Jesus Enters Jerusalem Like a King^(A)

²⁸ After Jesus said these things, he continued traveling toward Jerusalem. ²⁹ He came near Bethphage and Bethany, towns near the hill called the Mount of Olives. He sent out two of his followers. ³⁰ He said, “Go into the town you can see there. When you enter the town, you will find a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it, and bring it here to me. ³¹ If anyone asks you why you are taking the donkey, you should say, ‘The Master needs it.’”

³² The two followers went into town. They found the donkey exactly like Jesus told them. ³³ They untied it, but its owners came out. They said to the followers, “Why are you untying our donkey?”

³⁴ The followers answered, “The Master needs it.” ³⁵ So the followers brought the donkey to Jesus. They put their coats on its back. Then they put Jesus on the donkey. ³⁶ He rode along the road toward Jerusalem. The followers spread their coats on the road before him.

³⁷ Jesus was coming close to Jerusalem. He was already near the bottom of the Mount of Olives. The whole group of followers was happy. They were very excited and praised God. They thanked God for all the powerful things they had seen. ³⁸ They said,

³⁹ Some of the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell your followers not to say these things.”

⁴⁰ But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if my followers didn’t say them, these stones would shout them.”

Jesus Cries for Jerusalem

⁴¹ Jesus came near Jerusalem. Looking at the city, he began to cry for it ⁴² and said, “I wish you knew today what would bring you peace. But it is hidden from you now. ⁴³ A time is coming when your enemies will build a wall around you and hold you in on all sides. ⁴⁴ They will destroy you and all your people. Not one stone of your buildings will stay on top of another. All this will happen because you did not know the time when God came to save you.”

Jesus Goes to the Temple^(C)

⁴⁵ Jesus went into the Temple area. He began to throw out the people who were selling things there. ⁴⁶ He said, “The Scriptures say, ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer.’^[a] But you have changed it into a ‘hiding place for thieves.’^[b]”

⁴⁷ Jesus taught the people in the Temple area every day. The leading priests, the teachers of the law, and some of the leaders of the people wanted to kill him. ⁴⁸ But they did not know how they could do it, because everyone was listening to him. The people were very interested in what Jesus said.