Luke 19:28-48

New Life Version

²⁸ When He had finished the picture-story, He went on ahead of them up to Jerusalem.

The Last Time Jesus Goes into Jerusalem ^(A)

²⁹ When Jesus was coming near the towns of Bethphage and Bethany by the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His followers on ahead. ³⁰ He said, “Go into the town ahead of you. There you will find a young donkey tied. No man has ever sat on it. Let it loose and bring it to Me. ³¹ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you letting it loose?’ say to him, ‘Because the Lord needs it.’”

³² Those who were sent found everything as Jesus had told them. ³³ As they were letting the young donkey loose, the owners said to them, “Why are you letting the young donkey loose?” ³⁴ They answered, “The Lord needs it.” ³⁵ Then they brought it to Jesus. They put their coats on the donkey and they put Jesus on it.

³⁶ As Jesus was going, they put their coats down on the road. ³⁷ Jesus was near the city and ready to go down the Mount of Olives. The many people who were following Him began to sing with loud voices and give thanks for all the powerful works they had seen. ³⁸ They said, “Great and honored is the King Who comes in the name of the Lord. There is peace and greatness in the highest heaven.”

³⁹ Some of the proud religious law-keepers who were in among the people said to Jesus, “Teacher, speak sharp words to Your followers.” ⁴⁰ Jesus said to them, “I tell you that if these did not speak, the very stones would call out.”

Jesus Cried as He Saw Jerusalem

⁴¹ When Jesus came near the city, He cried as He saw it. ⁴² He said, “If you had only known on this great day the things that make peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ The time is coming when those who hate you will dig earth and throw it up around you making a wall. They will shut you in from every side. ⁴⁴ They will destroy you and your children with you. There will not be one stone on another. It is because you did not know when God visited you.”

Jesus Stops the Buying and Selling in the House of God ^(B)

⁴⁵ Jesus went into the house of God. He made those leave who were buying and selling there. ⁴⁶ He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer.’ ‘But you have made it a place of robbers.’” ^(C)

⁴⁷ Jesus taught each day in the house of God. But the religious leaders and the teachers of the Law and other leaders of the people tried to think of some way they could kill Him. ⁴⁸ They could not find a way because the people were always near Him listening to Him teach.