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. |
19
19:1 He passed through Jericho - So that Zaccheus must have lived near the end of the town: the tree was in the town itself.And he was rich - These words seem to refer to the discourse in the last chapter, Luk 18:24-27, particularly to Luk 18:27.Zaccheus is a proof, that it is possible by the power of God for even a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
19:2 The chief of the publicans - What we would term, commissioner of the customs. A very honourable as well as profitable place.
19:4 And running before - With great earnestness. He climbed up - Notwithstanding his quality: desire conquering honour and shame.
19:5 Jesus said, Zaccheus, make haste and come down - What a strange mixture of passions must Zaccheus have now felt, hearing one speak, as knowing both his name and his heart!
19:7 They all murmured - All who were near: though most of them rather out of surprise than indignation.
19:8 And Zaccheus stood - Showing by his posture, his deliberate, purpose and ready mind, and said, Behold, Lord, I give - I determine to do it immediately.
19:9 He also is a son of Abraham - A Jew born, and as such has a right to the first offer of salvation.
19:10 Mat 18:11.
19:11 They thought the kingdom of God - A glorious temporal kingdom, would immediately appear.
19:12 He went into a far country to receive a kingdom - Christ went to heaven, to receive his sovereign power as wan, even all authority in heaven and earth. Mat 25:14; Mar 13:34.
19:13 Trade till I come - To visit the nation, to destroy Jerusalem, to judge the world: or, in a more particular sense, to require thy soul of thee.
19:14 But his citizens - Such were those of Jerusalem, hated him, and sent an embassy after him - The word seems to imply, their sending ambassadors to a superior court, to enter their protest against his being admitted to the regal power. In such a solemn manner did the Jews protest, as it were, before God, that Christ should not reign over them: this man - So they call him in contempt.
19:15 When he was returned - In his glory.
19:23 With interest - Which does not appear to be contrary to any law of God or man. But this is no plea for usury, that is, the taking such interest as implies any degree of oppression or extortion.
19:25 They said - With admiration, not envy.
19:26 Mat 25:29; Luk 8:18.
19:27 He went before - The foremost of the company, showing his readiness to suffer.