⁴¹He came closer to the city, and when he saw it, he wept over it, ⁴²saying, “If you only knew today what is needed for peace! But now you cannot see it! ⁴³The time will come when your enemies will surround you with barricades, blockade you, and close in on you from every side. ⁴⁴They will completely destroy you and the people within your walls; not a single stone will they leave in its place, because you did not recognize the time when God came to save you!”