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 19:5 mean?

Explanation

Luke 19:5 is a significant verse in which Jesus Christ interacts with Zacchaeus, a tax collector, and a figure who was likely despised by many in Jewish society due to his occupation and collaboration with the Roman authorities.

In this verse, Jesus reaches Jericho and a crowd gathers.

Zacchaeus, being of small stature and unable to see Jesus because of the crowd, climbs a sycamore tree for a better view.

Jesus, upon reaching the spot, looks up and addresses Zacchaeus directly, calling him by name and instructing him to come down quickly, stating, "for today I must abide at thy house." This statement holds a literal meaning, indicating that Jesus would visit Zacchaeus's home, and it also has deeper implications, suggesting Jesus's willingness to associate with and extend grace to those regarded as sinners or outsiders.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

At the time of Jesus, tax collectors like Zacchaeus were generally considered traitors and sinners by the Jewish people because they collected taxes on behalf of the Roman Empire, which occupied Israel.

The Roman taxation system allowed for tax collectors to exact more than the required tax for their personal gain, leading to widespread abuse and corruption.

Hence, a tax collector's association with Rome and their often-oppressive practices made them pariahs in Jewish society. When Jesus chose to visit Zacchaeus's home, he overturned social expectations and challenged the prevailing attitudes towards such marginalized individuals.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse illustrates the universal scope of Jesus’s ministry – extending grace and salvation to all people, regardless of their status or reputation.

It also demonstrates an element of divine foreknowledge and predestination, as Jesus not only knows Zacchaeus by name but has determined that he will stay at his house before having been invited.

This incident reflects the theological themes of repentance and conversion, as Zacchaeus's encounter with Jesus leads him to pledge restitution to those he has wronged.

Practical Applications

The verse encourages an attitude of inclusion towards individuals who might be marginalized or looked down upon due to their profession or past behaviors.

It implies that personal transformation is possible and that individuals should be open to such transformation in themselves and others.

This can be applied in daily life by fostering acceptance and offering support to those who seek to change their ways.

It also suggests that socially constructed barriers can be overcome through acts of acceptance and love.

Cross-References

Matthew 9:10-13: Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners and emphasizes the need for mercy over sacrifice, also suggesting that he came not for the righteous, but to call sinners.
Luke 5:30-32: In a similar context, Jesus explains that he has not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Luke 15:1-7: The parable of the lost sheep, which illustrates joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, 'epei' (ἐπεί) suggests a sense of urgency or necessity - "for" or "because" - indicating an imperative need for Jesus to stay at Zacchaeus’s house.

The word 'dei' (δεῖ) translated as "I must" further emphasizes this necessity, often denoting a divine requirement or destiny. 'Semeion' in verse 19:9, translated as "come down," comes with the implication of 'without delay' or 'immediately', reflecting the urgency of Jesus' call to Zacchaeus.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other religious traditions, figures like Jesus often associate with those considered sinful or marginalized.

For example, in Hinduism, Lord Krishna is known to consort with the gopis or cowherd women, often seen as a symbolic act that transcends social norms.

Similarly, in Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) renounced his princely status to seek enlightenment and taught universal compassion, regardless of social class.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, this verse does not directly intersect with empirical data or theories.

However, it could be used to discuss psychological aspects of inclusion and the emotional impact of acceptance in social dynamics. As such, social psychology might explore the transformative power of perceived acceptance and value addressed in the verse.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars have various interpretations of this verse.

Some suggest that Jesus's invitation to Zacchaeus signifies a divine appointment and a manifestation of grace.

Others focus on the societal implications, seeing Jesus's actions as radical in challenging social norms and embracing the marginalized.

Commentaries also draw attention to Zacchaeus's response (in following verses) as evidence of genuine repentance and transformation, a key theme in Jesus's teachings on salvation and restitution.

Luke 19

Luke 19

What does Luke 19:5 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 19:5 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?