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 19:44 mean?

Explanation

This verse from Luke 19:44 is part of a prophecy spoken by Jesus regarding the future destruction of Jerusalem.

The passage is both a lament and a warning.

On a literal level, it describes the physical leveling of the city as well as the suffering that will befall its inhabitants, specifically, "thy children within thee." It conveys a sense of total destruction, in which "not one stone upon another" will be left standing, a common metaphor for utter ruin.

On a deeper level, this destruction is linked to a failure to recognize "the time of thy visitation," implying a missed spiritual opportunity or the rejection of a divine encounter.

The "visitation" refers to Jesus' own ministry and presence among the people.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of Luke was written around the late first century AD.

At this time, the memory of Jerusalem's siege and destruction by the Roman army in 70 AD would have been fresh in the minds of the early Christian community.

Jesus's prophecy in Luke 19:44 can be viewed as an anticipation of this historical event.

The Gospel writers believed that the destruction of Jerusalem was a judgment from God upon the city for its failure to recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

The "children within thee" could refer to the inhabitants of Jerusalem who would suffer as a consequence of the city’s rejection of Jesus.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse has been interpreted from various viewpoints.

In a traditional Christian understanding, it represents a judgment theme where recognizing Jesus as the Messiah is paramount to avoiding divine wrath.

It also conveys the idea of prophetic fulfillment, where the prophecy about Jerusalem's destruction is viewed as validation of Jesus’ divine authority and foreknowledge.

Another perspective is the theme of missed opportunity for salvation; Jerusalem failed to recognize the time of God’s coming to them in the person of Jesus.

Some Christian theologians see this as a commentary on divine judgment upon those who reject Christ, suggesting that destruction is both a physical and spiritual event.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of this verse encourage self-reflection on recognizing and responding to moments of spiritual significance or “divine visitation.” It suggests that individuals must remain open and attentive to the ways God may be working in their lives and heed the warnings and teachings that accompany such moments.

The verse also serves as a reminder of the consequences of ignoring spiritual truth. Believers might use it as motivation to deepen their understanding of faith and to share their beliefs with others, emphasizing the importance of acceptance over rejection.

Cross-References

Matthew 23:37-38: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate."
1 Thessalonians 5:2: "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night."

Language Study

The original Greek word used for "visitation" in this verse is "episkopē," which can mean oversight, visitation, or inspection. It implies a visit with the authority to observe and potentially render judgment.

The phrase "not leave in thee one stone upon another" in Greek emphasizes totality and finality. This stark phrasing reinforces the severity of the coming judgment.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient cultures, the destruction of a city by gods was often interpreted as a result of the city's people failing to honor and obey those deities.

For example, in Greco-Roman tradition, prophecies and omens might foretell a city's doom as divine retribution.

Similarly, in the Old Testament, the prophets frequently warned of destruction as a result of Israel's disobedience to God's commandments.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the verse does not directly relate to any natural phenomena or scientific concepts.

However, archaeology can shed light on the historical accuracy of the destruction of Jerusalem, and geological science can inform us about the methods employed in ancient warfare and the processes that might lead to a city’s complete destruction.

Commentaries

Various Biblical scholars and theologists offer a range of commentaries on Luke 19:44.

Some view it as a confirmation of Jesus' prophetic role, others as a reflection on the ethical responsibility of recognizing and responding to divine intervention.

Commentators from the historical-critical method might emphasize the Gospel writer’s perspective after the destruction of Jerusalem, seeing the prophecy as a theological interpretation of historical events rather than a literal prediction prior to the events.

Many agree that the passage serves as a lament, indicating Jesus' sadness over Jerusalem's impending fate. It also functions as a warning to all who read it about the dangers of spiritual blindness and the necessity of discerning the times and messages of God.

Luke 19

Luke 19

What does Luke 19:44 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 19:44 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?