Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. As he went along, a man named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and rich, saw Jesus but couldn't see over the crowd because of his small stature. He ran ahead and climbed into a sycamore tree to get a better view, since Jesus was going that way.

When Jesus came to the spot, he looked up and said to Zacchaeus, "Hurry down, I must stay at your house today." Zacchaeus quickly came down, received Jesus joyfully, and invited him in. When others saw this, they all murmured, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner."

Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my possessions to the poor; if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I will pay back four times as much." Jesus replied, "Today salvation has come to this house because he too is a son of Abraham. <span class="jesus-words">The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.</span>"

As they listened, Jesus told a parable because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. He called his ten servants and entrusted them with ten pounds, saying, "Use what I've given you until I come back." However, his citizens hated him and sent word after him: "We don't want this man to rule over us."

When the nobleman returned, having received the kingdom, he summoned the servants to whom he had given the money to find out how much each of them had gained through trading. The first servant reported that Jesus' investment had yielded ten times its original value. He commended him, saying, "Well done, good servant! Because you were faithful in a little, have authority over ten cities."

The second servant came and said, "Lord, your investment has earned five times its original value." He received the same commendation: "Be over five cities." A third servant, however, reported that he had kept his pound safe by hiding it in a napkin because he was afraid of Jesus' reputation for being stern. Jesus replied, "I will judge you out of your own mouth, wicked servant. You knew I'm an austere person who takes up what I didn't lay down and reaps what I didn't sow."

Jesus then said, "You could have put my money into a bank where it would have earned interest when I returned." He ordered the servant to give the pound to the one with ten pounds. They replied, "He already has ten pounds," and Jesus said, "I tell you that everything given to him who has will be taken away from him, and what he doesn't have will be taken from him."

Jesus then declared, "Those who refuse to let me reign over them will be brought here and executed in my presence." After speaking these words, he went ahead of them, walking up to Jerusalem.

As Jesus drew near to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples with instructions: "Go into the village over there; as you enter, you'll find a colt tied where no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here." They went and found everything exactly as Jesus had said.

When they untied the colt, its owners asked them why they were doing this. The disciples replied, "The Lord needs him," and brought the colt to Jesus. They spread their cloaks on the colt for Jesus to ride, and he sat on it. As Jesus rode along, people spread their cloaks in the road.

When Jesus drew near the Mount of Olives, even as he began his descent, all the multitude of disciples started rejoicing and praising God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen. They exclaimed, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!"

Some Pharisees among the crowd told Jesus to rebuke his disciples, saying that if they were silent, the stones would cry out. As Jesus approached Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you only knew at this moment what makes for peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes."

Days are coming when your enemies will surround you on every side, confining you within a siege. They'll level you to the ground and leave no stone upon another because you didn't know the time of your visitation.

Jesus entered the temple and began driving out those who were selling and buying there, saying, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den for robbers." He taught in the temple every day, but the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people couldn't find a way to destroy him because everyone was intensely focused on listening to him.