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 19:34 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 19:34 comes from the New Testament of the Christian Bible, specifically within the context of the Gospel according to Luke.

This verse quotes what the disciples respond to the owners of a colt upon which no one had ever ridden, which Jesus had instructed them to untie and bring to Him. When asked why they were untying the colt, the disciples simply replied, "The Lord hath need of him."

The statement is a direct and clear affirmation that they are following the command of their teacher, whom they refer to as "The Lord." It also suggests an underlying authority that Jesus holds; the implication is that when the Lord has a need, it must be met without question.

This phrase encapsulates a deeper meaning of obedience, recognition of Jesus' authority, and the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.

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Historical Context

Luke 19:34 is a part of the narrative that describes the events that lead up to Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, an event commonly referred to as Palm Sunday within the Christian tradition.

This event occurs towards the end of Jesus' ministry, shortly before His betrayal, trial, and crucifixion.

In the days of Jesus, the use of a colt for a royal procession was symbolic, and the act of riding on a young donkey had strong messianic implications, as it fulfilled the prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9.

The unbroken colt also symbolizes Jesus' peaceful intentions, contrasting with a king riding a war horse.

Theological Insights

From the theological perspective, several insights can be derived from Luke 19:34.

For one, the sovereignty of Jesus is underscored here; the disciples' response "The Lord hath need of him" indicates Jesus' authority over creation and His power to requisition what is needed for His purposes.

Additionally, the verse can be linked to the theological idea that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament messianic prophecies. God's providence in the mission of Jesus is also observed as the owners of the colt permit its use without resistance, signifying divine orchestration of events.

Furthermore, various theological traditions within Christianity may emphasize different aspects of this verse, such as predestination, divine authority, or the servant-nature of Jesus' kingship.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Luke 19:34 can encourage believers to recognize the authority of Jesus in their lives and to respond in obedience when they feel called to a particular action or service.

It also teaches about the importance of trusting in Divine Providence and how seemingly insignificant acts of obedience can play a part in fulfilling a bigger plan.

Additionally, this verse serves as a reminder that material possessions are ultimately under God's authority and should be readily available for God's service when called upon.

Cross-References

Related verses to Luke 19:34 in the King James Version include:

Zechariah 9:9: "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: "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: "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

In the original Greek text, the word for "Lord" is "Κύριος" (Kyrios), which denotes one who has authority over something or someone; it is often used as a title for Jesus in the New Testament.

The phrase "ἔχει χρείαν" (echei chreian) translates to "has need" and conveys a particular requirement or necessity.

The term "χρείαν" (chreian) stresses a condition of lack or need of something that is considered essential.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient times, rulers and deities were often thought to commandeer resources as needed, and their divine or royal authority was rarely questioned.

The Egyptian Pharaohs, Roman Caesars, or the gods of the Greek pantheon, all might lay claim to whatever they desired, and their subjects would comply.

In religious texts outside of Christianity, including in the Jewish Tanakh and Islamic Quran, there are instances where God's authority is recognized and His requisitions are met without question by the faithful, illustrating a parallel to the obedience shown in Luke 19:34.

Scientific Perspectives

Luke 19:34 does not directly intersect with scientific understanding, as it is a verse dealing with spiritual authority and divine providence rather than empirical evidence.

However, discussions on animal domestication and the historical use of animals for transportation could provide an indirect connection.

For instance, the use of a colt, specifically one not yet ridden, could be analyzed in terms of the practices of training and domesticating animals for human use, which is a topic of interest within the scientific fields of ethology and anthropology.

Commentaries

Various biblical commentaries provide insight into Luke 19:34. For instance, the "Matthew Henry's Commentary" suggests that the disciples were ready to obey Christ's command without first seeking the owner's consent because they trusted in the instruction of Jesus.

Similarly, the "Pulpit Commentary" focuses on the notion of divine sovereignty and Jesus' messianic claim as He requisitions the colt.

Commentators often highlight how the simple response of the disciples indicates their absolute trust in Christ's purpose and the fulfillment of prophecy associated with His entry into Jerusalem.

The "Barnes' Notes on the Bible" discusses the obedience required by Jesus' request and how it exemplifies the disciples' faith in His divine mission. This commentary also points out the providential arrangements that allowed these events to transpire as foretold.

Luke 19

Luke 19

What does Luke 19:34 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 19:34 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?