Luke Chapter Nineteen
Luke 19:1 “And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.”
- He was close to Jericho (Luke 18:35), and now has arrived and passed through.
- Jericho is the city where Rahab the harlot lived where the walls were brought down (Joshua 2:1-24, Joshua 6:1-20, Hebrews 11:30-31, and James 2:24-26).
Luke 19:2 “And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.”
- Publicans [tax collectors] did not have a good reputation (Matthew 5:46-47).
- Jesus teaching them brought charges upon Him (Luke 15:1-2).
- The fact that Zacchaeus was rich and a tax collector can easily lead one to conclude he might have gotten his wealth unjustly (cf. Luke 3:12-13).
- Wealth in itself brings doubts upon the possibility of salvation for a person (Luke 18:18-30). *See notes there.
- Yet, some publicans followed the Lord’s will (Matthew 9:9-13, Matthew 21:28-32, and Luke 7:24-30).
Luke 19:3 “And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.”
- There was such a crowd around Jesus that Zacchaeus could not see him. Jesus often drew a crowd (Matthew 4:25, Matthew 5:1, Matthew 8:1, Matthew 8:18, Matthew 9:36, etc.).
- Yet, as they came they also departed (John 6:60-71).
Luke 19:4 “And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.”
- He went to the length of climbing a tree to see Jesus. Think about the man that was lowered through a roof to get to Jesus (Luke 5:17-26).
Luke 19:5 “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.”
- Like we saw with Levi, Jesus wants to come to his house (Luke 5:27-32; cf. Matthew 10:1-15).
Luke 19:6 “And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.”
- This is a different response than the Jews as a whole gave Jesus (John 1:11).
- Jesus told Him to make haste and come down (Luke 19:5). He did so. Though the point is not the same, this reminds me of Psalms 119:59-60
- Caution though, the person with a heart likened to stony soil receives with joy (Matthew 13:20-21).
Luke 19:7 “And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.”
- Luke 5:27-32, Luke 7:36-50, and Luke 15:1-32
- To save sinners, they [sinners] need to be told what to do (Matthew 3:1-12, Matthew 9:13, Luke 24:47, and Acts 3:19).
- If Jesus or any other faithful teacher avoids sinners, how would they hear (Romans 10:8-17)?
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