Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew Mark and Luke John Calvin (continued)
Luke 19:1-10
Luke 19:1-10
Luke 19:1-10
1. And having entered, he passeth through Jericho. 1282 2. And, lo, a man named
Zaccheus, and he was chief of the publicans, and was rich. 3. And he sought to see Jesus who he was, 1283 and could not on account of the multitude; for he was of small stature. 4. And running before, he climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him; for he was to pass that way. 5. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said to him, Zaccheus, make haste, and come down; for today
I must abide at thy house. 6. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he had gone to lodge with a man who is a sinner. 8. And Zaccheus stood, and said to the Lord, Lo, O Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any man in any thing, I restore fourfold. 1284 9. Jesus said to him, Today is salvation come to this house, inasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 1285 10. For the Son of man came to seek and save what was lost.
This shows how little attention Luke paid to observing the order of dates; for, after having detailed the miracle, he now relates what happened in the city of Jericho He tells us that, while Christ presented himself to the view of all, as he went along the streets, Zaccheus alone was very desirous to see him. For it was an evidence of intense desire that he climbed up a tree; since rich men are, for the most part, haughty, and plume themselves on affected gravity. It is possible, indeed, that others entertained the same wish, but this man was most properly singled out by Luke, both on account of his rank, and on account of his wonderful conversion, which took place suddenly. Now, though faith was not yet formed in Zaccheus, yet this was a sort of preparation for it; for it was not without a heavenly inspiration that he desired so earnestly to get a sight of Christ; I mean, in reference to that design which 1282"Estant entre en Iericho, il alloit par la ville;" — "having entered into Jericho, he went through the town."
1283"Et taschoit a veoir lequel estoit Iesus;" — "and endeavored to see who Jesus was." 1284"I'en rend quatre fois autant;" — "I restore four times as much for it." 1285"Poutrtant que ceste-ci aussi est fille d'Abraham, ou, cestuy-ci aussi est fils d'Abraham;" — "because this also is a daughter of Abraham, or, this also is a son of Abraham."