The King Enters the Capital

Sermon 82 in Series

Luke 19:28-44

[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.”

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  How does Luke use the Parable of the Minas to set up the Triumphal Entry? In what ways has the section from 9:51 to 19:27 prepared the reader for this moment?
2.  How does this narrative show that Jesus is in control of what’s happening? How does it help us rightly view his death as well as his work in our lives today?
3.  What is the significance of the colt? How should this impact our view of Jesus and his kingdom?
4.  Why are the disciples praising God? How does v. 40 highlight the importance of this event?
5.  How do the complaining Pharisees represent Jerusalem as a whole? How do they anticipate what comes next?
6.  In the past, have you associated Palm Sunday with Jesus weeping? How has this deepened your view of it?
7.  As Jesus describes it, what is about to happen to Jerusalem? How does this function as a warning for the reader to act now on God’s revelation?

References: Psalm 148:1-14 (corporate reading); Luke 9:51; 13:33; John 11:18; 12:12-13; Luke 22:13; Zechariah 9:9; Psalm 118:26; Ephesians 1:6; Luke 19:14; Isaiah 9:6; Luke 13:34-35; Romans 8:1.