Luke Chapter 19
Jesus and Zacchaeus
19:1 Jesus was passing through Jericho, 2 and a wealthy tax collector named Zacchaeus 3 wanted to see what he looked like, but he couldn’t because of the crowd; he was too short. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree that Jesus was heading toward. 5 When Jesus got there, he looked up, “Zacchaeus, hurry and climb down. I need to stay at your place today.” 6 He hurried and climbed down and welcomed him happily.
7 When people saw it, they started grumbling, “He’s going in to be a guest with a sinner!”
8 Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Half of what I own, I’m going to give to the poor. If I’ve cheated anybody, I’ll repay it four times over.”
9 Jesus said this about him, “Salvation has come to this house today; he’s a son of Abraham too. 10 The Son of Man came to seek and save sinners.”
Lk 19:1-10
Parable About the Pounds
11 While he had their attention, he told a story. Since he was close to Jerusalem, people were supposing God’s kingdom would appear right away:
12 “A nobleman was about to go to a distant country to receive a kingdom. 13 He called ten servants and passed out ten minas*, ‘Do business with these till I get back.’
14 “His citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, ‘We don’t want him to rule us.’ 15 When he got back from receiving the kingdom, he had the servants called that he gave the silver so he could find out what they’d earned.
16 “The first came up, ‘Master, your mina has made 10 more.’
17 “‘You did well. Since you’ve been reliable in a small matter, assume responsibility for ten cities.’
18 “The second came, ‘Your mina has made five minas.’
19 “‘Govern five cities.’
20 “Another came, ‘Master, here’s your mina. I’ve kept it in a handkerchief. 21 I was afraid of you; you’re an exacting man that picks up what you didn’t lay down and reaps what you didn’t sow.’
22 “‘I’ll judge you out of your own mouth, you worthless servant. You knew, did you, that I’m an exacting man that picks up what I didn’t lay down and reaps what I didn’t sow? 23 Why didn’t you put my silver in the bank? When I got back, I would’ve collected it plus interest.’
24 “He told the bystanders, ‘Take his mina and give it to the one that has ten.’
25 “‘Sir, he has ten.’
26 “‘I’m telling you, everybody that has will receive, and the ones that don’t have will lose even what they do have. 27 But, bring those enemies that didn’t want to be under my rule and put them to death in front of me.’”
28 After he said that, he took the lead up to Jerusalem.
Lk 19:11-28
The Triumphal Entry
29 When he got close to Bethphage and Bethany, to the hill called The Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples: 30 “Go in the village over there. When you go in, you’ll find a colt tied that nobody has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it. 31 If anybody asks why you’re untying it, say the Lord needs it.”
32 They went and found the colt like he said. 33 As they were untying it, its owners said, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34 “The Lord needs it.”
35 They brought it, threw their cloaks over it, and put Jesus on it. 36 As he was going along, people started spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 Near the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples started celebrating. They were loudly praising God for the miracles they’d seen,
38 “Blessed be the king that’s coming
in the name of the LORD [Ps 118:26].
Peace in heaven and
glory in the highest.”
39 Some Pharisees in the crowd said, “Rabbi, rein in your disciples.”
40 He answered, “If they go silent, the rocks will start shouting!”
41 As he got close and saw the city, he cried over it,
42 “If you only knew today what’s in store for the peace you have now . . . ; but you can’t see it. 43 The time’s coming when your enemies will put up a siege wall around you and box you in from every direction. 44 They’ll level you to the ground and your residents along with you. They won’t leave one stone on another, because you didn’t know when it was coming.”
Lk 19:29-44
Second Cleansing of the Temple (cp Jn 2:13-22)
45 He went into the Temple and started chasing the merchants out, 46 “Scripture says,
‘My house will be a house for prayer’ [Is 56:7].
You’ve made it ‘a den for thieves!’ [Jer 7:11]”
47 Every day he taught in the Temple, and the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people were looking for some way to destroy him, 48 but they couldn’t find one; the people were eagerly listening to him.
Lk 19:45-48