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 19:9 mean?

Explanation

Luke 19:9 captures a pivotal moment where Jesus acknowledges the change of heart in Zacchaeus, a tax collector in Jericho.

Zacchaeus, who has just demonstrated his repentance and conversion by vowing to give half of his goods to the poor and to restore fourfold anyone he had defrauded, receives Jesus' declaration of salvation.

Here, Jesus confirms that salvation is not just about ethnicity or obedience to the law, but about faith and repentance, changing one's life to align with God’s will.

Jesus affirms Zacchaeus' new identity as a "son of Abraham," implying that he has inherited the faith of Abraham, who is considered the father of the faithful in Judaism.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, tax collectors were often seen as traitors and sinners because they collected taxes for the Roman Empire from their own people, frequently demanding more than was required to enrich themselves.

The setting of this story is Jericho, which was a wealthy, important city and a major tax center.

This account appears in the Gospel of Luke, which was written primarily to a Gentile audience and has a strong emphasis on Jesus' ministry to the marginalized, sinners, and those on the fringes of Jewish society.

This event is significant as it illustrates Jesus' mission to seek and save the lost, regardless of their social status.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives focus on various aspects of this encounter:

Soteriology: This verse speaks directly to the doctrine of salvation.

Zacchaeus’s faith and repentance lead to his salvation, highlighting the belief that faith in Jesus and turning away from sin are crucial for salvation.

Covenant Theology: By calling Zacchaeus a "son of Abraham," Jesus is emphasizing that the blessings of the covenant made with Abraham extend to those who share Abraham's faith, not just to those who share his blood.
Social Gospel: The verse can also be seen through the lens of the social gospel, which underscores how personal transformation should lead to social justice, as evidenced by Zacchaeus’ promise to give to the poor and restore those he cheated.

Practical Applications

The verse encourages believers to:

Embrace personal transformation through faith and repentance, as demonstrated by Zacchaeus. 2.

Understand that actions reflecting a change of heart are vital expressions of faith. 3.

Acknowledge that salvation is accessible to everyone, regardless of their past. 4.

Approach others with grace and acceptance, as Jesus did, knowing that anyone can change.

Cross-References

Repentance and Faith: Mark 1:15 – "And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
Salvation for all who Believe: Romans 10:11-13 – "For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Abraham's Faith: Galatians 3:7 – "Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham."
Wealth and Justice: Luke 3:8-14 – John the Baptist’s teaching on fruits worthy of repentance, including fair treatment and generosity regarding possessions.

Language Study

Salvation (σωτηρία - sōtēria): This Greek word means deliverance or preservation, often with the connotation of health, well-being, or healing.
House (οἶκος - oikos): Refers not only to a physical dwelling but also encompasses the idea of a household or family.
Son of Abraham: Although "son of" is not explicitly found in the original Greek, the concept is implied.

It signifies not just biological descent but also spiritual kinship and shared faith with Abraham.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient myths, gods interact with humans often to assert power or fulfill a divine will, rather than to bring moral or spiritual transformation.

In contrast, the interactions between Jesus and individuals in the Gospels, like in Luke 19:9, are centered on spiritual change and ethical lifestyle reformation.

In other religious traditions, actions or charity could be seen as ways to earn divine favor, yet in this verse, the actions are the fruit of salvation that has already been granted through grace.

Scientific Perspectives

This verse does not intersect directly with scientific understandings as it deals with spiritual, ethical, and relational matters rather than empirical or material phenomena.

However, modern psychology might highlight the transformation in Zacchaeus as indicative of personal change brought about by a significant encounter, or as an example of restorative justice in action.

Commentaries

Most commentators agree that Luke 19:9 emphasizes the inclusive nature of Jesus' mission:

Matthew Henry's Commentary: Notes that Zacchaeus stood as a representative of the publicans and sinners who Jesus came to call to repentance.
William Barclay's Daily Study Bible: Points out that Zacchaeus goes beyond the law's requirements in restitution, indicating genuine repentance, and that with Jesus’ words he is taken back into the fellowship of the chosen people.
The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Highlights that Jesus today offers this same welcome to all, even the apparently most unlikely candidates for the kingdom of God.

Luke 19

Luke 19

What does Luke 19:9 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 19:9 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?