1Christ visiteth Zacchaeus the publican. 11The parable of a nobleman who left money with his servants to trade with in his absence. 28Christ rideth in triumph into Jerusalem: 41he weepeth over the city: 45driveth the buyers and sellers out of the temple: 47teacheth daily therein: the rulers seek to destroy him.
1AND Jesus 1entered and passed through 2Jericho.
1 Namely, into the city. See Luke 18:35.
2 Of the geographical position of this city, see Mark 10:46.
2And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the 3chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3 In every province and city there were several publicans, amongst whom one was the chief, who was to be accountable for the tribute to the Romans. See the same in Josephus, Antiq. lib. 12, cap. 4.
3And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press,a because he was little 4of stature.
a crowd*
4 Or, small in person. Gr. stature, or length.
4And he ran before, and climbed up into a 5sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5 Gr. sycomoraea, which was a tree in Syria and Egypt, having the size and the leaves of a mulberry tree, and fruits like figs, but without kernels. Pliny, lib. 13, cap.7.
5And 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 6abide at thy house.
6 That is, lodge, as is expounded in verse 7.
6And he made haste, and came down, and received him 7joyfully.
7 Gr. being glad.
7And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be 8guest with a man that is a sinner.
8 Gr. to unloose; a phrase taken from the act of taking the horses out of the harness, having come to the inn.
8And 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 9by false accusation, I restore him 10fourfold.
9 Or, have taken away by false information or accusation. See Luke 3:14.
10 Namely, according to the law of the punishment for theft, Exod. 22:1; 2 Sam. 12:6.
9And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this 11house, forsomuch as heb also is 12a son of Abraham.
11 That is, household; seeing that, when the master of the family believed in Christ, the entire family is also reckoned to be in the covenant, according to the promise, Gen. 17:7; Acts 2:39, 16:15, 33, except that through their unbelief they reject this grace.
b Luke 13:16.
12 Namely, not only according to the flesh, but also according to the promise, Rom. 9:8.
10Forc the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
c Mat. 10:6; 15:24; 18:11; Acts 13:46.
11And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that 13the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
13 Namely, which they imagined would be a worldly kingdom.
12Hed said therefore, A certain 14nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
d Mat. 25:14; Mark 13:34.
14 Gr. man. By this nobleman He understands Himself; by the servants, His disciples and especially the teachers; by these citizens, the stiff-necked Jews; by the land located afar off, heaven; by the pounds, spiritual gifts; by His return, His last coming to judgment; and by the giving of cities, the spiritual and eternal reward.
13And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten 15pounds, and said unto them, Occupye till I come.
15 Gr. mna, in Latin mina; which is reckoned at sixty common shekels, or an hundred and twenty denarii or drams of silver. See Ezek. 45:12. And what a denarius is worth, see Mat. 18 on verse 28. If we will understand this mina of gold, then it is worth so much more as gold is more in value than silver.
e trade, do business*
14But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
15And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he 16commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given 17the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16 That is, said.
17 Gr. the silver.
16Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou 18authority over ten cities.
18 Or, power.
18And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath 19gained five pounds.
19 Gr. made.
19And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
20And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a 20napkin:
20 Or, handkerchief, or linen cloth.
21For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
22And he saith unto him, Outf 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:
f 2 Sam. 1:16; Mat. 12:37.
23Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the 21bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with 22usury?
21 Gr. table, that is, to those who keep a table or bank, to give out money on exchange or for gain.
22 That is, gain or interest. Not that the Lord would commend unlawful usury, but that thereby He would teach we ought to employ our gifts for the benefit and edification of our neighbor and for the glory of God. See the like Mat. 25:27.
24And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
25(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.g)
g NT currency (Gr. mna): 100 of the pennies in Mat. 20.2; $20.00
26Forh I say unto you, 23That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
h Mat. 13:12; 25:29; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18.
23 This discourse does not refer to the following part in this verse, but to the 24th verse, whereof see Mat. 13:12.
27But 24those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and 25slay them before me.
24 Hereby are understood the stiff-necked Jews, which in verse 14 are called his citizens, and by their rebellion were become his enemies.
25 Or, smite them dead.
28¶And when he had thus spoken, he went 26before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
26 Or, beforehand, to show His willingness and readiness of undergoing His suffering.
29Andi it came to pass, when he was come nigh to 27Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called 28the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
i Mat. 21:1; Mark 11:1.
27 How far distant these places were from Jerusalem, see Mat. 21 on verse 1.
28 Gr. of the olives.
30Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find 29a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.
29 Namely, of a she-ass, with its dam. See Mat. 21:2; Mark 11:2.
31And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
32And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.
33And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
34And they said, The Lord hath need of him.
35Andj they 30brought him to Jesus: andk they cast their 31garments upon the colt, and 32they set Jesus thereon.
j John 12:14.
30 Gr. led it.
k 2 Kings 9:13.
31 That is, upper garments or cloaks.
32 Namely, many of the multitude, Mark 11:8.
36And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.
37And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude 33of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all 34the mighty works that they had seen;
33 Namely, they who followed Him, as well as they who came out of Jerusalem to meet Him, John 12:12, 13.
34 Gr. the powers.
38Saying, 35Blessedlbe the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: 36peacem in heaven, and glory in the highest.
35 See hereof Mat. 21:9.
l Psalm 118:26.
36 That is, God be pacified and reconciled unto mankind by the coming of this King, and thereby glorified.
m Luke 2:14; Eph. 2:14.
39And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
40And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, then stones would immediately cry out.
n Hab. 2:11.
41¶And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
42Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in 37this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
37 Namely, in which I now come unto thee for the last time, and give thee warning for thy preservation and salvation; this is an abrupt speech, to be completed with: how happy then shouldst thou be! or somewhat similar.
43For the days shall come upon thee, that thine 38enemies shall cast 39a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
38 Namely, the Romans. See the fulfillment hereof in Josephus, de bello Jud. lib. 6.
39 Or, wall cast up of earth dug out.
44Ando shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy 40children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not 41the time of thy visitation.
o 1 Kings 9:7, 8; Micah 3:12; Mat. 24:1, 2; Mark 13:2; Luke 21:6.
40 That is, inhabitants, as Mat. 23:37.
41 Namely, in which, by the preaching of the Gospel, the grace of God is now offered unto thee.
45And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;
46Saying unto them, Itp is written, 42My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.
p 1 Kings 8:29; Isa. 56:7; Jer. 7:11; Mat. 21:13; Mark 11:17.
42 That is, the temple.
47And he taught daily in the temple. Butq the chief priests and the scribes and 43the chief of the people sought 44to destroy him,
q Mark 11:18; John 7:19; 8:37.
43 Gr. the first or the most important ones.
44 Gr. to ruin; or, to put to death.
48And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very 45attentive to hear him.
45 Gr. hung upon His lips, that is, adhered to Him; or, was very desirous to hear Him.