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 19:40 mean?

Explanation

Luke 19:40 is a verse within the narrative of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event commonly referred to as Palm Sunday.

In this passage, Jesus is responding to some Pharisees who are demanding that he rebuke his disciples for declaring him king.

Jesus' response indicates that the event of his entry into Jerusalem is of such cosmic and divine significance that if human voices were silenced, the very stones would cry out.

This is a figurative way of expressing the idea that the truth of Jesus' kingship and messianic role is so manifest that it cannot be suppressed; all of creation recognizes his lordship, and it is natural for it to express this recognition.

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Historical Context

This verse occurs in the context of Jesus' ministry in first-century Palestine.

He was making his way into Jerusalem, which was a significant event as it was seen as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming of the Messiah.

The atmosphere was one of heightened expectation and messianic hope, particularly during Passover when many Jews were thinking about liberation from Roman oppression.

In this setting, the Pharisees represented a sect within Judaism that was often at odds with Jesus' teachings and actions.

Their request to silence the disciples reflects their discomfort with Jesus' increasing popularity and the implications of his claim to the messianic title.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse touches on themes of revelation, messianic expectation, and divine sovereignty.

Theologically, it underscores the belief in Jesus' identity as the Messiah whose coming was foretold in scripture and eagerly awaited by the Jewish people.

Moreover, it subtly points to the idea that Jesus' messiahship and his recognition by creation is an act of God that cannot be thwarted by human opposition.

Different schools of theological thought have considered this verse as a testament to the inherent need for the divine truth to be expressed, regardless of human resistance.

Practical Applications

In a practical sense, this verse encourages individuals to consider the ways in which they either acknowledge or resist the declarations of truth in their own lives. It can inspire believers to boldly proclaim their faith, even in the face of opposition.

Furthermore, it serves as a reminder that truth ultimately cannot be hidden and will be revealed in various ways. For contemporary Christians, it may also imply the responsibility to be custodians of this truth and to stand firm in their convictions.

Cross-References

Psalm 96:11-12: "Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.

Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice."

Habakkuk 2:11: "For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek of Luke 19:40 include:

"apokriethis" (ἀποκριθείς):: Translated as "answered," this word is a common term used in response to questions or statements.
"siopēsōsin" (σιωπήσωσιν): Meaning "should keep silent" or "should hold their peace," from the verb "siopao," indicating the act of being silent.
"lithoi" (λίθοι): The word for "stones," which are used metaphorically in this verse.
"kraxousin" (κράξουσιν): Translated as "cry out," this term is often used to describe a loud or vehement utterance.

The language here, particularly the personification of stones, is a literary device meant to emphasize the inevitability and necessariness of the acknowledgment of Jesus.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the cultural context of the Ancient Near East, the natural world was often seen as a witness to divine activity. Comparable ideas are found in other cultures, where the earth or elements of nature respond to significant events or reveal divine truths.

In this verse, there's an echo of the common belief that all creation participates in the worship and acknowledgment of God or the gods.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, the idea of stones crying out is not a statement of physical reality but figurative language.

However, science does acknowledge that natural phenomena can sometimes act as indicators of significant events, such as earthquakes being signs of geological change.

In literature, figurative language like this expresses truths that are not meant to be taken as scientific fact but rather as metaphorical or symbolic.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators have offered their insights on this verse.

Many agree it's a hyperbolic figure of speech emphasizing the importance of Jesus' messianic claim.

Some commentators suggest that Jesus is alluding to the witness of creation as a testament to God's unfolding plan.

Others focus on the contrast between the receptive natural world and the resistant human authorities.

Overall, commentaries recognize this statement's powerful imagery and its role in underscoring the significance of Jesus' ministry and identity.

Luke 19

Luke 19

What does Luke 19:40 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 19:40 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?