Luke 19:28-44Luke: List of Major Bible Charts, Maps, & PicturesJesus' Public Ministry in and Near Jerusalem
Section · Luke 19:28–21:38
Jesus' Public Ministry in and Near Jerusalem
Having detailed the foreordained events of Jesus' travels from Galilee to Jerusalem, Luke now draws attention to the fourth portion of his historical record; a number of events in Christ's ministry prior to his death, resurrection, and ascension. The central theme in this section is the relationship of Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem would be the place of Jesus's final work as Savior. He would openly preach and teach before offering his life for the salvation of his people.
Jesus Enters Jerusalem as the Servant King
This is covered in detail in the Gospel's of Matthew and Mark below. Only Luke recorded Jesus' lament as he drew near the city (Luke 19:41-44). Hughes states:
The Lord prophetically saw the proud, unrepentant Holy City as a pile of rubble wet with bloodand that is what later happened. Josephus tells us:
Caesar had already commanded the entire city and the temple to be razed to the ground, leaving only the towers which projected higher than the others to stand, Phasel, Hippicus, and Mariamme, and that part of the wall which enclosed the city on the west. This was to be an encampment for the troops which would be left behind, and the towers were to reveal to posterity how great a city Jerusalem had been and what sort of fortifications Roman prowess had dominated. All the rest of the wall which encompassed the city the demolition teams leveled so that no one who would come there in the future would ever believe that the spot had been inhabited.
The destruction was terrible when the city was stormed and the temple burned. Josephus records that the victorious Roman general Titus threw his arms heavenward, uttered a groan, and called God to witness that this was not his doing.
Jesus wept terribly over Jerusalem! This was and is the heart of a new kind of king. It is the heart of God. The body was human, but the heart was divine. This is how Jesus Christ and God the Father and the blessed Holy Spirit sorrow over hearts that miss their day and what would bring [them] peacenamely, repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Will he weep over you?
The son of God in tears The wondering angels see. Be thou astonished, O my soul, He shed those tears for thee.
The tears of Christ measure the value of your soul!
Jesus entered Jerusalem with a crowd of his disciples. They praised and honored him as the promised Messiah King.
Luke 19:28
saidthese things. The parable in vv. 11-27. Jerusalem. Jesus was moving forward toward his impending death (see note on 9:51).
Luke 19:29
Bethphage and Bethany. The location of Bethphage is uncertain. But it was close to Bethany, which sat on the eastern side of the Mount of Olives. It was about three miles outside Jerusalem (v. 28).
Luke 19:30
you will find. Jesus displayed his divine knowledge (5:22; 6:8; 7:39-40; 22:13, 21, 34) and kingly authority. neverbeenridden. Could indicate it was never used for secular purposes, and so it was fit for Jesus' sacred use (see Num. 19:2; Deut. 21:3). It would have been difficult to ride an unbroken colt into a noisy crowd (vv. 35-37). Perhaps Jesus healed it of its fear, making it useful and showing the gentle King is he toward his people (Zech. 9:9; Matt. 11:29-30).
Luke 19:32-34
Events unfolded as Jesus said they would (vv. 30-31). The disciples who found the colt and those who owned the colt both followed Jesus. The disciples obeyed his commands and the owners met his need (see v. 35).
Luke 19:35-36
cloaksuponthe colt . . . road. This was an Old Testament sign of submission to Israel's king (1 Kings 1:32-34; 2 Kings 9:13). This also fulfilled the prophecy of the Messiah entering Jerusalem humbly on a colt (Zech. 9:9). Luke emphasized from the beginning of his Gospel that Jesus was the Son of David and the promised Messiah (1:26-27, 23-33).
Luke 19:37
Mountof Olives. The place God's glory was promised to return after departing the temple (Ezek. 43:1). Also the location where God promised Messiah would set his feet (Zech. 14:4). rejoice and praiseGod. Jesus' disciples remembered all of the miracles God accomplished through Jesus. His ministry was marked by powerful works and preaching (24:19). This brought joy to the crowd.
Luke 19:38
The disciples' (v. 37) saying is based on Ps. 118:26. It was used to greet those traveling to Jerusalem for the holy feasts. By adding the word king they indicated their belief that Jesus' royal purpose. However, they could not understand the nature of his Messianic kingship until after his death and resurrection (Mark 9:32; John 12:16; 13:7).peace . . . glory. Similar to the praise sung by angels at Jesus' birth (2:14). However, the emphasis shifted from earth to heaven. God's plan for salvation is being fulfilled.
Luke 19:39
Many of the religious leaders in Israel had long opposed Jesus. They could not deny that he was from God. But like the all the prophets before him, they did not like his message (11:47-51). They did not welcome his critique of their lives and his calls for repentance (11:37-45). Moreover, they did not accept him as the Messiah King (v. 4; 20:9-18; 22:67-71). Pharisees. See note on 5:17.
Luke 19:40
Even if the disciples did not fully understand Jesus' kingship, their praise was appropriate. stoneswould cry out. If no one would praise the coming of the King, then the creation itself would praise him (see Ps. 96:10-13; Isa. 55:12; Hab. 2:11).
Luke 19:41-42
wept. Jesus was sorrowful over the spiritual state of his people (see note on 13:34). Jesus knew that many in Israel would reject him (John 12:37-40). But he still mourned for them and wished them to embrace the salvation he offered (v. 44; see Ezek. 18:23, 32; Rom. 9:1-5).
Luke 19:43-44
Jesus prophesies Jerusalem's destruction in A.D. 70 (see note 21:5-6). It will be a horrendous event that prefigures the final judgment on the last day. barricade. Before their siege on the city, the Roman army built structures around the city that prevented people from entering or leaving (21:20). strike you down. A description of the slaughter that will take place. stoneuponanother. Another description of the totality of the destruction. The ancient historian Josephus described those dark days in more detail (Wars 7.1.1 and 7.8.7). because. The reason for Jerusalem's destruction. Their spiritual blindness left them blind to God's saving work through Jesus.
