Palm Sunday scriptures give us a lens into one of the most important events preceding Jesus' death and resurrection. In 2024, Palm Sunday is on March 24 as this holy day always falling on the Sunday before Easter.
The Christian holiday, which is also known as Passion Sunday, marks the beginning of the Holy Week leading up to Easter, with the day marking Jesus' return to Jerusalem. The details of Palm Sunday are found in the gospels in Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–44, and John 12:12–19.
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In this article, we will explore the Palm Sunday events as described in these verses. As we explain each Palm Sunday Bible verse, consider the details and the powerful elements of the story:
Matthew: 21:1-11 (NIV)
Each Palm Sunday Bible verse in Matthew 21:1-11 explains what unfolded when Jesus went to Jerusalem "as king." At the start of the chapter, we see Jesus sending two disciples to get a donkey and a colt and to bring them to Him — a fulfillment of prophecy (Matthew is the only gospel that mentions two donkeys).
These Palm Sunday scriptures continue, explaining that Jesus then sat on the donkey and rode into Jerusalem. Here is what Matthew 21:6-9 (NIV) reads:
"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. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 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!'”
We see that this entrance had a major impact on the city, as people pondered who Jesus was, while others in the crowd noted that He was the "prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
There are many times where you see a procession of palm fronds in Palm Sunday services. It's because of this scripture, describing that "others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road" that we use this symbol during this important holiday.
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Jesus' Return in Mark 11:1–11 (NIV)
Another place in the gospel where we see fascinating Palm Sunday scriptures is Mark 11:1-11 (NIV). In this version of events, we see Jesus again sending disciples to get the colt. In verse 3, Christ says, "If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
This Palm Sunday Bible verse is intriguing, as the disciples do, indeed, encounter some questions. Matthew 11:4-6 (NIV) read:
"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."
As Jesus rode in, Mark 11:1-11 tells us that people laid their cloaks on the road and others spread branches. Again, we see them shouting messages of praise. Palm Sunday is a reminder to welcome Jesus into your hearts, praise Him and acknowledge that He is the King of kings.
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Palm Sunday in Luke 19:28-44 (NIV)
We once again encounter Palm Sunday scriptures in Luke 19:28-44 (NIV). These verses start out in the same way as the story does in Matthew and Mark. Jesus receives the colt, rides it and people shout joyful praises. But it is here that we encounter a Palm Sunday Bible verse worth pondering.
Luke 19:39 (NIV) reads,
"Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, 'Teacher, rebuke your disciples!'" But Jesus said, "I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out. 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. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
These Palm Sunday scriptures present a powerful moment in time, and one that is truly unique. In this scripture, Jesus basically says that the Pharisees are unable to recognize that the time of God is near and that He indeed is in their midst.
It's something we should ponder and ask ourselves in our own lives: do we go about our life not recognizing where God is or are our eyes open to seeing where He is present with us?
John 12:12–19 (NIV)
The last of the Palm Sunday scriptures that we'll look at is John 12:12-19 (NIV). These scriptures recount many of the same details we see in each Palm Sunday Bible verse we've covered thus far.
One particular mention worth highlighting here is John 12:14-15 (NIV), which reads:
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.'
This is a reference to a prophetic verse in the Old Testament in Zechariah 9:9 (NIV). This Palm Sunday Bible verse — one that came hundreds of years before Jesus' birth — goes as follows:
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
This is yet another moment we see Christ fulfilling prophecies from long before his birth.
We hope you enjoyed this list of Bible verses that glean into the story and meaning behind Palm Sunday. WE wish you a happy Easter and hope you'll celebrate Easter blessings with Great American Pure Flix. Sign up for the Great American Pure Flix Insider newsletter for more inspiration sent right to your inbox.
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