Luke 19:28-48

International Children’s Bible

Jesus Enters Jerusalem as a King

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

³² The two followers went into town. They found the colt just as Jesus told them. ³³ The followers untied it, but the owners of the colt came out. They asked the followers, “Why are you untying our colt?”

³⁴ The followers answered, “The Master needs it.” ³⁵ So they brought it to Jesus. They threw their coats on the colt’s back and put Jesus on it. ³⁶ As Jesus rode 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 crowd of followers was very happy. They began shouting praise to God for all the powerful works they had seen. 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 don’t say these things, then the stones will cry out.”

Jesus Cries for Jerusalem

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

Jesus Goes to the Temple

⁴⁵ Jesus went into the Temple. He began to throw out the people who were selling things there. ⁴⁶ He said, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘My Temple will be a house where people will pray.’^[a] But you have changed it into a ‘hideout for robbers’!”^[b]

⁴⁷ Jesus taught in the Temple every day. The leading priests, the teachers of the law, and some of the leaders of the people wanted to kill Jesus. ⁴⁸ But all the people were listening closely to him and were interested in all the things he said. So the leading priests, the teachers of the law, and the leaders did not know how they could kill him.