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.