29. When he came near Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives (as it was called), Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead of him.
30. He said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter, you will find a young donkey tied there. No one has ever sat on it. Untie it, and bring it.
31. If anyone asks you why you are untying it, say that the Lord needs it.”
32. The men Jesus sent found it as he had told them.
33. While they were untying the young donkey, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the donkey?”
34. The disciples answered, “The Lord needs it.”
35. They brought the donkey to Jesus, put their coats on it, and helped Jesus onto it.
36. As he was riding along, people spread their coats on the road.
37. By this time he was coming near the place where the road went down the Mount of Olives. Then the whole crowd of disciples began to praise God for all the miracles they had seen.
38. They shouted joyfully,“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven.”
39. Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell your disciples to be quiet.”
40. Jesus replied, “I can guarantee that if they are quiet, the stones will cry out.”
41. When he came closer and saw the city, he began to cry.
42. He said, “If you had only known today what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden, so you cannot see it.
43. The time will come when enemy armies will build a wall to surround you and close you in on every side.
44. They will level you to the ground and kill your people. One stone will not be left on top of another, because you didn’t recognize the time when God came to help you.”
45. Jesus went into the temple courtyard and began to throw out those who were selling things there.
46. He said to them, “Scripture says, ‘My house will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a gathering place for thieves.”