Luke 19

And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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:

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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,

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.

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

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

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

And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

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

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

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;

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

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

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

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

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.

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,

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.

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

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

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

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

What does Luke 19:31 mean?

Explanation

Luke 19:31 contains a directive from Jesus to his disciples in preparation for his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event that is celebrated in Christianity as Palm Sunday.

In this event, Jesus sends two disciples to fetch a colt that has never been ridden, which he intends to ride.

The disciples are instructed to untie the colt, and should anyone ask why they are doing this, they are to reply, "Because the Lord hath need of him."

The verse underlines the sovereignty of Jesus and his authority over all creation, as well as the foreknowledge that the owner would question the disciples' actions.

The assertion that "the Lord hath need of him" implies Jesus' divine authority and acknowledges that the owner of the colt would recognize this authority, thus allowing the disciples to take the colt.

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Historical Context

The setting of Luke 19:31 is pivotal in the New Testament narrative.

It occurs as Jesus approaches Jerusalem near the culmination of His earthly ministry.

The directive to acquire the colt is in fulfillment of the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, which is emblematic of a king coming in peace rather than as a warrior, reflecting the nature of Jesus' kingdom.

The historical context suggests that the owners of the colt were likely familiar with Jesus and his ministry, which would have predisposed them to consent to the disciples' request without objecting.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, Luke 19:31 encapsulates several key insights:

Divine Providence: The verse suggests the concept of divine providence, where events unfold according to a divine plan.
Messianic Fulfillment: Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophecy, highlighting his identity as the promised Messiah (Zechariah 9:9).
Authority of Jesus: The statement acts as a testament to Jesus' ultimate authority, where his simple declaration of need ensures compliance with his wishes.
Peaceful Messiahship: The use of a colt, a humble animal, instead of a warhorse, emphasizes the peaceful mission of Jesus’ kingship.

Practical Applications

Luke 19:31 can be applied in practical life in various ways:

Recognition of Authority: Christians may be reminded of the importance of recognizing and submitting to Jesus' authority.
Trust in Divine Plan: Believers might find comfort in the idea that God has a plan, and sometimes we play a role in it without full knowledge or understanding.
Obedience: The disciples' willingness to follow Jesus’ instructions without question can teach about obedience to divine directions.

Cross-References

Zechariah 9:9 (KJV): "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."
Matthew 21:3 (KJV): "And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them."
Mark 11:3 (KJV): "And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither."

Language Study

The Greek term used in original manuscripts for "Lord" is "κύριος" (kyrios), which implies someone who has authority, such as a master or lord. "Χρεία" (chreia) stands for "need" or "use." The phrasing conveys more than just a simple need; it suggests a purpose and a divine requirement for the use of the colt.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient cultures, the ownership and use of an animal could be symbolic.

Kings and deities were often depicted using specific animals to symbolize their authority and role.

In the Greco-Roman world, horses were often associated with war, while donkeys could signify peace, which resonates with Jesus' choice of a colt for his entry.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understanding of animal behavior might emphasize the significance of a colt "whereon yet never man sat" being calm under Jesus' direction, which could be seen as unusual without prior taming.

However, the scientific perspective does not typically interpret events with a supernatural lens as this verse suggests.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various interpretations of Luke 19:31.

Many agree that the verse demonstrates Jesus' messianic consciousness and his understanding of his role as the anticipated Messiah.

Some commentaries focus on the sovereignty of Jesus and the lesson of obedience and readiness to fulfill God's will, which is exemplified by the actions of the disciples.

Others see the verse as emphasizing the peaceable kingdom Jesus came to inaugurate, contrasting with the expectations of a militaristic savior.

Luke 19

Luke 19

What does Luke 19:31 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 19:31 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?