Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, fulfilling prophecy and marking the beginning of Holy Week. As crowds waved palm branches and hailed Him as the Messiah, the significance of this event goes beyond a festive procession; it symbolizes the recognition of Jesus as the promised Savior.
This collection presents 30 “Bible Verses for Palm Sunday” along with commentary, inviting reflection on the profound meaning of this pivotal moment in Christian history.
Bible Verses For Palm Sunday
Matthew 21:1-2
“Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.'”
Jesus, intentionally choosing a humble mode of entry, fulfills the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, portraying a king of peace riding on a donkey.
Matthew 21:8-9
“Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!'”
The enthusiastic crowd’s actions and shouts of “Hosanna” recognize Jesus as the promised Son of David, expressing their hope in Him as the Messiah.
Mark 11:8-10
“And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest!'”
Similar to Matthew’s account, Mark emphasizes the honor shown to Jesus through the spreading of cloaks and branches, coupled with fervent cries of blessing.
Luke 19:37-38
“As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began rejoicing and praising God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!'”
The disciples praise Jesus for His mighty works, recognizing Him as the King bringing divine peace and glory.
John 12:12-13
“The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!'”
John highlights the use of palm branches, symbolizing victory, as the crowd acknowledges Jesus not only as the Son of David but also as the King of Israel.
Zechariah 9:9
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
The Old Testament prophecy in Zechariah anticipates the arrival of a righteous and victorious king, describing the manner of His humble entry.
Psalm 118:25-26
“Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord.”
A psalm of praise and petition, expressing the people’s plea for salvation and blessing to the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Isaiah 62:11
“Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.'”
Isaiah’s proclamation anticipates the arrival of salvation, highlighting the rewarding nature of the Messiah’s coming.
Matthew 21:5
“Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'”
Matthew directly links the events of Palm Sunday to the prophecy in Isaiah, emphasizing the humility of the arriving King.
John 12:16
“His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.”
The disciples, initially puzzled by the events, later recognize the fulfillment of prophecies as they reflect on Jesus’ glorification.
Matthew 21:10-11
“And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, ‘Who is this?’ And the crowds said, ‘This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.'”
Jesus’ entry creates a stir in Jerusalem, with the crowds identifying Him as the prophet Jesus, signifying recognition of His significance.
Mark 11:11
“And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.”
Jesus’ deliberate entry into the temple reflects His authority and purpose, setting the stage for subsequent events.
Matthew 21:14-16
“And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ they were indignant.”
The temple becomes a place of healing, and children proclaim Jesus as the Son of David, provoking opposition from religious authorities.
Psalm 2:6-8
“As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill. I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.'”
A psalm proclaiming God’s decree to establish His Son as King and inherit the nations, foreshadowing Jesus’ role as the ultimate King.
Matthew 21:46
“And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.”
Despite the opposition’s desire to arrest Jesus, they fear the crowds who regard Him as a prophet, revealing the impact of His ministry.
Luke 19:41-42
“And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.'”
Jesus, upon seeing Jerusalem, weeps over its lack of understanding regarding the things that lead to peace, highlighting His desire for their well-being.
Matthew 26:2
“You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
Jesus forewarns of His impending crucifixion, shifting the narrative from the triumphal entry to the approaching sacrifice.
John 12:32
“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Jesus foretells His crucifixion and the drawing of all people to Himself, emphasizing the redemptive purpose of His sacrifice.
Matthew 27:22
“Pilate said to them, ‘Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said, ‘Let him be crucified!'”
The shift in public sentiment leads to the tragic cry for Jesus’ crucifixion, revealing the fickleness of human response.
Philippians 2:8-11
“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
The passage describes Jesus’ humility, obedience, and ultimate exaltation, anticipating the future acknowledgment of His lordship by all.
Luke 23:23
“But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed.”
The intensity of the demand for Jesus’ crucifixion underscores the tragic turn of events leading to the Cross.
Isaiah 53:3-5
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.”
Isaiah’s prophetic depiction of the suffering servant aligns with Jesus’ experience of rejection and suffering, foreshadowing the redemptive purpose of His sacrifice.
Matthew 27:31
“And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.”
The mocking and stripping of Jesus symbolize the depth of humiliation He endures before the crucifixion.
Mark 15:24
“And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take.”
The act of crucifixion, accompanied by the division of Jesus’ garments, represents the brutal reality of the Cross.
John 19:30
“When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
Jesus’ final words, “It is finished,” declare the completion of His redemptive work on the Cross, bringing a profound significance to the events of Palm Sunday.
Colossians 2:14
“By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”
The act of nailing the record of debt to the Cross symbolizes the cancellation of sin’s penalty through Christ’s sacrificial death.
2 Corinthians 5:21
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
The theological depth of Jesus becoming sin for humanity’s sake underscores the transformative nature of His sacrifice.
Philippians 3:10-11
“That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”
Paul’s desire to know the power of Christ’s resurrection is intimately linked to sharing in His sufferings and becoming like Him in death.
Luke 23:46
“Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this he breathed his last.”
Jesus’ final words affirm His trust in the Father, yielding His spirit and completing the redemptive act on the Cross.
Matthew 28:6
“He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.”
The resurrection proclamation transforms the somber tone of the Cross, signifying the victory over sin and death, and fulfilling the promise of new life.