Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Luke » Chapter 19

Luke 19:1-48 King James Version (KJV)

1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

5 And 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.

6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

8 And 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.

9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

11 And 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.

12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

15 And 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.

16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

22 And 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:

23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

24 And 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.)

26 For 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.

27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.

29 And 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,

30 Saying, 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.

31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

32 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.

33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?

34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.

36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.

37 And 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;

38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

42 Saying, 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.

43 For 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,

44 And 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.

45 And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;

46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.

47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,

48 And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.


Luke 19:1-48 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And G2532 Jesus entered G1525 and passed through G1330 Jericho. G2410

2 And, G2532 behold, G2400 there was a man G435 named G3686 G2564 Zacchaeus, G2195 which G2532 G846 was G2258 the chief among the publicans, G754 and G2532 he G3778 was G2258 rich. G4145

3 And G2532 he sought G2212 to see G1492 Jesus G2424 who G5101 he was; G2076 and G2532 could G1410 not G3756 for G575 the press, G3793 because G3754 he was G2258 little G3398 of stature. G2244

4 And G2532 he ran G4390 before, G1715 and climbed up G305 into G1909 a sycomore tree G4809 to G2443 see G1492 him: G846 for G3754 he was G3195 to pass G1330 G1223 that G1565 way.

5 And G2532 when G5613 Jesus G2424 came G2064 to G1909 the place, G5117 he looked up, G308 and saw G1492 him, G846 and G2532 said G2036 unto G4314 him, G846 Zacchaeus, G2195 make haste, G4692 and come down; G2597 for G1063 to day G4594 I G3165 must G1163 abide G3306 at G1722 thy G4675 house. G3624

6 And G2532 he made haste, G4692 and came down, G2597 and G2532 received G5264 him G846 joyfully. G5463

7 And G2532 when they saw G1492 it, they G1234 all G537 murmured, G1234 saying, G3004 That G3754 he was gone G1525 to be guest G2647 with G3844 a man G435 that is a sinner. G268

8 And G1161 Zacchaeus G2195 stood, G2476 and said G2036 unto G4314 the Lord; G2962 Behold, G2400 Lord, G2962 the half G2255 of my G3450 goods G5224 I give G1325 to the poor; G4434 and G2532 if G1536 I have taken G4811 any thing G1536 from any man G5100 by false accusation, G4811 I restore G591 him fourfold. G5073

9 And G1161 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto G4314 him, G846 G3754 This day G4594 is G1096 salvation G4991 come G1096 to this G5129 house, G3624 forsomuch as G2530 he G846 also G2532 is G2076 a son G5207 of Abraham. G11

10 For G1063 the Son G5207 of man G444 is come G2064 to seek G2212 and G2532 to save G4982 that which was lost. G622

11 And G1161 as they G846 heard G191 these things, G5023 he added G4369 and spake G2036 a parable, G3850 because G1223 he G846 was G1511 nigh G1451 to Jerusalem, G2419 and G2532 because they G846 thought G1380 that G3754 the kingdom G932 of God G2316 should G3195 immediately G3916 appear. G398

12 He said G2036 therefore, G3767 A certain G5100 nobleman G444 G2104 went G4198 into G1519 a far G3117 country G5561 to receive G2983 for himself G1438 a kingdom, G932 and G2532 to return. G5290

13 And G1161 he called G2564 his G1438 ten G1176 servants, G1401 and delivered G1325 them G846 ten G1176 pounds, G3414 and G2532 said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 Occupy G4231 till G2193 I come. G2064

14 But G1161 his G846 citizens G4177 hated G3404 him, G846 and G2532 sent G649 a message G4242 after G3694 him, G846 saying, G3004 We will G2309 not G3756 have G2309 this G5126 man to reign G936 over G1909 us. G2248

15 And G2532 it came to pass, G1096 that when G1722 he G846 was returned, G1880 having received G2983 the kingdom, G932 then G2532 he commanded G2036 these G5128 servants G1401 to be called G5455 unto him, G846 to whom G3739 he had given G1325 the money, G694 that G2443 he might know G1097 how much G5101 every man G5101 had gained by trading. G1281

16 Then G1161 came G3854 the first, G4413 saying, G3004 Lord, G2962 thy G4675 pound G3414 hath gained G4333 ten G1176 pounds. G3414

17 And G2532 he said G2036 unto him, G846 Well, G2095 thou good G18 servant: G1401 because G3754 thou hast been G1096 faithful G4103 in G1722 a very little, G1646 have G2192 thou authority G2468 G1849 over G1883 ten G1176 cities. G4172

18 And G2532 the second G1208 came, G2064 saying, G3004 Lord, G2962 thy G4675 pound G3414 hath gained G4160 five G4002 pounds. G3414

19 And G1161 he said G2036 likewise G2532 to him, G5129 Be G1096 thou G4771 also G2532 over G1883 five G4002 cities. G4172

20 And G2532 another G2087 came, G2064 saying, G3004 Lord, G2962 behold, G2400 here is thy G4675 pound, G3414 which G3739 I have G2192 kept laid up G606 in G1722 a napkin: G4676

21 For G1063 I feared G5399 thee, G4571 because G3754 thou art G1488 an austere G840 man: G444 thou takest up G142 that G3739 thou layedst G5087 not G3756 down, G5087 and G2532 reapest G2325 that G3739 thou didst G4687 not G3756 sow. G4687

22 And G1161 he saith G3004 unto him, G846 Out of G1537 thine own G4675 mouth G4750 will I judge G2919 thee, G4571 thou wicked G4190 servant. G1401 Thou knewest G1492 that G3754 I G1473 was G1510 an austere G840 man, G444 taking up G142 that G3739 I laid G5087 not G3756 down, G5087 and G2532 reaping G2325 that G3739 I did G4687 not G3756 sow: G4687

23 Wherefore G1302 then G2532 gavest G1325 not G3756 thou G1325 my G3450 money G694 into G1909 the bank, G5132 that G2532 at my coming G2064 I G1473 might G302 have required G4238 mine own G846 with G4862 usury? G5110

24 And G2532 he said G2036 unto them that stood by, G3936 Take G142 from G575 him G846 the pound, G3414 and G2532 give G1325 it to him that hath G2192 ten G1176 pounds. G3414

25 (And G2532 they said G2036 unto him, G846 Lord, G2962 he hath G2192 ten G1176 pounds.) G3414

26 For G1063 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 unto every one G3956 which G3588 hath G2192 shall be given; G1325 and G1161 from G575 him that hath G2192 not, G3361 even G2532 that G3739 he hath G2192 shall be taken away G142 from G575 him. G846

27 But G4133 those G1565 mine G3450 enemies, G2190 which G3588 would G2309 not G3361 that I G3165 should reign G936 over G1909 them, G846 bring G71 hither, G5602 and G2532 slay G2695 them before G1715 me. G3450

28 And G2532 when he had thus G5023 spoken, G2036 he went G4198 before, G1715 ascending up G305 to G1519 Jerusalem. G2414

29 And G2532 it came to pass, G1096 when G5613 he was come nigh G1448 to G1519 Bethphage G967 and G2532 Bethany, G963 at G4314 the mount G3735 called G2564 the mount of Olives, G1636 he sent G649 two G1417 of his G846 disciples, G3101

30 Saying, G2036 Go ye G5217 into G1519 the village G2968 over against G2713 you; in G1722 the which G3739 at your entering G1531 ye shall find G2147 a colt G4454 tied, G1210 whereon G1909 G3739 yet never G3762 man G444 sat: G2523 G4455 loose G3089 him, G846 and bring G71 him hither.

31 And G2532 if G1437 any man G5100 ask G2065 you, G5209 Why G1302 do ye loose G3089 him? thus G3779 shall ye say G2046 unto him, G846 Because G3754 the Lord G2962 hath G2192 need G5532 of him. G846

32 And G1161 they that were sent G649 went their way, G565 and found G2147 even as G2531 he had said G2036 unto them. G846

33 And G1161 as they G846 were loosing G3089 the colt, G4454 the owners G2962 thereof G846 said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 Why G5101 loose ye G3089 the colt? G4454

34 And G1161 they said, G2036 The Lord G2962 hath G2192 need G5532 of him. G846

35 And G2532 they brought G71 him G846 to G4314 Jesus: G2424 and G2532 they cast G1977 their G1438 garments G2440 upon G1909 G1977 the colt, G4454 and G1977 they set G1913 Jesus G2424 thereon. G1913

36 And G1161 as he G846 went, G4198 they spread G5291 their G846 clothes G2440 in G1722 the way. G3598

37 And when he G846 was come nigh, G1448 even G1161 now G2235 at G4314 the descent G2600 of the mount G3735 of Olives, G1636 the whole G537 multitude G4128 of the disciples G3101 began G756 to rejoice G5463 and praise G134 God G2316 with a loud G3173 voice G5456 for G4012 all G3956 the mighty works G1411 that G3739 they had seen; G1492

38 Saying, G3004 Blessed G2127 be the King G935 that cometh G2064 in G1722 the name G3686 of the Lord: G2962 peace G1515 in G1722 heaven, G3772 and G2532 glory G1391 in G1722 the highest. G5310

39 And G2532 some G5100 of the Pharisees G5330 from G575 among the multitude G3793 said G2036 unto G4314 him, G846 Master, G1320 rebuke G2008 thy G4675 disciples. G3101

40 And G2532 he answered G611 and said G2036 unto them, G846 I tell G3004 you G5213 that, G3754 if G1437 these G3778 should hold their peace, G4623 the stones G3037 would immediately cry out. G2896

41 And G2532 when G5613 he was come near, G1448 he beheld G1492 the city, G4172 and wept G2799 over G1909 it, G846

42 Saying, G3004 If G3754 G1487 thou hadst known, G1097 even G2532 thou, G4771 at least G2534 in G1722 this G5026 thy G4675 day, G2250 the things G3588 which belong unto G4314 thy G4675 peace! G1515 but G1161 now G3568 they are hid G2928 from G575 thine G4675 eyes. G3788

43 For G3754 the days G2250 shall come G2240 upon G1909 thee, G4571 that G2532 thine G4675 enemies G2190 shall cast G4016 a trench G5482 about G4016 thee, G4671 and G2532 compass G4033 thee G4571 round, G4033 and G2532 keep G4912 thee G4571 in G4912 on every side, G3840

44 And G2532 shall lay G1474 thee G4571 even with the ground, G1474 and G2532 thy G4675 children G5043 within G1722 thee; G4671 and G2532 they shall G863 not G3756 leave G863 in G1722 thee G4671 one stone G3037 upon G1909 another; G3037 because G473 G3739 thou knewest G1097 not G3756 the time G2540 of thy G4675 visitation. G1984

45 And G2532 he went G1525 into G1519 the temple, G2411 and began G756 to cast out G1544 them that sold G4453 therein, G1722 G846 and G2532 them that bought; G59

46 Saying G3004 unto them, G846 It is written, G1125 My G3450 house G3624 is G2076 the house G3624 of prayer: G4335 but G1161 ye G5210 have made G4160 it G846 a den G4693 of thieves. G3027

47 And G2532 he taught G2258 G1321 daily G2596 G2250 in G1722 the temple. G2411 But G1161 the chief priests G749 and G2532 the scribes G1122 and G2532 the chief G4413 of the people G2992 sought G2212 to destroy G622 him, G846

48 And G2532 could G2147 not G3756 find G2147 what G5101 they might do: G4160 for G1063 all G537 the people G2992 were very attentive G1582 to hear G191 him. G846


Luke 19:1-48 American Standard (ASV)

1 And he entered and was passing through Jericho.

2 And behold, a man called by name Zacchaeus; and he was a chief publican, and he was rich.

3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the crowd, because he was little of stature.

4 And he ran on before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

5 And 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.

6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, He is gone in to lodge with a man that is a sinner.

8 And 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.

9 And Jesus said unto him, To-day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

10 For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.

11 And 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.

12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

13 And he called ten servants of his, and gave them ten pounds, and said unto them, Trade ye `herewith' till I come.

14 But his citizens hated him, and sent an ambassage after him, saying, We will not that this man reign over us.

15 And 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.

16 And the first came before him, saying, Lord, thy pound hath made ten pounds more.

17 And he said unto him, Well done, thou good servant: because thou wast found faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

18 And the second came, saying, Thy pound, Lord, hath made five pounds.

19 And he said unto him also, Be thou also over five cities.

20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, `here is' thy pound, which I kept laid up in a napkin:

21 for 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.

22 He 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;

23 then wherefore gavest thou not my money into the bank, and I at my coming should have required it with interest?

24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take away from him the pound, and give it unto him that hath the ten pounds.

25 And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.

26 I 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.

27 But these mine enemies, that would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

28 And when he had thus spoken, he went on before, going up to Jerusalem.

29 And 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,

30 saying, 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.

31 And if any one ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say, The Lord hath need of him.

32 And they that were sent went away, and found even as he had said unto them.

33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?

34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they threw their garments upon the colt, and set Jesus thereon.

36 And as he went, they spread their garments in the way.

37 And 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;

38 saying, Blessed `is' the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

39 And some of the Pharisees from the multitude said unto him, Teacher, rebuke thy disciples.

40 And he answered and said, I tell you that, if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.

41 And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it,

42 saying, If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

43 For 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,

44 and 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.

45 And he entered into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold,

46 saying unto them, It is written, And my house shall be a house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of robbers.

47 And 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:

48 and they could not find what they might do; for the people all hung upon him, listening.


Luke 19:1-48 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And having entered, he was passing through Jericho,

2 and lo, a man, by name called Zaccheus, and he was a chief tax-gatherer, and he was rich,

3 and he was seeking to see Jesus, who he is, and was not able for the multitude, because in stature he was small,

4 and having run forward before, he went up on a sycamore, that he may see him, because through that `way' he was about to pass by.

5 And as Jesus came up to the place, having looked up, he saw him, and said unto him, `Zaccheus, having hastened, come down, for to-day in thy house it behoveth me to remain;'

6 and he having hastened did come down, and did receive him rejoicing;

7 and having seen `it', they were all murmuring, saying -- `With a sinful man he went in to lodge!'

8 And Zaccheus having stood, said unto the Lord, `Lo, the half of my goods, sir, I give to the poor, and if of any one anything I did take by false accusation, I give back fourfold.'

9 And Jesus said unto him -- `To-day salvation did come to this house, inasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham;

10 for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.'

11 And while they are hearing these things, having added he spake a simile, because of his being nigh to Jerusalem, and of their thinking that the reign of God is about presently to be made manifest.

12 He said therefore, `A certain man of birth went on to a far country, to take to himself a kingdom, and to return,

13 and having called ten servants of his own, he gave to them ten pounds, and said unto them, Do business -- till I come;

14 and his citizens were hating him, and did send an embassy after him, saying, We do not wish this one to reign over us.

15 `And it came to pass, on his coming back, having taken the kingdom, that he commanded these servants to be called to him, to whom he gave the money, that he might know what any one had done in business.

16 `And the first came near, saying, Sir, thy pound did gain ten pounds;

17 and he said to him, Well done, good servant, because in a very little thou didst become faithful, be having authority over ten cities.

18 `And the second came, saying, Sir, thy pound made five pounds;

19 and he said also to this one, And thou, become thou over five cities.

20 `And another came, saying, Sir, lo, thy pound, that I had lying away in a napkin;

21 for I was afraid of thee, because thou art an austere man; thou takest up what thou didst not lay down, and reapest what thou didst not sow.

22 `And he saith to him, Out of thy mouth I will judge thee, evil servant: thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow!

23 and wherefore didst thou not give my money to the bank, and I, having come, with interest might have received it?

24 `And to those standing by he said, Take from him the pound, and give to him having the ten pounds --

25 (and they said to him, Sir, he hath ten pounds) --

26 for I say to you, that to every one having shall be given, and from him not having, also what he hath shall be taken from him,

27 but those my enemies, who did not wish me to reign over them, bring hither and slay before me.'

28 And having said these things, he went on before, going up to Jerusalem.

29 And it came to pass, as he came nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, unto the mount called of the Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

30 having said, Go away to the village over-against, in which, entering into, ye shall find a colt bound, on which no one of men did ever sit, having loosed it, bring `it';

31 and if any one doth question you, Wherefore do ye loose `it'? thus ye shall say to him -- The Lord hath need of it.'

32 And those sent, having gone away, found according as he said to them,

33 and while they are loosing the colt, its owners said unto them, `Why loose ye the colt?'

34 and they said, `The Lord hath need of it;'

35 and they brought it unto Jesus, and having cast their garments upon the colt, they did set Jesus upon it.

36 And as he is going, they were spreading their garments in the way,

37 and as he is coming nigh now, at the descent of the mount of the Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began rejoicing to praise God with a great voice for all the mighty works they had seen,

38 saying, `blessed `is' he who is coming, a king in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.'

39 And certain of the Pharisees from the multitude said unto him, `Teacher, rebuke thy disciples;'

40 and he answering said to them, `I say to you, that, if these shall be silent, the stones will cry out!'

41 And when he came nigh, having seen the city, he wept over it,

42 saying -- `If thou didst know, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things for thy peace; but now they were hid from thine eyes.

43 `Because days shall come upon thee, and thine enemies shall cast around thee a rampart, and compass thee round, and press thee on every side,

44 and lay thee low, and thy children within thee, and they shall not leave in thee a stone upon a stone, because thou didst not know the time of thy inspection.'

45 And having entered into the temple, he began to cast forth those selling in it, and those buying,

46 saying to them, `It hath been written, My house is a house of prayer -- but ye made it a den of robbers.'

47 And he was teaching daily in the temple, but the chief priests and the scribes were seeking to destroy him -- also the chiefs of the people --

48 and they were not finding what they shall do, for all the people were hanging on him, hearing him.


Luke 19:1-48 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And he entered and passed through Jericho.

2 And behold, [there was] a man by name called Zacchaeus, and he was chief tax-gatherer, and he was rich.

3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was: and he could not for the crowd, because he was little in stature.

4 And running on before, he got up into a sycamore that he might see him, for he was going to pass that [way].

5 And when he came up to the place, Jesus looked up and saw him, and said to him, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for to-day I must remain in thy house.

6 And he made haste and came down, and received him with joy.

7 And all murmured when they saw [it], saying, He has turned in to lodge with a sinful man.

8 But Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I return [him] fourfold.

9 And Jesus said to him, To-day salvation is come to this house, inasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham;

10 for the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which is lost.

11 But as they were listening to these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem and they thought that the kingdom of God was about to be immediately manifested.

12 He said therefore, A certain high-born man went to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and return.

13 And having called his own ten bondmen, he gave to them ten minas, and said to them, Trade while I am coming.

14 But his citizens hated him, and sent an embassy after him, saying, We will not that this [man] should reign over us.

15 And it came to pass on his arrival back again, having received the kingdom, that he desired these bondmen to whom he gave the money to be called to him, in order that he might know what every one had gained by trading.

16 And the first came up, saying, [My] Lord, thy mina has produced ten minas.

17 And he said to him, Well [done], thou good bondman; because thou hast been faithful in that which is least, be thou in authority over ten cities.

18 And the second came, saying, [My] Lord, thy mina has made five minas.

19 And he said also to this one, And *thou*, be over five cities.

20 And another came, saying, [My] Lord, lo, [there is] thy mina, which I have kept laid up in a towel.

21 For I feared thee because thou art a harsh man: thou takest up what thou hast not laid down, and thou reapest what thou hast not sowed.

22 He says to him, Out of thy mouth will I judge thee, wicked bondman: thou knewest that *I* am a harsh man, taking up what I have not laid down and reaping what I have not sowed.

23 And why didst thou not give my money to [the] bank; and *I* should have received it, at my coming, with interest?

24 And he said to those that stood by, Take from him the mina and give [it] to him who has the ten minas.

25 And they said to him, Lord, he has ten minas.

26 For I say unto you, that to every one that has shall be given; but from him that has not, that even which he has shall be taken from him.

27 Moreover those mine enemies, who would not [have] me to reign over them, bring them here and slay [them] before me.

28 And having said these things, he went on before, going up to Jerusalem.

29 And it came to pass as he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany at the mountain called [the mount] of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

30 saying, Go into the village over against [you], in which ye will find, on entering it, a colt tied up, on which no [child] of man ever sat at any time: loose it and lead it [here].

31 And if any one ask you, Why do ye loose [it]? thus shall ye say to him, Because the Lord has need of it.

32 And they that were sent, having gone their way, found as he had said to them.

33 And as they were loosing the colt, its masters said to them, Why loose ye the colt?

34 And they said, Because the Lord has need of it.

35 And they led it to Jesus; and having cast their own garments on the colt, they put Jesus on [it].

36 And as he went, they strewed their clothes in the way.

37 And as he drew near, already at the descent of the mount of Olives, all the multitude of the disciples began, rejoicing, to praise God with a loud voice for all the works of power which they had seen,

38 saying, Blessed the King that comes in the name of [the] Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

39 And some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to him, Teacher, rebuke thy disciples.

40 And he answering said to them, I say unto you, If these shall be silent, the stones will cry out.

41 And as he drew near, seeing the city, he wept over it,

42 saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, even at least in this thy day, the things that are for thy peace: but now they are hid from thine eyes;

43 for days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall make a palisaded mound about thee, and shall close thee around, and keep thee in on every side,

44 and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children in thee; and shall not leave in thee a stone upon a stone: because thou knewest not the season of thy visitation.

45 And entering into the temple, he began to cast out those that sold and bought in it,

46 saying to them, It is written, My house is a house of prayer, but *ye* have made it a den of robbers.

47 And he was teaching day by day in the temple: and the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,

48 and did not find what they could do, for all the people hung on him to hear.


Luke 19:1-48 World English Bible (WEB)

1 He entered and was passing through Jericho.

2 There was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.

3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, and couldn't because of the crowd, because he was short.

4 He ran on ahead, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way.

5 When 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."

6 He hurried, came down, and received him joyfully.

7 When they saw it, they all murmured, saying, "He has gone in to lodge with a man who is a sinner."

8 Zacchaeus 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."

9 Jesus said to him, "Today, salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham.

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost."

11 As they heard these things, he went on and told a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the Kingdom of God would be revealed immediately.

12 He said therefore, "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

13 He called ten servants of his, and gave them ten mina coins,{10 minas was more than 3 year's wages for an agricultural laborer.} and told them, 'Conduct business until I come.'

14 But his citizens hated him, and sent an envoy after him, saying, 'We don't want this man to reign over us.'

15 "It happened when he had come back again, having received the kingdom, that 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.

16 The 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.'

20 Another came, saying, 'Lord, behold, your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief,

21 for 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.

23 Then why didn't you deposit my money in the bank, and at my coming, I might have earned interest on it?'

24 He 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.

27 But bring those enemies of mine who didn't want me to reign over them here, and kill them before me.'"

28 Having said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

29 It happened, when he drew near to Bethsphage{TR, NU read "Bethpage" instead of "Bethsphage"} and Bethany, at the mountain that is called Olivet, he sent two of his disciples,

30 saying, "Go your way into the village on the other side, in which, as you enter, you will find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat. Untie it, and bring it.

31 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say to him: 'The Lord needs it.'"

32 Those who were sent went away, and found things just as he had told them.

33 As they were untying the colt, the owners of it said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

34 They said, "The Lord needs it."

35 They brought it to Jesus. They threw their cloaks on the colt, and set Jesus on them.

36 As he went, they spread their cloaks in the way.

37 As 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,

38 saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!"

39 Some of the Pharisees from the multitude said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"

40 He answered them, "I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out."

41 When he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it,

42 saying, "If you, even you, had known today the things which belong to your peace! But now, they are hidden from your eyes.

43 For the days will come on you, when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, surround you, hem you in on every side,

44 and 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."

45 He entered into the temple, and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it,

46 saying to them, "It is written, 'My house is a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of robbers'!"

47 He was teaching daily in the temple, but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people sought to destroy him.

48 They couldn't find what they might do, for all the people hung on to every word that he said.


Luke 19:1-48 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 And he went into Jericho, and when he was going through it,

2 A man, named Zacchaeus, who was the chief tax-farmer, and a man of wealth,

3 Made an attempt to get a view of Jesus, and was not able to do so, because of the people, for he was a small man.

4 And he went quickly in front of them and got up into a tree to see him, for he was going that way.

5 And when Jesus came to the place, looking up, he said to him, Zacchaeus, be quick and come down, for I am coming to your house today.

6 And he came down quickly, and took him into his house with joy.

7 And when they saw it, they were all angry, saying, He has gone into the house of a sinner.

8 And Zacchaeus, waiting before him, said to the Lord, See, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from anyone wrongly, I give him back four times as much.

9 And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, for even he is a son of Abraham.

10 For the Son of man came to make search for those who are wandering from the way, and to be their Saviour.

11 And while they were giving ear to these words, he made another story for them, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they were of the opinion that the kingdom of God was coming straight away.

12 So he said, A certain man of high birth went into a far-away country to get a kingdom for himself, and to come back.

13 And he sent for ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds and said to them, Do business with this till I come.

14 But his people had no love for him, and sent representatives after him, saying, We will not have this man for our ruler.

15 And when he came back again, having got his kingdom, he gave orders for those servants to whom he had given the money to come to him, so that he might have an account of what business they had done.

16 And the first came before him, saying, Lord, your pound has made ten pounds.

17 And he said to him, You have done well, O good servant: because you have done well in a small thing you will have authority over ten towns.

18 And another came, saying, Your pound has made five pounds.

19 And he said, You will be ruler over five towns.

20 And another came, saying, Lord, here is your pound, which I put away in a cloth;

21 Because I was in fear of you, for you are a hard man: you take up what you have not put down, and get in grain where you have not put seed.

22 He said to him, By the words of your mouth you will be judged, you bad servant. You had knowledge that I am a hard man, taking up what I have not put down and getting in grain where I have not put seed;

23 Why then did you not put my money in a bank, so that when I came I would get it back with interest?

24 And he said to the others who were near, Take the pound away from him, and give it to the man who has ten.

25 And they say to him, Lord, he has ten pounds.

26 And I say to you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

27 And as for those who were against me, who would not have me for their ruler, let them come here, and be put to death before me.

28 And when he had said this, he went on in front of them, going up to Jerusalem.

29 And it came about that when he got near Beth-phage and Bethany by the mountain which is named the Mountain of Olives, he sent two of the disciples,

30 Saying, Go into the little town in front of you, and on going in you will see a young ass fixed with a cord, on which no man has ever been seated; let him loose and take him.

31 And if anyone says to you, Why are you taking him? say, The Lord has need of him.

32 And those whom he sent went away, and it was as he said.

33 And when they were getting the young ass, the owners of it said to them, Why are you taking the young ass?

34 And they said, The Lord has need of him.

35 And they took him to Jesus, and they put their clothing on the ass, and Jesus got on to him.

36 And while he went on his way they put their clothing down on the road in front of him.

37 And when he came near the foot of the Mountain of Olives, all the disciples with loud voices gave praise to God with joy, because of all the great works which they had seen;

38 Saying, A blessing on the King who comes in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven and glory in the highest.

39 And some of the Pharisees among the people said to him, Master, make your disciples be quiet.

40 And he said in answer, I say to you, if these men keep quiet, the very stones will be crying out.

41 And when he got near and saw the town, he was overcome with weeping for it,

42 Saying, If you, even you, had knowledge today, of the things which give peace! but you are not able to see them.

43 For the time will come when your attackers will put a wall round you, and come all round you and keep you in on every side,

44 And will make you level with the earth, and your children with you; and there will not be one stone resting on another in you, because you did not see that it was your day of mercy.

45 And he went into the Temple and put out those who were trading there,

46 Saying to them, It has been said, My house is to be a house of prayer, but you have made it a hole of thieves.

47 And every day he was teaching in the Temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the rulers of the people were attempting to put him to death;

48 But they were not able to do anything, because the people all kept near him, being greatly interested in his words.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Luke 19

Commentary on Luke 19 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 19

In this chapter we have,

  • I. The conversion of Zaccheus the publican at Jericho (v. 1-10).
  • II. The parable of the pounds which the king entrusted with his servants, and of his rebellious citizens (v. 11-27).
  • III. Christ's riding in triumph (such triumph as it was) into Jerusalem; and his lamentation in prospect of the ruin of that city (v. 28-44).
  • IV. His teaching in the temple, and casting the buyers and sellers out of it (v. 45-48).

Luk 19:1-10

Many, no doubt, were converted to the faith of Christ of whom no account is kept in the gospels; but the conversion of some, whose case had something in it extraordinary, is recorded, as this of Zaccheus. Christ passed through Jericho, v. 1. This city was build under a curse, yet Christ honoured it with his presence, for the gospel takes away the curse. Though it ought not to have been built, yet it was not therefore a sin to live in it when it was built. Christ was now going from the other side Jordan to Bethany near Jerusalem, to raise Lazarus to life; when he was going to do one good work he contrived to do many by the way. He did good both to the souls and to the bodies of people; we have here an instance of the former. Observe,

  • I. Who, and what, this Zaccheus was. His name bespeaks him a Jew. Zaccai was a common name among the Jews; they had a famous rabbi, much about this time, of that name. Observe,
    • 1. His calling, and the post he was in: He was the chief among the publicans, receiver-general; other publicans were officers under him; he was, as some think, farmer of the customs. We often read of publicans coming to Christ; but here was one that was chief of the publicans, was in authority, that enquired after him. God has his remnant among all sorts. Christ came to save even the chief of publicans.
    • 2. His circumstances in the world were very considerable: He was rich. The inferior publicans were commonly men of broken fortunes, and low in the world; but he that was chief of the publicans had raised a good estate. Christ had lately shown how hard it is for rich people to enter into the kingdom of God, yet presently produces an instance on one rich man that had been lost, and was found, and that not as the prodigal by being reduced to want.
  • II. How he came in Christ's way, and what was the occasion of his acquaintance with him.
    • 1. He had a great curiosity to see Jesus, what kind of a man he was, having heard great talk of him, v. 3. It is natural to us to come in sight, if we can, of those whose fame has filled our ears, as being apt to imagine there is something extraordinary in their countenances; at least, we shall be able to say hereafter that we have seen such and such great men. But the eye is not satisfied with seeing. We should now seek to see Jesus with an eye of faith, to see who he is; we should address ourselves in holy ordinances with this in our eye, We would see Jesus.
    • 2. He could not get his curiosity gratified in this matter because he was little, and the crowd was great. Christ did not study to show himself, was not carried on men's shoulders (as the pope is in procession), that all men might see him; neither he nor his kingdom came with observation. He did not ride in an open chariot, as princes do, but, as one of us, he was lost in a crowd; for that was the day of his humiliation. Zaccheus was low of stature, and over-topped by all about him, so that he could not get a sight of Jesus. Many that are little of stature have large souls, and are lively in spirit. Who would not rather be a Zaccheus than a Saul, though he was higher by head and shoulders than all about him? Let not those that are little of stature take thought of adding cubits to it.
    • 3. Because he would not disappoint his curiosity he forgot his gravity, as chief of the publicans, and ran before, like a boy, and climbed up into a sycamore-tree, to see him. Note, Those that sincerely desire a sight of Christ will use the proper means for gaining a sight of him, and will break through a deal of difficulty and opposition, and be willing to take pains to see him. Those that find themselves little must take all the advantages they can get to raise themselves to a sight of Christ, and not be ashamed to own that they need them, and all little enough. Let not dwarfs despair, with good help, by aiming high to reach high.
  • III. The notice Christ took of him, the call he gave him to a further acquaintance (v. 5), and the efficacy of that call, v. 6.
    • 1. Christ invited himself to Zaccheus's house, not doubting of his hearty welcome there; nay, wherever Christ comes, as he brings his own entertainment along with him, so he brings his own welcome; he opens the heart, and inclines it to receive him. Christ looked up into the tree, and saw Zaccheus. He came to look upon Christ, and resolved to take particular notice of him, but little thought of being taken notice of by Christ. That was an honour too great, and too far above his merit, for him to have any thought of. See how Christ prevented him with the blessings of his goodness, and outdid his expectations; and see how he encouraged very weak beginnings, and helped them forward. He that had a mind to know Christ shall be known of him; he that only courted to see him shall be admitted to converse with him. Note, Those that are faithful in a little shall be entrusted with more. And sometimes those that come to hear the word of Christ, as Zaccheus did, only for curiosity, beyond what they thought of, have their consciences awakened, and their hearts changed. Christ called him by name, Zaccheus, for he knows his chosen by name; are they not in his book? He might ask, as Nathanael did (Jn. 1:48), Whence knowest thou me? But before he climbed the sycamore-tree Christ saw him, and knew him. He bade him make haste, and come down. Those that Christ calls must come down, must humble themselves, and not think to climb to heaven by any righteousness of their own; and they must make haste and come down, for delays are dangerous. Zaccheus must not hesitate, but hasten; he knows it is not a matter that needs consideration whether he should welcome such a guest to his house. He must come down, for Christ intends this day to bait at his house, and stay an hour or two with him. Behold, he stands at the door and knocks.
    • 2. Zaccheus was overjoyed to have such an honour put upon his house (v. 6): He made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully; and his receiving him into his house was an indication and token of his receiving him into his heart. Note, When Christ calls to us we must make haste to answer his calls; and when he comes to us we must receive him joyfully. Lift up your heads, O ye gates. We may well receive him joyfully who brings all good along with him, and, when he takes possession of the soul, opens springs of joy there which shall flow to eternity. How often has Christ said to us, Open to me, when we have, with the spouse, made excuses! Cant. 5:2, 3. Zaccheus's forwardness to receive Christ will shame us. We have not now Christ to entertain in our houses, but we have his disciples, and what is done to them he takes as done to himself.
  • IV. The offence which the people took at this kind greeting between Christ and Zaccheus. Those narrow-souled censorious Jews murmured, saying that he was gone to be a guest with a man that is a sinner, para hamartoµloµ andri-with a sinful man; and were not they themselves sinful men? Was it not Christ's errand into the world to seek and save men that are sinners? But Zaccheus they think to be a sinner above all men that dwelt in Jericho, such a sinner as was not fit to be conversed with. Now this was very unjust to blame Christ for going to his house; for,
    • 1. Though he was a publican, and many of the publicans were bad men, it did not therefore follow that they were all so. We must take heed of condemning men in the lump, or by common fame, for at God's bar every man will be judged as he is.
    • 2. Though he had been a sinner, it did not therefore follow that he was now as bad as he had been; though they knew his past life to be bad, Christ might know his present frame to be good. God allows room for repentance, and so must we.
    • 3. Though he was now a sinner, they ought not to blame Christ for going to him, because he was in no danger of getting hurt by a sinner, but in great hopes of doing good to a sinner; whither should the physician go but to the sick? Yet see how that which is well done may be ill construed.
  • V. The proofs which Zaccheus gave publicly that, though he had been a sinner, he was now a penitent, and a true convert, v. 8. He does not expect to be justified by his works as the Pharisee who boasted of what he had done, but by his good works he will, through the grace of God, evidence the sincerity of his faith and repentance; and here he declares what his determination was. He made this declaration standing, that he might be seen and heard by those who murmured at Christ for coming to his house; with the mouth confession is made of repentance as well as faith. He stood, which denotes his saying it deliberately and with solemnity, in the nature of a vow to God. He addressed himself to Christ in it, not to the people (they were not to be his judges), but to the Lord, and he stood as it were at his bar. What we do that is good we must do as unto him; we must appeal to him, and approve ourselves to him, in our integrity, in all our good purposes and resolutions. He makes it appear that there is a change in his heart (and that is repentance), for there is a change in his way. His resolutions are of second-table duties; for Christ, upon all occasions, laid great stress on them: and they are such as are suited to his condition and character; for in them will best appear the truth of our repentance.
    • 1. Zaccheus had a good estate, and, whereas he had been in it hitherto laying up treasure for himself, and doing hurt to himself, now he resolves that for the future he will be all towards God, and do good to others with it: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. Not, "I will give it by my will when I die,' but, "I do give it now.' Probably he had heard of the command of trial which Christ gave to another rich man to sell what he had, and give to the poor (Mt. 19:21), and how he broke with Christ upon it. "But so will not I,' saith Zaccheus; "I agree to it at the first word; though hitherto I have been uncharitable to the poor, now I will relieve them, and give so much the more for having neglected the duty so long, even the half of my goods.' This is a very large proportion to be set apart for works of piety and charity. The Jews used to say that a fifth part of a man's income yearly was very fair to be given to pious uses, and about that share the law directed; but Zaccheus would go much further, and give one moiety to the poor, which would oblige him to retrench all his extravagant expenses, as his retrenching these would enable him to relieve many with his superfluities. If we were but more temperate and self-denying, we should be more charitable; and, were we content with less ourselves, we should have the more to give to them that need. This he mentions here as a fruit of his repentance. Note, It well becomes converts to God to be charitable to the poor.
    • 2. Zaccheus was conscious to himself that he had not gotten all he had honestly and fairly, but some by indirect and unlawful means, and of what he had gotten by such means he promises to make restitution: "If I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, or if I have wronged any man in the way of my business as a publican, exacting more than was appointed, I promise to restore him four-fold.' This was the restitution that a thief was to make, Ex. 22:1.
      • (1.) He seems plainly to own that he had done wrong; his office, as a publican, gave him opportunity to do wrong, imposing upon the merchants to curry favour with the government. True penitents will own themselves not only in general guilty before God, but will particularly reflect upon that which has been their own iniquity, and which, by reason of their business and employment in the world, has most easily beset them.
      • (2.) That he had done wrong by false accusation; this was the temptation of the publicans, which John Baptist had warned them of particularly, ch. 3:14. They had the ear of the government, and every thing would be stretched in favour of the revenue, which gave them an opportunity of gratifying their revenge if they bore a man an ill will.
      • (3.) He promises to restore four-fold, as far as he could recollect or find by his books that he had wronged any man. He does not say, "If I be sued, and compelled to it, I will make restitution' (some are honest when they cannot help it); but he will do it voluntarily: It shall be my own act and deed. Note, Those who are convinced of having done wrong cannot evidence the sincerity of their repentance but by making restitution. Observe, He does not think that his giving half his estate to the poor will atone for the wrong he has done. God hates robbery for burnt-offerings, and we must first do justly and then love mercy. It is no charity, but hypocrisy, to give that which is none of our own; and we are not to reckon that our own which we have not come honestly by, nor that our own which is not so when all our debts are paid, and restitution made for wrong done.
  • VI. Christ's approbation and acceptance of Zaccheus's conversion, by which also he cleared himself from any imputation in going to be a guest with him, v. 9, 10.
    • 1. Zaccheus is declared to be now a happy man. Now he is turned from sin to God; now he has bidden Christ welcome to his house, and is become an honest, charitable, good man: This day is salvation come to this house. Now that he is converted he is in effect saved, 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 along with him. He is, and will be, the Author of eternal salvation to all that own him as Zaccheus did. Yet this is not all. Salvation this day comes to his house.
      • (1.) When Zaccheus becomes a convert, he will be, more than he had been, a blessing to his house. He will bring the means of grace and salvation to his house, for he is a son of Abraham indeed now, and therefore, like Abraham, will teach his household to keep the way of the Lord. He that is greedy of gain troubles his own house, and brings a curse upon it (Hab. 2:9), but he that is charitable to the poor does a kindness to his own house, and brings a blessing upon it and salvation to it, temporal at least, Ps. 112:3.
      • (2.) When Zaccheus is brought to Christ himself his family also become related to Christ, and his children are admitted members of his church, and so salvation comes to his house, for that he is a son of Abraham, and therefore interested in God's covenant with Abraham, that blessing of Abraham which comes upon the publicans, upon the Gentiles, through faith, that God will be a God to them and to their children; and therefore, when he believes, salvation comes to his house, as the gaoler's to whom it was said, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house, Acts 16:31. Zaccheus is by birth a son of Abraham, but, being a publican, he was deemed a heathen; they are put upon a level, Mt. 18:17. And as such the Jews were shy of conversing with him, and expected Christ should be so; but he shows that, being a true penitent, he is become rectus in curia-upright in court, as good a son of Abraham as if he had never been an publican, which therefore ought not to be mentioned against him.
    • 2. What Christ had done to make him, in particular, a happy man, was consonant to the great design and intention of his coming into the world, v. 10. With the same argument he had before justified his conversing with publicans, Mt. 9:13. There he pleaded that he came to call sinners to repentance; now that he came to seek and save that which was lost, to apoloµlos-the lost thing. Observe,
      • (1.) The deplorable case of the sons of men: they were lost; and here the whole race of mankind is spoken of as one body. Note, The whole world of mankind, by the fall, is become a lost world: lost as a city is lost when it has revolted to the rebels, as a traveller is lost when he has missed his way in a wilderness, as a sick man is lost when his disease is incurable, or as a prisoner is lost when sentence is passed upon him.
      • (2.) The gracious design of the Son of God: he came to seek and save, to seek in order to saving. He came from heaven to earth (a long journey), to seek that which was lost (which had wandered and gone astray), and to bring it back (Mt. 18:11, 12), and to save that which was lost, which was perishing, and in a manner destroyed and cut off. Christ undertook the cause when it was given up for lost: undertook to bring those to themselves that were lost to God and all goodness. Observe, Christ came into this lost world to seek and save it. His design was to save, when there was not salvation in any other. In prosecution of that design, he sought, took all probable means to effect that salvation. He seeks those that were not worth seeking to; he seeks those that sought him not, and asked not for him, as Zaccheus here.

Luk 19:11-27

Our Lord Jesus is now upon his way to Jerusalem, to his last passover, when he was to suffer and die; now here we are told,

  • I. How the expectations of his friends were raised upon this occasion: They thought that the kingdom of God would immediately appear, v. 11. The Pharisees expected it about this time (ch. 17:20), and, it seems, so did Christ's own disciples; but they both had a mistaken notion of it. The Pharisees thought that it must be introduced by some other temporal prince or potentate. The disciples thought that their Master would introduce it, but with temporal pomp and power, which, with the power he had to work miracles, they knew he could clothe himself with in a short time, whenever he pleased. Jerusalem, they concluded, must be the seat of his kingdom, and therefore, now that he is going directly thither, they doubt not but in a little time to see him upon the throne there. Note, Even good men are subject to mistakes concerning the kingdom of Christ, and to form wrong notions of it, and are ready to think that will immediately appear which is reserved for hereafter.
  • II. How their expectations were checked, and the mistakes rectified upon which they were founded; and this he does in three things:-
    • 1. They expected that he should appear in his glory now presently, but he tells them that he must not be publicly installed in his kingdom for a great while yet. He is like a certain nobleman anthroµpos tis eugeneµs-a certain man of high birth (so Dr. Hammond), for he is the Lord from heaven, and is entitled by birth to the kingdom; but he goes into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom. Christ must go to heaven, to sit down at the right hand of the Father there, and to receive from him honour and glory, before the Spirit was poured out by which his kingdom was to be set up on earth, and before a church was to be set up for him in the Gentile world. He must receive the kingdom, and then return. Christ returned when the Spirit was poured out, when Jerusalem was destroyed, by which time that generation, both of friends and enemies, which he had personally conversed with, was wholly worn off by death, and gone to give up their account. But his chief return here meant is that at the great day, of which we are yet in expectation. That which they thought would immediately appear, Christ tells them will not appear till this same Jesus who is taken into heaven shall in like manner come again; see Acts 1:11.
    • 2. They expected that his apostles and immediate attendants should be advanced to dignity and honour, that they should all be made princes and peers, privy-counsellors and judges, and have all the pomp and preferments of the court and of the town. But Christ here tells them that, instead of this, he designed them to be men of business; they must expect no other preferment in this world than that of the trading end of the town; he would set them up with a stock under their hands, that they might employ it themselves, in serving him and the interest of his kingdom among men. That is the true honour of a Christian and a minister which, if we be as we ought to be truly ambitious of it, will enable us to look upon all temporal honours with a holy contempt. The apostles had dreamed of sitting on his right hand and on his left in his kingdom, enjoying ease after their present toil and honour after the present contempt put upon them, and were pleasing themselves with this dream; but Christ tells them that which, if they understood it aright, would fill them with care, and concern, and serious thoughts, instead of those aspiring ones with which they filled their heads.
      • (1.) They have a great work to do now. Their Master leaves them, to receive his kingdom, and, at parting, he gives each of them a pound, which the margin of our common bibles tells us amounts in our money to three pounds and half a crown; this signifies the same thing with the talents in the parable that is parallel to this (Mt. 25), all the gifts with which Christ's apostles were endued, and the advantages and capacities which they had of serving the interests of Christ in the world, and others, both ministers and Christians, like them in a lower degree. But perhaps it is in the parable thus represented to make them the more humble; their honour in this world is only that of traders, and that not of first-rate merchants, who have vast stocks to begin upon, but that of poor traders, who must take a great deal of care and pains to make any thing of what they have. He gave these pounds to his servants, not to buy rich liveries, much less robes, and a splendid equipage, for themselves to appear in, as they expected, but with this charge: Occupy till I come. Or, as it might much better be translated, Trade till I come, Pragmateusasthe- Be busy. So the word properly signifies. "You are sent forth to preach the gospel, to set up a church for Christ in the world, to bring the nations to the obedience of faith, and to build them up in it. You shall receive power to do this, for you shall be filled with the Holy Ghost,' Acts 1:8. When Christ breathed on the eleven disciples, saying, Receive ye the Holy Ghost, then he delivered them ten pounds. "Now,' saith he, "mind your business, and make a business of it; set about it in good earnest, and stick to it. Lay out yourselves to do all the good you can to the souls of men, and to gather them in to Christ.' Note,
        • [1.] All Christians have business to do for Christ in this world, and ministers especially; the former were not baptized, nor the latter ordained, to be idle.
        • [2.] Those that are called to business for Christ he furnishes with gifts necessary for their business; and, on the other hand, from those to whom he gives power he expects service. He delivers the pounds with this charge, Go work, go trade. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal, 1 Co. 12:7. And as every one has received the gift, so let him minister the same, 1 Pt. 4:10.
        • [3.] We must continue to mind our business till our Master comes, whatever difficulties or oppositions we may meet with in it; those only that endure to the end shall be saved.
      • (2.) They have a great account to make shortly. These servants are called to him, to show what use they made of the gifts they were dignified with, what service they had done for Christ, and what good to the souls of men, that he might know what every man had gained by trading. Note,
        • [1.] They that trade diligently and faithfully in the service of Christ shall be gainers. We cannot say so of the business of the world; many a labouring tradesman has been a loser; but those that trade for Christ shall be gainers; though Israel be not gathered, yet they will be glorious.
        • [2.] The conversion of souls is the winning of them; every true convert is clear gain to Jesus Christ. Ministers are but factors for him, and to him they must give account what fish they have enclosed in the gospel-net, what guests they have prevailed with to come to the wedding-supper; that is, what they have gained by trading. Now observe,
          • First, The good account which was given by some of the servants, and the master's approbation of them. Two such are instanced, v. 16, 19.
            • 1. They had both made considerable improvements, but not both alike; one had gained ten pounds by his trading, and another five. Those that are diligent and faithful in serving Christ are commonly blessed in being made blessings to the places where they live. They shall see the travail of their soul, and not labour in vain. And yet all that are alike faithful are not alike successful. And perhaps, though they were both faithful, it is intimated that one of them took more pains, and applied himself more closely to his business, than the other, and sped accordingly. Blessed Paul was surely this servant that gained ten pounds, double to what any of the rest did, for he laboured more abundantly than they all, and fully preached the gospel of Christ.
            • 2. They both acknowledged their obligations to their Master for entrusting them with these abilities and opportunities to do him service: Lord, it is not my industry, but thy pound, that has gained ten pounds. Note, God must have all the glory of all our gains; not unto us, but unto him, must be the praise, Ps. 115:1. Paul, who gained the ten pounds, acknowledges, "I laboured, yet not I. By the grace of God, I am what I am, and do what I do; and his grace was not in vain,' 1 Co. 15:10. He will not speak of what he had done, but of what God had done by him, Rom. 15:18.
            • 3. They were both commended for their fidelity and industry: Well done, thou good servant, v. 17. And to the other he said likewise, v. 19. Note, They who do that which is good shall have praise of the same. Do well, and Christ will say to thee, Well done: and, if he says Well done, the matter is not great who says otherwise. See Gen. 4:7.
            • 4. They were preferred in proportion to the improvement they had made: "Because thou hast been faithful in a very little, and didst not say, 'As good sit still as go to trade with one pound, what can one do with so small a stock?' but didst humbly and honestly apply thyself to the improvement of that, have thou authority over ten cities.' Note, Those are in a fair way to rise who are content to begin low. He that has used the office of a deacon well purchaseth to himself a good degree, 1 Tim. 3:13. Two things are hereby promised the apostles:-
              • (1.) That when they have taken pains to plant many churches they shall have the satisfaction and honour of presiding in them, and governing among them; they shall have great respect paid them, and have a great interest in the love and esteem of good Christians. He that keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that laboureth in the word and doctrine shall be counted worthy of double honour.
              • (2.) That, when they have served their generation, according to the will of Christ, though they pass through this world despised and trampled upon, and perhaps pass out of it under disgrace and persecution as the apostles did, yet in the other world they shall reign as kings with Christ, shall sit with him on his throne, shall have power over the nations, Rev. 2:26. The happiness of heaven will be a much greater advancement to a good minister or Christian than it would be to a poor tradesman, that with much ado had cleared ten pounds, to be made governor of ten cities. He that had gained but five pounds had dominion over five cities. This intimates that there are degrees of glory in heaven; every vessel will be alike full, but not alike large. And the degrees of glory there will be according to the degrees of usefulness here.
          • Secondly, The bad account that was given by one of them, and the sentence passed upon him for his slothfulness and unfaithfulness, v. 20, etc.
            • 1. He owned that he had not traded with the pound with which he had been entrusted (v. 20): "Lord, behold, here is thy pound; it is true, I have not made it more, but withal I have not made it less; I have kept it safely laid up in a napkin.' This represents the carelessness of those who have gifts, but never lay out themselves to do good with them. It is all one to them whether the interests of Christ's kingdom sink or swim, go backward or forward; for their parts, they will take no care about it, no pains, be at no expenses, run no hazard. Those are the servants that lay up their pound in a napkin who think it enough to say that they have done no hurt in the world, but did no good.
            • 2. He justified himself in his omission, with a plea that made the matter worse and not better (v. 21): I feared thee, because thou art an austere man, rigid and severe, anthroµpos austeµros ei. Austere is the Greed word itself: a sharp man: Thou takest up that which thou laidst not down. He thought that his master put a hardship upon his servants when he required and expected the improvement of their pounds, and that it was reaping where he did not sow; whereas really it was reaping where he had sown, and, as the husbandman, expecting in proportion to what he had sown. He had no reason to fear his master's austerity, nor blame his expectations, but this was a mere sham, a frivolous groundless excuse for his idleness, which there was no manner of colour for. Note, The pleas of slothful professors, when they come to be examined, will be found more to their shame than in their justification.
            • 3. His excuse is turned upon him: Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant, v. 22. He will be condemned by his crime, but self-condemned by his plea. "If thou didst look upon it as hard that I should expect the profit of thy trading, which would have been the greater profit, yet, if thou hadst had any regard to my interest, thou mightest have put my money into the bank, into some of the funds, that I might have had, not only my own, but my own with usury, which, though a less advantage, would have been some.' If he durst not trade for fear of losing the principal, and so being made accountable to his lord for it though it was lost, which he pretends, yet that would be no excuse for his not setting it out to interest, where it would be sure. Note, Whatever may be the pretences of slothful professors, in excuse of their slothfulness, the true reason of it is a reigning indifference to the interests of Christ and his kingdom, and their coldness therein. They care not whether religion gets around or loses ground, so they can but live at ease.
            • 4. His pound is taken from him, v. 24. It is fit that those should lose their gifts who will not use them, and that those who have dealt falsely should be no longer trusted. Those who will not serve their Master with what he bestows upon them, why should they be suffered to serve themselves with it? Take from him the pound.
            • 5. It is given to him that had the ten pounds. When this was objected against by the standers-by, because he had so much already (Lord, he has ten pounds, v. 25), it is answered (v. 26), Unto every one that hath shall be given. It is the rule of justice,
              • (1.) That those should be most encouraged who have been most industrious, and that those who have laid out themselves most to do good should have their opportunities of doing good enlarged, and be put into a higher and more extensive sphere of usefulness. To him that hath gotten shall more be given, that he may be in a capacity to get more.
              • (2.) That those who have their gifts, as if they had them not, who have them to no purpose, who do no good with them, should be deprived of them. To those who endeavour to increase the grace they have, God will impart more; those who neglect it, and suffer it to decline, can expect no other than that God should do so too. This needful warning Christ gives to his disciples, lest, while they were gaping for honours on earth, they should neglect their business, and so come short of their happiness in heaven.
    • 3. Another thing they expected was, that, when the kingdom of God should appear, the body of the Jewish nation would immediately fall in with it, and submit to it, and all their aversions to Christ and his gospel would immediately vanish; but Christ tells them that, after his departure, the generality of them would persist in their obstinacy and rebellion, and it would be their ruin. This is shown here,
      • (1.) In the message which his citizens sent after him, v. 14. They not only opposed him, while he was in obscurity; but, when he was gone into glory, to be invested in his kingdom, then they continued their enmity to him, protested against his dominion, and said, We will not have this man to reign over us.
        • [1.] This was fulfilled in the prevailing infidelity of the Jews after the ascension of Christ, and the setting up of the gospel kingdom. They would not submit their necks to his yoke, nor touch the top of his golden sceptre. They said, Let us break his bands in sunder, Ps. 2:1-3; Acts 4:26.
        • [2.] It speaks the language of all unbelievers; they could be content that Christ should save them, but they will not have him to reign over them; whereas Christ is a Saviour to those only to whom he is a prince, and who are willing to obey him.
      • (2.) In the sentence passed upon them at his return: Those mine enemies bring hither, v. 27. When his faithful subjects are preferred and rewarded, then he will take vengeance on his enemies, and particularly on the Jewish nation, the doom of which is here read. When Christ had set up his gospel kingdom, and thereby put reputation upon the gospel ministry, then he comes to reckon with the Jews; then it is remembered against them that they had particularly disclaimed and protested against his kingly office, when they said, We have no king but Caesar, nor would own him for their king. They appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar they shall go; Caesar shall be their ruin. Then the kingdom of God appeared when vengeance was taken on those irreconcileable enemies to Christ and his government; they were brought forth and slain before him. Never was so much slaughter made in any war as in the wars of the Jews. That nation lived to see Christianity victorious in the Gentile world, in spite of their enmity and opposition to it, and then it was taken away as dross. The wrath of Christ came upon them to the uttermost (1 Th. 2:15, 16), and their destruction redounded very much to the honour of Christ and the peace of the church. But this is applicable to all others who persist in their infidelity, and will undoubtedly perish in it. Note,
        • [1.] Utter ruin will certainly be the portion of all Christ's enemies; in the day of vengeance they shall all be brought forth, and slain before him. Bring them hither, to be made a spectacle to saints and angels; see Jos. 10:22, 24. Bring them hither, that they may see the glory and happiness of Christ and his followers, whom they hated and persecuted. Bring them hither, to have their frivolous pleas overruled, and to receive sentence according to their merits. Bring them, and slay them before me, as Agag before Samuel. The Saviour whom they have slighted will stand by and see them slain, and not interpose on their behalf.
        • [2.] Those that will not have Christ to reign over them shall be reputed and dealt with as his enemies. We are ready to think that none are Christ's enemies but persecutors of Christianity, or scoffers at least; but you see that those will be accounted so that dislike the terms of salvation, will not submit to Christ's yoke, but will be their own masters. Note, Whoever will not be ruled by the grace of Christ will inevitably be ruined by the wrath of Christ.

Luk 19:28-40

We have here the same account of Christ's riding in some sort of triumph (such as it was) into Jerusalem which we had before in Matthew and Mark; let us therefore here only observe,

  • I. Jesus Christ was forward and willing to suffer and die for us. He went forward, bound in the spirit, to Jerusalem, knowing very well the things that should befal him there, and yet he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem, v. 28. He was the foremost of the company, as if he longed to be upon the spot, longed to engage, to take the field, and to enter upon action. Was he so forward to suffer and die for us, and shall we draw back from any service we are capable of doing for him?
  • II. It was no ways inconsistent either with Christ's humility or with his present state of humiliation to make a public entry into Jerusalem a little before he died. Thus he made himself to be the more taken notice of, that the ignominy of his death might appear the greater.
  • III. Christ is entitled to a dominion over all the creatures, and may use them when and as he pleases. No man has a property in his estate against Christ, but that his title is prior and superior. Christ sent to fetch an ass and her colt from their owner's and master's crib, when he had occasion for their service, and might do so, for all the beasts of the forest are his, and the tame beasts too.
  • IV. Christ has all men's hearts both under his eye and in his hand. He could influence those to whom the ass and the colt belonged to consent to their taking them away, as soon as they were told that the Lord had occasion for them.
  • V. Those that go on Christ's errands are sure to speed (v. 32): They that were sent found what he told them they should find, and the owners willing to part with them. It is a comfort to Christ's messengers that they shall bring what they are sent for, if indeed the Lord has occasion for it.
  • VI. The disciples of Christ, who fetch that for him from others which he has occasion for, and which they have not, should not think that enough, but, whatever they have themselves wherewith he may be served and honoured, they should be ready to serve him with it. Many can be willing to attend Christ at other people's expense who care not to be at any charge upon him themselves; but those disciples not only fetched the ass's colt for him, but cast their own garments upon the colt, and were willing that they should be used for his trappings.
  • VII. Christ's triumphs are the matter of his disciples' praises. When Christ came nigh to Jerusalem, God put it of a sudden into the hearts of the whole multitude of the disciples, not of the twelve only, but abundance more, that were disciples at large, to rejoice and praise God (v. 37), and the spreading of their clothes in the way (v. 36) was a common expression of joy, as at the feast of tabernacles. Observe,
    • 1. What was the matter or occasion of their joy and praise. They praised God for all the mighty works they had seen, all the miracles Christ had wrought, especially the raising of Lazarus, which is particularly mentioned, Jn. 12:17, 18. That brought others to mind, for fresh miracles and mercies should revive the remembrance of the former.
    • 2. How they expressed their joy and praise (v. 38): Blessed be the king that cometh in the name of the Lord. Christ is the king; he comes in the name of the Lord, clothed with a divine authority, commissioned from heaven to give law and treat of peace. Blessed be he. Let us praise him, let God prosper him. He is blessed for ever, and we will speak well of him. Peace in heaven. Let the God of heaven send peace and success to his undertaking, and then there will be glory in the highest. It will redound to the glory of the most high God; and the angels, the glorious inhabitants of the upper world, will give him the glory of it. Compare this song of the saints on earth with that of the angels, ch. 2:14. They both agree to give glory to God in the highest. There the praises of both centre; the angels say, On earth peace, rejoicing in the benefit which men on earth have by Christ; the saints say, Peace in heaven, rejoicing in the benefit which the angels have by Christ. Such is the communion we have with the holy angels that, as they rejoice in the peace on earth, so we rejoice in the peace in heaven, the peace God makes in his high places (Job 25:2), and both in Christ, who hath reconciled all things to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
  • VIII. Christ's triumph's, and his disciples' joyful praises of them, are the vexation of proud Pharisees, that are enemies to him and his kingdom. There were some Pharisees among the multitude who were so far from joining with them that they were enraged at them, and, Christ being a famous example of humility, they thought that he would not admit such acclamations as these, and therefore expected that he should rebuke his disciples, v. 39. But it is the honour of Christ that, as he despises the contempt of the proud, so he accepts the praises of the humble.
  • IX. Whether men praise Christ or no he will, and shall, and must be praised (v. 40): If these should hold their peace, and not speak the praises of the Messiah's kingdom, the stones would immediately cry out, rather than that Christ should not be praised. This was, in effect, literally fulfilled, when, upon men's reviling Christ upon the cross, instead of praising him, and his own disciples' sinking into a profound silence, the earth did quake and the rocks rent. Pharisees would silence the praises of Christ, but they cannot gain their point; for as God can out of stones raise up children unto Abraham, so he can out of the mouths of those children perfect praise.

Luk 19:41-48

The great Ambassador from heaven is here making his public entry into Jerusalem, not to be respected there, but to be rejected; he knew what a nest of vipers he was throwing himself into, and yet see here two instances of his love to that place and his concern for it.

  • I. The tears he shed for the approaching ruin of the city (v. 41): When he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it. Probably, it was when he was coming down the descent of the hill from the mount of Olives, where he had a full view of the city, the large extent of it, and the many stately structures in it, and his eye affected his heart, and his heart his eye again. See here,
    • 1. What a tender spirit Christ was of; we never read that he laughed, but we often find him in tears. In this very place his father David wept, and those that were with him, though he and they were men of war. There are cases in which it is no disparagement to the stoutest of men to melt into tears.
    • 2. That Jesus Christ wept in the midst of his triumphs, wept when all about him were rejoicing, to show how little he was elevated with the applause and acclamation of the people. Thus he would teach us to rejoice with trembling, and as though we rejoiced not. If Providence do not stain the beauty of our triumphs, we may ourselves see cause to sully it with our sorrows.
    • 3. That he wept over Jerusalem. Note, There are cities to be wept over, and none to be more lamented than Jerusalem, that had been the holy city, and the joy of the whole earth, if it be degenerated. But why did Christ weep at the sight of Jerusalem? Was it because "Yonder is the city in which I must be betrayed and bound, scourged and spit upon, condemned and crucified?' No, he himself gives us the reason of his tears.
      • (1.) Jerusalem has not improved the day of her opportunities. He wept, and said, If thou hadst known, even thou at least in this thy day, if thou wouldst but yet know, while the gospel is preached to thee, and salvation offered thee by it; if thou wouldest at length bethink thyself, and understand the things that belong to thy peace, the making of thy peace with God, and the securing of thine own spiritual and eternal welfare-but thou dost not know the day of thy visitation, v. 44. The manner of speaking is abrupt: If thou hadst known! O that thou hadst, so some take it; like that O that my people had hearkened unto me, Ps. 81:13; Isa. 48:18. Or, If thou hadst known, well; like that of the fig-tree, ch. 13:9. How happy had it been for thee! Or, "If thou hadst known, thou wouldest have wept for thyself, and I should have no occasion to weep for thee, but should have rejoiced rather.' What he says lays all the blame of Jerusalem's impending ruin upon herself. Note,
        • [1.] There are things which belong to our peace, which we are all concerned to know and understand; the way how peace is made, the offers made of peace, the terms on which we may have the benefit of peace. The things that belong to our peace are those things that relate to our present and future welfare; these we must know with application.
        • [2.] There is a time of visitation when those things which belong to our peace may be known by us, and known to good purpose. When we enjoy the means of grace in great plenty, and have the word of God powerfully preached to us-when the Spirit strives with us, and our own consciences are startled and awakened-then is the time of visitation, which we are concerned to improve.
        • [3.] With those that have long neglected the time of their visitation, if at length, if at last, in this their day, their eyes be opened, and they bethink themselves, all will be well yet. Those shall not be refused that come into the vineyard at the eleventh hour.
        • [4.] It is the amazing folly of multitudes that enjoy the means of grace, and it will be of fatal consequence to them, that they do not improve the day of their opportunities. The things of their peace are revealed to them, but are not minded or regarded by them; they hide their eyes from them, as if they were not worth taking notice of. They are not aware of the accepted time and the day of salvation, and to let it slip and perish through mere carelessness. None are so blind as those that will not see; nor have any the things of their peace more certainly hidden from their eyes than those that turn their back upon them.
        • [5.] The sin and folly of those that persist in a contempt of gospel grace are a great grief to the Lord Jesus, and should be so to us. He looks with weeping eyes upon lost souls, that continue impenitent, and run headlong upon their own ruin; he had rather that they would turn and live than go on and die, for he is not willing that any should perish.
      • (2.) Jerusalem cannot escape the day of her desolation. The things of her peace are now in a manner hidden from her eyes; they will be shortly. Not but that after this the gospel was preached to them by the apostles; all the house of Israel were called to know assuredly that Christ was their peace (Acts 2:36), and multitudes were convinced and converted. But as to the body of the nation, and the leading part of it, they were sealed up under unbelief; God had given them the spirit of slumber, Rom. 11:8. They were so prejudiced and enraged against the gospel, and those few that did embrace it then, that nothing less than a miracle of divine grace (like that which converted Paul) would work upon them; and it could not be expected that such a miracle should be wrought, and so they were justly given up to judicial blindness and hardness. The peaceful things are not hidden from the eyes of particular persons; but it is too late to think now of the nation of the Jews, as such, becoming a Christian nation, by embracing Christ. And therefore they are marked for ruin, which Christ here foresees and foretels, as the certain consequence of their rejecting Christ. Note, Neglecting the great salvation often brings temporal judgments upon a people; it did so upon Jerusalem in less than forty years after this, when all that Christ here foretold was exactly fulfilled.
        • [1.] The Romans besieged the city, cast a trench about it, compassed it round, and kept their inhabitants in on every side. Josephus relates that Titus ran up a wall in a very short time, which surrounded the city, and cut off all hopes of escaping.
        • [2.] They laid it even with the ground. Titus commanded his soldiers to dig up the city, and the whole compass of it was levelled, except three towers; see Josephus's history of the wars of the Jews, 5.356-360; 7.1. Not only the city, but the citizens were laid even with the ground (thy children within thee), by the cruel slaughters that were made of them: and there was scarcely one stone left upon another. This was for their crucifying Christ; this was because they knew not the day of their visitation. Let other cities and nations take warning.
  • II. The zeal he showed for the present purification of the temple. Though it must be destroyed ere long, it does not therefore follow that no care must be taken of it in the mean time.
    • 1. Christ cleared it of those who profaned it. He went straight to the temple, and began to cast out the buyers and sellers, v. 45. Hereby (though he was represented as an enemy to the temple, and that was the crime laid to his charge before the high priest) he made it to appear that he had a truer love for the temple than they had who had such a veneration for its corban, its treasury, as a sacred thing; for its purity was more its glory than its wealth was. Christ gave reason for his dislodging the temple-merchants, v. 46. The temple is a house of prayer, set apart for communion with God: the buyers and sellers made it a den of thieves by the fraudulent bargains they made there, which was by no means to be suffered, for it would be a distraction to those who came there to pray.
    • 2. He put it to the best use that ever it was put to, for he taught daily in the temple, v. 47. Note, It is not enough that the corruptions of a church be purged out, but the preaching of the gospel must be encouraged. Now, when Christ preached in the temple, observe here,
      • (1.) How spiteful the church-rulers were against him; how industrious to seek an opportunity, or pretence rather, to do him a mischief (v. 47): The chief priests and scribes, and the chief of the people, the great sanhedrim, that should have attended him, and summoned the people too to attend him, sought to destroy him, and put him to death.
      • (2.) How respectful the common people were to him. They were very attentive to hear him. He spent most of his time in the country, and did not then preach in the temple, but, when he did, the people paid him great respect, attended on his preaching with diligence, and let no opportunity slip of hearing him, attended to it with care, and would not lose a word. Some read it, All the people as they heard him, took his part; and so it comes in very properly as a reason why his enemies could not find what they might do against him; they saw the people ready to fly in their faces if they offered him any violence. Till his hour was come his interest in the common people protected him; but, when his hour was come, the chief priests' influence upon the common people delivered him up.