19:1-10To finance their great world empire, the Romans levied heavy taxes on all nations under their control. The Jews opposed these taxes because they supported a secular government and its pagan gods, but they were still forced to pay. Tax collectors were among the most unpopular people in Israel. Jews by birth, they chose to work for Rome and were considered traitors. Besides, it was common knowledge that tax collectors were making themselves rich by gouging their fellow Jews. No wonder the people Muttered when Jesus went home with the tax collector Zacchaeus. But despite the fact that Zacchaeus was both a cheater and a turncoat, Jesus toved him; and in response, this tax collector was converted. In every society, certain groups of people are considered “untouchable” because of their political views, their immoral behavior, or their tife-style. We shouid not give in to social pressure to avoid these people. Jesus loves them, and they need to hear his Good News.
Life Application Study BibleLukeChapter 19
Luke 19
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1727, 1728, 1729
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
1Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. $He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. 5When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. 6Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” §Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. 8Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the LORD and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, LORD, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” 8Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to bea true son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man* came to seek and save those who are lost.” Jesus Tells the Parable of the King’s Ten Servants (181) 11The crowd was listening to everything Jesus said. And because he was nearing Jerusalem, he told them a story to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin tight 19:10 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself. away. 12He said, “A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return. 13Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver,* saying, ‘Invest this for me while I am gone.’ 14But his people hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want him to be our king.’ 15" After he was crowned king, he returned and called in the servants to whom he had given the money. He wanted to find out what their profits were. 16The first servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made ten times the original amount!’ 17" Well done’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward.’ 18“The next servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made five times the original amount.’ 19““Well done!’ the king said. ‘You will be governor over five cities.’ 20But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, ‘Master, hid your money and kept it safe. 21l was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and harvesting crops you didn’t plant.’ 22"'You wicked servant!’ the king roared. ‘Your own words condemn you. If you knew that I’ma hard man who takes what isn’t mine and harvests crops I didn't plant, why didn't you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it’ 24”Then, turning to the others standing nearby, the king ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’ 25"But, master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten pounds!’ 26"'Yes, the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. 27And as for these enemies of mine who didn’t want me to be their king—bring them in and execute them right here in front of me.’” 3. Jesus’ ministry in Jerusalem
Jesus Rides into Jerusalem on a Young Donkey
(183/Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; John 12:12-19) 28After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples. 29As they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead. 30“Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As you enter it, you will see ayoung donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3iIf anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt” just say, ‘The LORD needs it.” 32So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said. 33And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?” 34And the disciples simply replied, “The LORD needs it.” $5So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on. 36As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. 37When they reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.
38“Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD!Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”*
39But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” 40He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” 41But as they came closer to Jerusalem and Jesus saw the city ahead, he began to weep. 42“How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now itis too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. 43Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. 44They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not accept your opportunity for salvation.” Jesus Clears the Temple Again (184/Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:12-19) 45Then Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people selling animals for sacrifices. 46He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer, but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”* 47After that, he taught daily in the Temple, but the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders of the people began planning how to kill him. 48But they could think of nothing, because all the people hung on every word he said.
Religious Leaders Challenge Jesus’ Authority
(189/Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33)
Textual footnotes
- 19:13 Greek ten minas; one mina was worth about three months’ wages.
- 19:38 Pss 118:26; 148:1. 19:46 Isa 56:7; Jer 7:11.
Life Application Notes 14 notes
19:8Judging from the crowd’s reaction to him, Zacchaeus must have been a very crooked tax collector. After he met Jesus, however, he realized that his life needed straightening out. By giving to the poor and making restitution—with generous interest—to those he had cheated, Zacchaeus demonstrated inner change by outward action. Following Jesus in your head or heart alone is not enough. You must show your faith by changed behavior. Has your faith resulted in action? What changes do you need to make?
19:9,10When Jesus said Zacchaeus was a son of Abraham and yet was lost, he must have shocked his hearers in at least two ways: (1) They would not have liked to acknowledge that this unpopular tax collector was a fellow son of Abraham, and (2) they would not have wished to admit that sons of Abraham could be lost. But a person is not saved because of a good heritage or condemned by a bad one; faith is more important than genealogy, Jesus came to save all the lost, regardless of their background or previous way of life. Through faith, the lost can be forgiven and made new.
19:11ffThe people still hoped for a political leader who would set up an earthly kingdom and get rid of Roman domination, Jesus’ story showed that his Kingdom would not take this form right away. First, he would go away for a while, and his followers would need to be faithful and productive during his absence, Upon his return, Jesus would inaugurate a Kingdom more powerful and just than anything they could expect or imagine.
19:11ffThis story showed Jesus’ followers what they were to do during the time between Jesus’ departure and his second coming. Because we live in that time period, it applies directly to ys, We have been given excellent resources to build and expand God’s Kingdom. Jesus expects us to use these talents so that they muitiply and the Kingdom grows. He asks each of us to account for what we do with his gifts. White awaiting the coming of the Kingdom of God in glory, we must do Christ's work.
19:16-22and Mark 10:17-22).
19:20-27Why was the king so hard on this man who had not increased the money? He punished the man because (1) he didn’t share his master’s interest in the Kingdom, (2) he didn’t trust his master’s intentions, (3) his only concern was for himself, and (4) he did nothing to use the money. Like the king in this story, God has given you gifts to use for the benefit of his Kingdom. Do you want the Kingdom to grow? Do you trust God to govern it fairly? Are you as concerned for others’ welfare as you are for your own? Are you willing to use faithfuily what he has entrusted to you?
19:30-35By this time Jesus was extremely well known. Everyone coming to Jerusalem for the Passover festival had heard of him, and, for a time, the popular mood was favorable toward him. “The LORD needs it” was all the disciples had to say, and the colt’s owners gladly turned their animal over to them.
19:35-38Christians celebrate this event on Palm Sunday. The people lined the road, praising God, waving palm branches, and throwing their cloaks in front of the colt as it passed before them. “Long live the King” was the meaning behind their joyful shouts, because they knew that Jesus was intentionally fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9: “Look, your king is coming to you. He is righfeous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—riding ona donkey's colt.” To announce that he was indeed the Messiah, Jesus chose a time when all Israel would be gathered at Jerusalem, a place where huge crowds could see him, and a way of proclaiming his mission that was unmistakable. The people went wild. They were sure their liberation was at hand.
19:38The people who were praising God for giving them a king had the wrong idea about Jesus. They expected him to be a national leader who would restore their nation to its former glory; thus, they were deaf to the words of their prophets and blind to Jesus’ real mission. When it became apparent that Jesus was Not going to fulfill their hopes, many people turned against him.
19:39,40The Pharisees thought the crowd’s words were sacrilegious and blasphemous. They didn’t want someone challenging their power and authority, and they didn’t want a revolt that would bring the Roman army down on them. So they asked Jesus to keep his people quiet. But Jesus said that if the people were quiet, the stones would burst into cheers. Why? Not because Jesus was setting up a powerful political kingdom but because he was establishing God's eternal Kingdom, a reason for the greatest celebration of all.
19:41-44The Jewish leaders had rejected their King (19:47). They had gone too far. They had refused God’s offer of salvation in Jesus Christ when they were visited by God himself, and soon their nation would suffer. God did not turn away from the Jewish people who obeyed him, however, and he continues to Offer salvation to the people he loves, both Jews and Gentiles. Eternal life is within your reach; accept it while the opportunity is stil! offered.
19:43,44About 40 years after Jesus said these words, they came true. In A.D. 66, the Jews revolted against Roman control. Three years later Titus, son of the emperor Vespasian, was sent to crush the rebellion. Roman soldiers attacked Jerusalem and broke through the northern wail but still couldn’t take the city. Finally, they laid siege to it, and in A.D. 70 they were able to enter the severely weakened city and burn it. Six hundred thousand Jews were killed during Titus’s onslaught.
19:47Who were the “other leaders of the people”? This group probably included wealthy leaders in politics, commerce, and law. hey had several reasons for wanting to get rid of Jesus. He had damaged business in the Temple by driving the merchants out. N addition, he was preaching against injustice, and his teachings often favored the poor over the rich. Furthermore, his great popuarity was in danger of attracting Rome’s attention, and the leaders of Israet wanted as little as possible to do with Rome.
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LAST WEEK IN JERUSALEM A they approached Jerusalem from Jericho (19:1), Jesus and the disciples came to the villages of Bethany and Bethphage. nestled on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, only a few miles outside Jerusalem. Jesus stayed in Bethany during the nights of that last week, entering Jerusalem during the day.
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