Luke — Chapter 19
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1And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
8And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
9And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
11And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
12He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
14But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
15And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
20And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
21For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
22And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
23Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
24And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
25(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
26For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
27But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
28And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
29And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
30Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.
31And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
32And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.
33And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
34And they said, The Lord hath need of him.
35And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.
36And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.
37And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
38Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
39And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
40And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
41And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
42Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
43For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
44And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
45And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;
46Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.
47And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,
48And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.
1And he entered and was passing through Jericho.
2And behold, a man called by name Zacchaeus; and he was a chief publican, and he was rich.
3And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the crowd, because he was little of stature.
4And he ran on before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house.
6And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, He is gone in to lodge with a man that is a sinner.
8And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wrongfully exacted aught of any man, I restore fourfold.
9And Jesus said unto him, To-day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.
11And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and [because] they supposed that the kingdom of God was immediately to appear.
12He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13And he called ten servants of his, and gave them ten pounds, and said unto them, Trade ye [herewith] till I come.
14But his citizens hated him, and sent an ambassage after him, saying, We will not that this man reign over us.
15And it came to pass, when he was come back again, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these servants, unto whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading.
16And the first came before him, saying, Lord, thy pound hath made ten pounds more.
17And he said unto him, Well done, thou good servant: because thou wast found faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18And the second came, saying, Thy pound, Lord, hath made five pounds.
19And he said unto him also, Be thou also over five cities.
20And another came, saying, Lord, behold, [here is] thy pound, which I kept laid up in a napkin:
21for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that which thou layedst not down, and reapest that which thou didst not sow.
22He saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up that which I laid not down, and reaping that which I did not sow;
23then wherefore gavest thou not my money into the bank, and I at my coming should have required it with interest?
24And he said unto them that stood by, Take away from him the pound, and give it unto him that hath the ten pounds.
25And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.
26I say unto you, that unto every one that hath shall be given; but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away from him.
27But these mine enemies, that would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
28And when he had thus spoken, he went on before, going up to Jerusalem.
29And it came to pass, when he drew nigh unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples,
30saying, Go your way into the village over against [you]; in which as ye enter ye shall find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat: loose him, and bring him.
31And if any one ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say, The Lord hath need of him.
32And they that were sent went away, and found even as he had said unto them.
33And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
34And they said, The Lord hath need of him.
35And they brought him to Jesus: and they threw their garments upon the colt, and set Jesus thereon.
36And as he went, they spread their garments in the way.
37And as he was now drawing nigh, [even] at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen;
38saying, Blessed [is] the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
39And some of the Pharisees from the multitude said unto him, Teacher, rebuke thy disciples.
40And he answered and said, I tell you that, if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.
41And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it,
42saying, If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
43For the days shall come upon thee, when thine enemies shall cast up a bank about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
44and shall dash thee to the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
45And he entered into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold,
46saying unto them, It is written, And my house shall be a house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of robbers.
47And he was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him:
48and they could not find what they might do; for the people all hung upon him, listening.
1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it.
2Now a man named Zacchaeus was there; he was a chief tax collector and was rich.
3He was trying to get a look at Jesus, but being a short man he could not see over the crowd.
4So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him because Jesus was going to pass that way.
5And when Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly because I must stay at your house today.”
6So he came down quickly and welcomed Jesus joyfully.
7And when the people saw it, they all complained, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”
8But Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I now give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone of anything, I am paying back four times as much!”
9Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this household because he too is a son of Abraham!
10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
11While the people were listening to these things, Jesus proceeded to tell a parable because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.
12Therefore he said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.
13And he summoned ten of his slaves, gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business with these until I come back.’
14But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to be king over us!’
15When he returned after receiving the kingdom, he summoned these slaves to whom he had given the money. He wanted to know how much they had earned by trading.
16So the first one came before him and said, ‘Sir, your mina has made ten minas more.’
17And the king said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities.’
18Then the second one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has made five minas.’
19So the king said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’
20Then another slave came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina that I put away for safekeeping in a piece of cloth.
21For I was afraid of you because you are a severe man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.’
22The king said to him, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, withdrawing what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow?
23Why then didn’t you put my money in the bank, so that when I returned I could have collected it with interest?’
24And he said to his attendants, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has ten.’
25But they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten minas already!’
26‘I tell you that everyone who has will be given more, but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
27But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and slaughter them in front of me!’”
28After Jesus had said this, he continued on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29Now when he approached Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples,
30telling them, “Go to the village ahead of you. When you enter it, you will find a colt tied there that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
31If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
32So those who were sent ahead found it exactly as he had told them.
33As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?”
34They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
35Then they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt, and had Jesus get on it.
36As he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road.
37As he approached the road leading down from the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen:
38“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”
40He answered, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the very stones will cry out!”
41Now when Jesus approached and saw the city, he wept over it,
42saying, “If you had only known on this day, even you, the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
43For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and surround you and close in on you from every side.
44They will demolish you—you and your children within your walls—and they will not leave within you one stone on top of another because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”
45Then Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were selling things there,
46saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of robbers!”
47Jesus was teaching daily in the temple courts. The chief priests and the experts in the law and the prominent leaders among the people were seeking to assassinate him,
48but they could not find a way to do it, for all the people hung on his words.
1He entered and was passing through Jericho.
2There was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.
3He was trying to see who Jesus was, and couldn’t because of the crowd, because he was short.
4He ran on ahead, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was going to pass that way.
5When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
6He hurried, came down, and received him joyfully.
7When they saw it, they all murmured, saying, “He has gone in to lodge with a man who is a sinner.”
8Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. If I have wrongfully exacted anything of anyone, I restore four times as much.”
9Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham.
10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”
11As they heard these things, he went on and told a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that God’s Kingdom would be revealed immediately.
12He said therefore, “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13He called ten servants of his, and gave them ten mina coins, and told them, ‘Conduct business until I come.’
14But his citizens hated him, and sent an envoy after him, saying, ‘We don’t want this man to reign over us.’
15“When he had come back again, having received the kingdom, he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by conducting business.
16The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.’
17“He said to him, ‘Well done, you good servant! Because you were found faithful with very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’
18“The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, Lord, has made five minas.’
19“So he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’
20Another came, saying, ‘Lord, behold, your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief,
21for I feared you, because you are an exacting man. You take up that which you didn’t lay down, and reap that which you didn’t sow.’
22“He said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I didn’t lay down, and reaping that which I didn’t sow.
23Then why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank, and at my coming, I might have earned interest on it?’
24He said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina away from him, and give it to him who has the ten minas.’
25“They said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’
26‘For I tell you that to everyone who has, will more be given; but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away from him.
27But bring those enemies of mine who didn’t want me to reign over them here, and kill them before me.’”
28Having said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29When he came near to Bethsphage and Bethany, at the mountain that is called Olivet, he sent two of his disciples,
30saying, “Go your way into the village on the other side, in which, as you enter, you will find a colt tied, which no man had ever sat upon. Untie it, and bring it.
31If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say to him: ‘The Lord needs it.’”
32Those who were sent went away, and found things just as he had told them.
33As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34They said, “The Lord needs it.”
35They brought it to Jesus. They threw their cloaks on the colt, and set Jesus on them.
36As he went, they spread their cloaks on the road.
37As he was now getting near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen,
38saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!”
39Some of the Pharisees from the multitude said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40He answered them, “I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out.”
41When he came near, he saw the city and wept over it,
42saying, “If you, even you, had known today the things which belong to your peace! But now, they are hidden from your eyes.
43For the days will come on you, when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, surround you, hem you in on every side,
44and will dash you and your children within you to the ground. They will not leave in you one stone on another, because you didn’t know the time of your visitation.”
45He entered into the temple, and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it,
46saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of robbers’!”
47He was teaching daily in the temple, but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people sought to destroy him.
48They couldn’t find what they might do, for all the people hung on to every word that he said.
Summary
Jesus transforms Zacchaeus the tax collector ("salvation has come to this house"), tells the parable of the Ten Minas about faithful stewardship, enters Jerusalem weeping over the city, and cleanses the temple.
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Jericho (v.1): Jesus entered and passed through Jericho — about 15 miles east of Jerusalem. Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree here.
- Jerusalem / the Mount of Olives (vv.29-44): Jesus approached Jerusalem from the east, via Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives. He wept over Jerusalem as it came into view.
- The Temple (v.45): Jesus entered the Temple and drove out those buying and selling.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines Zacchaeus' conversion, the Parable of the Minas, the Triumphal Entry, Jesus weeping over Jerusalem, and the Temple cleansing.
- Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "Zacchaeus" on vv.1-10 (MTP Vol. 10, No. 579) "Jesus called him by name — Zacchaeus. He knew him. He knew his sin, his wealth, his loneliness, his curiosity. And He said 'I must abide at thy house.' Not 'I might' or 'I'd like to' — I MUST. There was divine necessity in that visit. Christ came to seek this man specifically." Sermon: "Jesus Weeping Over Jerusalem" on vv.41-44 (MTP Vol. 22, No. 1313) "He wept. The King entering His capital in triumph — and He wept. Not tears of joy but tears of grief. He saw what they could not see — the coming destruction, the missed opportunity, the peace they rejected. That is the heart of God toward those who refuse Him."
Reflection
- 1. Jesus sought out Zacchaeus — a man everyone else despised (v.5). He didn't wait for Zacchaeus to clean up his life first. He came to him in his sin. Do you believe Jesus seeks you out the same way — not waiting for you to be worthy but coming to you as you are?
- 2. Zacchaeus' repentance was immediate and radical — half his goods to the poor, fourfold restoration (v.8). Genuine conversion produces visible, costly change. What visible change has your faith produced in how you handle money, relationships, and integrity?
- 3. Jesus wept over Jerusalem (v.41) — a city that rejected Him. He didn't respond with anger but with grief. How do you respond to people who reject Christ — with frustration or with compassion?
- 4. "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (v.10). Jesus is a seeking Savior. Who in your life is "lost" that you need to actively seek out rather than passively wait for?
- 5. Zacchaeus climbed a tree — a humiliating act for a wealthy man. He was willing to look foolish to see Jesus. What are you willing to do that might look foolish in order to get closer to Christ?
- 6. The crowd murmured that Jesus went to a sinner's house (v.7). They wanted Jesus to associate only with the respectable. Who do you think Jesus "shouldn't" associate with? How does His example challenge your categories?
- 7. The servant who hid his mina said "I feared thee" (v.21). Fear of the master produced inaction. Is your view of God producing bold action or fearful paralysis? What would change if you saw God as generous rather than harsh?
- 8. "If thou hadst known... the things which belong unto thy peace" (v.42). Jesus grieved over missed opportunity. Is there an opportunity for peace with God, peace with others, or peace in your circumstances that you're missing right now?
- 9. The stones would cry out if the people were silent (v.40). Praise of Christ is inevitable — the question is whether you'll be part of it. Is your life a testimony of praise, or are you silent while the stones are ready to speak?