What does Luke 19:42 mean?
Sitting atop a donkey, Jesus is riding into Jerusalem. He descends the west slope of the Mount of Olives. He will cross the Kidron Valley and then climb into the city, to the temple. He is surrounded by a multitude of disciples, shouting their praises to God for the miraculous works they have seen, including Lazarus coming back to life (John 11). They are honoring Jesus as a king, covering the road with their own cloaks so His donkey colt's feet won't even touch the ground.But as Jerusalem comes into view, Jesus begins to weep (Luke 19:41). He doesn't want to be crucified, but it must happen, so He goes willingly. What breaks His heart is the spiritual blindness that prevents people from seeing the rescue He provides. Jesus knows that while some in the crowd will accept the meaning of His crucifixion and the salvation He offers, Israel as a nation will not. The Jewish leadership as a group will not. The leadership will not lead the people of God into their role as lights on a hill, teaching the Gentiles to find eternal life in Jesus' name (Matthew 28:19; Acts 15:6–11; Galatians 3:8).
The proper response of the people and city leadership when their victorious king returns from battle is to go out, meet Him, and escort Him in. The Jewish leadership doesn't do this. They don't recognize their King. The final battle Jesus will fight for their protection and freedom is on the cross. But the priests and elders don't understand the significance (Luke 19:47). And so, they will be destroyed—the people, the city, and their temple (Luke 19:43–44).