The Triumphal Entry

²⁸ After saying these things, Jesus went on ahead [of them], going up to Jerusalem.

²⁹ When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples,^{(A) 30} saying, “Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a [donkey’s] ^[a]colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. ³¹ If anybody asks you, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ you will say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” ³² So those who were sent left and found the colt just as He had told them. ³³ As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” ³⁴ They said, “The Lord needs it.” ³⁵ They brought it to Jesus, and ^[b]they threw their robes over the colt and put Jesus on it.^{(B) 36} As He rode along, people were spreading their coats on the road [as an act of homage before a king].^{(C) 37} As soon as He was approaching [Jerusalem], near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the entire multitude of the disciples [all those who were or claimed to be His followers] began praising God [adoring Him enthusiastically and] joyfully with loud voices for all the miracles and works of power that they had seen, ³⁸ shouting,

³⁹ Some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples [for shouting these Messianic praises].” ⁴⁰ Jesus replied, “I tell you, if these [people] keep silent, the stones will cry out [in praise]!”^(E)

⁴¹ As He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it [and the spiritual ignorance of its people], ⁴² saying, “If [only] you had known on this day [of salvation], even you, the things which make for peace [and on which peace depends]! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ For a time [of siege] is coming when your enemies will put up a barricade [with pointed stakes] against you, and surround you [with armies] and hem you in on every side,^{(F) 44} and they will level you to the ground, you [Jerusalem] and your children within you. They will not leave in you one stone on another, all because you did not [come progressively to] recognize [from observation and personal experience] the time of your visitation [when God was gracious toward you and offered you salvation].”