Read through Luke's account in a few translations. Look for differences in words or phrasing between older and newer, or smoother and rougher translations. See if you can figure out why on the Blue Letter Bible site. Make your notes and jot down questions as you find things.
Take your notes and look through a commentary or study Bible notes. See if you find some answers (or more questions), and revise your notes and questions. After you've done that, then go back through with the questions below:
- A colt is a baby whatever. Only in Matthew does it say it was a donkey colt, but John mentions a version of the same prophecy mentioning the donkey colt. In any case, why do you think it was necessary to have a colt on which no one had ridden?
- The disciples throw their cloaks on the colt and on the road. What do you think this signifies?
- How do you think Jesus knew there was a colt in the opposite village, and why do you think no one seems to mind Him using it?
- The "multitude of disciples" are rejoicing. How many do you think there were following Jesus at this time?
- The ending of what the disciples cry out is somewhat different than any other Gospel. What does the phrase, "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest" remind you of?
- The disciple specifically refer to Jesus as the King. John has this detail as well. Considering the previous parable, what do you think might have been in their mind at this point?
- Some of the Pharisees in the crowd ask Jesus to silence His disciples. If these were the ones following Him since early on, why do you think they have a problem with what the disciples are saying?
- Jesus says that if the disciples are quiet the rocks will cry out. What do you think is Jesus' point?
- If Jesus knows what's coming, and He's predicted it so He obviously does, what do you think is going through His mind as He hears the shouts of joy and adulation of the crowds, palms and cloaks in the road, and all the pomp?
- Jerusalem comes into view and Jesus weeps over it. Only in Luke do we have this detail. Jesus describes how the Romans conquered Jerusalem in AD 75. Luke may have been written around that time. What do you think this detail means for his readers/hearers?
- If Jerusalem had known. How much of what we know has an effect on living active faith in Jesus? We have the amazing gift of Scripture, so we know more than they would have in the moment. How well do we know the things that make for peace on the day of our visitation?
- Jesus says that these things have been hidden from their eyes. Why do you think God would do that? Why setup the city of Jerusalem for destruction? What does that remind you of?
- Jesus goes directly into the Temple and throws out the sellers of goods. Then teaches. There's not a lot of detail here, but He does use the "House of Prayer"/"Den of Robbers" reference. It seems so tame here in Luke. But how do you think Jesus still makes His point?
- Look up Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17, and John 2:14-16 (the most detail is in John). We make a lot of Jesus' clearing the Temple, but most Gospels (except for John) have little more than the Scripture references to Isaiah 56 and Jeremiah 7. Why do you think that might be? Why do you think the details were scant in the Gospels?
- Only John reminds his readers of the reference to Psalm 69:9, that "Zeal for Your house will consume Me." Why do you think this helps understand Jesus' actions?
- So, do you think the money changers and sellers of animals remained outside the Temple the rest of the week?
- Luke has the phrase that the people were "hanging on every word He said" and this is literally how he wrote it, with the verb "hanging". None of the other Gospels have this phrase. So is this where we get our colloquialism, "hanging on every word"? (I couldn't find it when I Googled this)
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