Luke 19:28-48

28 And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.”
47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.

Discussion Questions

1. This is the famous Palm Sunday story about Jesus as he is approaching Jerusalem. Based on Luke 19:28-36, what are some things that Luke wants us to see and understand about Jesus?
2. What can we learn from the way that people responded to Jesus? (See Luke 19:37-40).
3. “The song of the angels has become the song of the redeemed.” (Based on Luke 19:38) What does this say to us about our experience in worship? What does this say to us about the mission of waging peace?
4. As Jesus approached Jerusalem, he wept over the city. What do we see in the heart of Jesus?
5. Why did Jesus weep? (See Luke 19:41-44)
6. “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace.” (Luke 19:42) Why would the city of Jerusalem reject Jesus? Why do we sometimes resist the will of God?
7. Jesus displays great passion for the temple. Why does he have this zeal and passion?
8. “But you have made it a den of robbers.” (Luke 19:46) Are there ways that our consumer approach to church can supplant the sacred space that God has given for worship?
9. Psalm 118 was used as a Passover song and is referred to a couple of times in this section of Luke’s gospel. For example, Psalm 118:22 is quoted in Luke 20:17--”The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” In what way did Jesus become the cornerstone of a new temple?
10. Reflecting on this whole story in Luke 19, who is in charge of events? The opponents of Jesus? Or Jesus himself? How does this give us hope as we reflect on the circumstances of our lives?
11. What is your takeaway from this story?