Luke 19:28-48 - Exposition

Jesus enters Jerusalem as King Messiah ( Luke 19:29-44 ). His work in the temple ( Luke 19:45-48 ). St. Luke here passes over in silence the events which happened after the episode at the house of Zacchaeus at Jericho and the speaking the great parable of "the pounds." This parable may have been spoken in the house of Zacchaeus before leaving Jericho, but it seems better to place it somewhere in the course of the walk from Jericho to Bethany, a distance of some twelve miles.

St. John fills up the gap left in the narrative of St. Luke.

The main body of pilgrims to the feast, with whom Jesus and his company were travelling, left him on the Jericho road at Bethany: they going on to their caravanserai in the holy city, he remaining for two nights with his friends at Bethany—the next evening Jesus was entertained at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper—the feast at which Lazarus the risen sat a guest and Martha served, and to which Mary brought her precious ointment and her contrition ( John 11:1-9 ).

Jesus must have arrived at Bethany before sunset on Friday, Nisan 7, and therefore before the sabbath began.

The sabbath was spent in quiet. The supper probably took place directly after the end of the sabbath. The next morning (Palm Sunday)the Lord started for Jerusalem, and entered the holy city in the triumphant way as King Messiah related by St. Luke in our Gospel.