Luke19
World English Bible · Public Domain
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 I will 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 has 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.”
35Then they brought it to Jesus. They threw their cloaks on the colt and sat 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, 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.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Luke 19.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The conversion of Zaccheus. (1–10). The parable of the nobleman and his servants. (11–27). Christ enters Jerusalem. (28–40). Christ laments over Jerusalem. (41–48).
vv1-10
Those who sincerely desire a sight of Christ, like Zaccheus, will break through opposition, and take pains to see him. Christ invited himself to Zaccheus' house. Wherever Christ comes he opens the heart, and inclines it to receive him. He that has a mind to know Christ, shall be known of him. Those whom Christ calls, must humble themselves, and come down. We may well receive him joyfully, who brings all good with him. Zaccheus gave proofs publicly that he was become a true convert. He does not look to be justified by his works, as the Pharisee; but by his good works he will, through the grace of God, show the sincerity of his faith and repentance. Zaccheus is declared to be a happy man, now he is turned from sin to God. Now that he is saved from his sins, from the guilt of them, from the power of them, all the benefits of salvation are his. Christ is come to his house, and where Christ comes he brings salvation with him. He came into this lost world to seek and to save it. His design was to save, when there was no salvation in any other. He seeks those that sought him not, and asked not for him.
vv11-27
This parable is like that of the talents, Mt 25. Those that are called to Christ, he furnishes with gifts needful for their business; and from those to whom he gives power, he expects service. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal, 1Co 12:7. And as every one has received the gift, so let him minister the same, 1Pe 4:10. The account required, resembles that in the parable of the talents; and the punishment of the avowed enemies of Christ, as well as of false professors, is shown. The principal difference is, that the pound given to each seems to point out the gift of the gospel, which is the same to all who hear it; but the talents, distributed more or less, seem to mean that God gives different capacities and advantages to men, by which this one gift of the gospel may be differently improved.
vv28-40
Christ has dominion over all creatures, and may use them as he pleases. He has all men's hearts both under his eye and in his hand. Christ's triumphs, and his disciples' joyful praises, vex proud Pharisees, who are enemies to him and to his kingdom. But Christ, as he despises the contempt of the proud, so he accepts the praises of the humble. Pharisees would silence the praises of Christ, but they cannot; for as God can out of stones raise up children unto Abraham, and turn the stony heart to himself, so he can bring praise out of the mouths of children. And what will be the feelings of men when the Lord returns in glory to judge the world!
Key Words
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
εἰσέρχομαι (eisérchomai): to enter (literally or figuratively)
Ἱεριχώ (Hierichṓ): Jericho, a place in Palestine
διέρχομαι (diérchomai): to traverse (literally)
ἰδού (idoú): used as imperative lo!;
ἀνήρ (anḗr): a man (properly as an individual male)
Ζακχαῖος (Zakchaîos): Zacchæus, an Israelite
ἦν (ēn): I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were)
ἀρχιτελώνης (architelṓnēs): a principle tax-gatherer
πλούσιος (ploúsios): wealthy; figuratively, abounding with
Cross References
Luke 19Prophetic fulfillment of the King coming in peace, riding on a colt, the foal of an ass.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The primary sister parable (the Talents) illustrating stewardship of gifts and rewards upon Christ's return.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The direct Messianic quote shouted by the crowds: 'Blessed be the King that cometh...'
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Direct citation of Jeremiah's warning regarding God's house being turned into a den of thieves.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Direct citation of Isaiah's prophecy: 'My house shall be called an house of prayer.'
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrasts Zacchaeus's joyful generosity with the rich young ruler's sorrowful inability to part with riches.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct thematic link to finding and rejoicing over that which was lost.
Supported by JFB
Shows the persistent disciple expectation that the political kingdom of God would immediately appear.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
John the Baptist's specific call for publicans to bring forth fruits meet for repentance.
Supported by JFB
Explains how Zacchaeus is a 'son of Abraham' by faith, not merely physical lineage.
Supported by JFB
The resolution of the citizens' rebellion in the parable, previewing the destruction of Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallels Christ's deep emotional lamentation and weeping over the impending destruction of Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Samuel's public declaration of integrity and readiness to restore any defrauded goods.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Exhorts believers to minister their diverse spiritual gifts as good stewards of God's grace.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Old Testament prophecy of Jerusalem being plowed as a field and left in ruins.
Supported by Matthew Poole