What Is Palm Sunday?
Palm Sunday commemorates the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem before his crucifixion, as told in the four Gospels. It marks the start of Holy Week, the final week of Lent. On this day, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, symbolizing peace, while the crowds greeted him with palm branches, shouting “Hosanna!”
This event fulfills Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah and symbolizes Jesus’s acceptance as the king of peace, not as a political revolutionary. Palm Sunday is celebrated by Christians worldwide, who carry palm branches in processions to remember Jesus’s victorious entry into Jerusalem and to reflect on the path of peace and salvation he demonstrates. Take time to think about what this season means to you and how to honour Jesus during this time and the price He paid for us.
Here are 35 Palm Sunday scriptures, each accompanied by brief explanations to help illuminate their significance in the context of Palm Sunday:
- Matthew 21:9
“The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!'”
This verse describes the joyous welcome Jesus received as he entered Jerusalem, with crowds praising him as the messianic king. - Mark 11:9-10
“Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!'”
Here, the crowds proclaim Jesus’ arrival as a fulfillment of messianic prophecies, linking him to David’s royal lineage. - Luke 19:38
“‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!'”
This passage highlights Jesus as a bringer of peace, celebrating his arrival as a heavenly event. - John 12:13
“They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!'”
Palm branches signify victory and triumph, symbolizing the acknowledgment of Jesus as king. - Matthew 21:10-11
“When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds answered, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.'”
This moment of Jesus’ entry causes great curiosity and wonder among the city’s inhabitants. - Mark 11:11
“Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.”
Jesus’ visit to the temple hints at his authority over religious practices and foreshadows his later actions in the temple. - Luke 19:40
“‘I tell you,’ he replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.'”
Jesus emphasizes that the recognition of his messianic role is an undeniable truth that even creation itself would affirm. - John 12:14-15
“Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: ‘Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.'”
Riding a donkey, Jesus fulfills the prophecy from Zechariah, symbolizing humility and peace rather than conquering royalty. - Matthew 21:5
“‘Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’'”
This prophetic fulfillment emphasizes Jesus’ role as a peaceful and humble king. - Mark 11:2-3
“‘Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’'”
The preparation for Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem shows divine foresight and authority, indicating his control over the events. - Luke 19:30-31
“‘Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’'”
Similar to Mark’s account, this shows Jesus’ prophetic knowledge and the fulfillment of divine plans. - John 12:16
“At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.”
This verse reflects on how the disciples’ understanding of Jesus’ actions and their meanings unfolded retrospectively. - Matthew 21:8
“A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.”
The spreading of cloaks and branches was a sign of royal respect and honor, treating Jesus as a king. - Mark 11:8
“Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.”
This act of spreading cloaks and branches represents a spontaneous tribute to Jesus’ royal messianic identity. - Luke 19:35-36
“They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.”
The gesture of placing cloaks under Jesus as he rode the donkey indicates deep respect and recognition of his kingship. - John 12:17-18
“Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him.”
The miracle of raising Lazarus increased the public’s interest and belief in Jesus, drawing larger crowds to witness his entrance. - Matthew 21:15-16
“But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they were indignant. ‘Do you hear what these children are saying?’ they asked him. ‘Yes,’ replied Jesus, ‘have you never read, “From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise”?'” Jesus’ acceptance of praise from children contrasts with the skepticism of religious leaders, showcasing his openness to all believers. - Mark 11:17
“And as he taught them, he said, ‘Is it not written: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations”? But you have made it a ‘den of robbers.’'” Jesus critiques the commercial exploitation of religious spaces, reinforcing the temple’s intended purpose as a place of worship. - Luke 19:41-42
“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.'” Jesus expresses sorrow over Jerusalem’s future suffering and destruction due to its inhabitants’ inability to recognize the time of God’s coming to them. - John 12:19
“So the Pharisees said to one another, ‘See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!'” The Pharisees’ frustration reflects their growing concern about Jesus’ influence and the shifting public allegiance towards him. - Matthew 21:12-13
“Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. ‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’” This act demonstrates Jesus’ authoritative cleansing of the temple, condemning its misuse and affirming its sacred purpose. - Mark 11:15
“On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.” Jesus’ actions in the temple signify his rejection of the commercialization of religious practices and his call for purity in worship. - Luke 19:45-46
“Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. ‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it a ‘den of robbers.’” Like in other accounts, Luke emphasizes Jesus’ desire to restore the temple to a place of prayer, contrasting with its current state as a center of commerce. - John 12:14
“Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: ‘Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.'” This verse again points to Jesus fulfilling Old Testament prophecy, underscoring his messianic role and humble approach. - Matthew 21:1-2
“As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me.’” This instruction sets the stage for Jesus’ prophetic entry into Jerusalem, carefully orchestrated according to divine plan. - Mark 11:1
“As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples.” The approach to Jerusalem marks the beginning of the culmination of Jesus’ earthly ministry, highlighting his deliberate path toward the city. - Luke 19:29-30
“As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.’” This directive emphasizes Jesus’ control over events, orchestrating his entry in a way that fulfills scripture. - John 12:12
“The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.” This anticipation builds among the crowd, setting the stage for their enthusiastic reception of Jesus. - Matthew 21:4-5
“This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: ‘Say to Daughter Zion, “See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”’” Matthew explicitly connects Jesus’ actions to prophetic fulfillment, underscoring his identity and mission. - Mark 11:4-6
“They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, ‘What are you doing, untying that colt?’ They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.” This interaction further illustrates the prophetic precision of Jesus’ instructions and the obedience of his disciples. - Luke 19:33-34
“As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ They replied, ‘The Lord needs it.’” The disciples’ response reflects their trust in Jesus’ authority and the recognition of that authority by others. - John 12:15-16
“‘Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.’ At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.” This narrative emphasizes the unfolding understanding of prophecy among Jesus’ followers, deepening as they reflect on his life and ministry. - Matthew 21:6-7
“The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.” This obedience in action sets the stage for Jesus’ entry, highlighting the disciples’ role in fulfilling the prophetic acts. - Mark 11:7
“When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it.” Mark’s account simplifies the scene, focusing on the act of Jesus sitting on the colt as a sign of his humble kingship. - Luke 19:37-38
“When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’” This passage captures the disciples’ joy and public declaration of Jesus’ kingship, inspired by his miraculous works.
Final Thoughts
These scriptures provide a narrative arc from Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, through his teachings and interactions in the temple, to his betrayal, trial, and crucifixion, encapsulating the profound spiritual and historical significance of Palm Sunday and the ensuing Holy Week.
I can’t imagine being there to celebrate His Triumphal Entry. I would think that I would be kneeling down worshipping Him as He came with tears rolling down.
Thank you Jesus for Palm Sunday and what it means to those who love and serve you and for the world. I am in awe of you!