Luke 19:28-48 : Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus Enters Jerusalem
28After Jesus said these things, he continued traveling toward Jerusalem. 29Jesus came near Bethphage and Bethany, towns near the hill called the Mount of Olives.* Jesus sent out two of his followers. 30He said, "Go into the town you can see there. When you enter the town, you will find a young donkey tied there. No person has ever ridden this donkey. Untie the donkey, and bring it here to me. 31If any person asks you why you are taking the donkey, you should say, 'The Master needs this donkey.'" 32The two followers went into town. They found the donkey exactly like Jesus told them. 33The followers untied the donkey. But the owners of the donkey came out. They said to the followers, "Why are you untying our donkey?" 34The followers answered, "The Master needs it." 35So the followers brought the donkey to Jesus. The followers put their coats on the donkey's back. Then they put Jesus on the donkey. 36Jesus rode along the road toward Jerusalem. The followers spread their coats on the road before Jesus. 37Jesus was coming close to Jerusalem. He was already near the bottom of the Mount of Olives.* The whole group of followers were happy. They were very excited and praised God. They thanked God for all the powerful things they had seen. 38They said, "'Welcome! God bless the king that comes in the name of the Lord.' Psalm 118:26
Peace in heaven and glory to God!" 39Some of the Pharisees* said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell your followers not to say these things!" 40But Jesus answered, "I tell you, these things must be said. If my followers don't say these things, then these rocks will say them."
Jesus Cries for Jerusalem
41Jesus came near Jerusalem. He saw the city and began to cry for it. 42Jesus spoke to Jerusalem. He said, "I wish you knew today what would bring you peace! But you can't know it, because it is hidden from you. 43A time is coming when your enemies will build a wall around you. Your enemies will hold you on all sides. 44They 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
45Jesus went into the temple* area. He began to throw out the people that were selling things there. 46Jesus said, "It is written [in the Scriptures*], 'My house will be a house of prayer.'* But you have changed it into a 'hiding place for thieves'*" 47Jesus 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 Jesus. 48But all the people were listening closely to Jesus. They were very interested in the things Jesus said. So the leading priests, the teachers of the law, and the leaders did not know how they could kill Jesus.
Mount of Olives A hill east of the city of Jerusalem where a person could look down into the temple area. Pharisees The Pharisees were a Jewish religious group that claimed to follow carefully all Jewish laws and customs. temple The special building in Jerusalem for Jewish worship. Scriptures Holy Writings--the Old Testament. 'My house ... prayer' Quote from Isa. 56:7. 'hiding place for thieves' Quote from Jer. 7:11.