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,
38. “God bless the king who comes in the name of the Lord!There is peace in heaven and glory to God!” Psalm 118:26
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.”
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.”
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.’ But you have changed it into a ‘hideout for robbers’!”
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.