Luke 19#Verses 41–44

File:CodexGigas 527 Luke.jpg text of Luke 14:30–19:7 in Codex Gigas (13th century)]]

The original text was written in Koine Greek. Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:

• Papyrus 75 (AD 175–225)
• Codex Vaticanus (325–350)
• Codex Sinaiticus (330–360)
• Codex Bezae (~400)
• Codex Washingtonianus (~400)
• Codex Alexandrinus (400–440)
• Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (~450; extant verses 42–48).

This chapter is divided into 48 verses.

• {{bibleverse|Luke|19:38|KJV}}: Psalm {{bibleverse-nb|Psalm|118:26|KJV}}{{cite book|last= Kirkpatrick| first= A. F. | authorlink=Alexander Kirkpatrick| title= The Book of Psalms: with Introduction and Notes |series=The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges | volume = Book IV and V: Psalms XC-CL | place = Cambridge |publisher= At the University Press | year = 1901 | pages = 840 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=SLJzlHElr6cC | access-date= February 28, 2019}}
• Luke 19:46: Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11

{{Main|Zacchaeus}}

File:Niels Larsen Stevns- Zakæus.jpg.]]

File:Zacchaeus-sycamore.JPG in Jericho]]

Zacchaeus ({{langx|el|Ζακχαῖος}}, {{Transliteration|el|Zakchaios}}; {{langx|he|זכי}}, 'pure', 'innocent'{{cite web|last=Milligan|first=Jim|title=Lexicon: Strong's G2195 - Zakchaios| url=http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=G2195|work=Blue Letter Bible| publisher=Sowing Circle}}) of Jericho was wealthy, a chief tax collector, mentioned only in the Gospel of Luke.{{bibleverse||Luke|19:1-10|KJV}} A descendant of Abraham, Zacchaeus is the epitome of someone meeting Jesus' in his earthly mission to bring salvation to the lost.{{cite web|last=Warfield|first=Benjamin Breckinridge|title=Jesus' Mission, According to His Own Testimony|url=https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/warfield/warfield_jesusmission.html|work=Monergism|publisher=CPR Foundation}} Tax collectors were despised as traitors (working for the Roman Empire, not for their Jewish community), and as being corrupt. This encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus "is a story of divine grace and the call to holiness". A Methodist/Roman Catholic ecumenical document reflects that{{blockquote|Zacchaeus, an undeserving figure, is nevertheless graciously accepted by Jesus and drawn into a saving relationship with the Lord, which transforms his previously self-centred and selfish existence into holy living. On receiving Jesus’ summons, Zacchaeus instantly resolves to make reparation for his sinful past by promising to give half of his possessions to the poor and repay fourfold all whom he had defrauded."Joint International Commission for Dialogue Between the World Methodist Council and The Roman Catholic Church (2016), [http://worldmethodistconference.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/The-Call-to-Holiness-Final-copy-28062016.pdf The Call to Holiness: From Glory to Glory], accessed 24 January 2022}}

Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore or sycamore-fig tree (Ficus sycomorus,{{bibleverse|Luke|19:4|NIV}}: New International Version part of the fig or Moraceae family) whose large leaves offered him concealment,Zohary, Michael. Plants of the Bible. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1982, p. 142. while enabling him to see Jesus. Titus Bostrensis in the fourth century noted that two factors had prevented him from seeing Jesus: his low stature and his many sins.Titus Bostrensis, quoted by Thomas Aquinas in [https://archive.org/details/The-catena-aurea-of-blessed-Thomas/Catena%20Aurea%20Luke%20Pt.%202/page/624/mode/2up Catena aurea: commentary on the four Gospels, collected out of the works of the fathers], Luke, Part 2, p. 625, edited by John Henry Newman, Oxford, 1841, accessed on 7 May 2025 His concealment reflected spiritual desperation in a shame-based culture, where public exposure risked honor.Bailey, Kenneth E. Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008, pp. 181–184.Barclay, William. The Gospel of Luke. The Daily Study Bible Series. Revised Edition. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1975, pp. 240–241.Edersheim, Alfred. The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1993, Book V, Chapter XVIII, p. 672. Like Nicodemus in John's Gospel, who approached Jesus at night to avoid shame,{{bibleverse|John|3:1–2}} Zacchaeus sought privacy but was called out as Jesus looked into the dense foliage and said Zacchaeus' name.

There is a word play with "salvation has come to his house today". In verse 9, Jesus (meaning “Yahweh saves”) declares, "Today salvation has come to this house",{{bibleverse|Luke|19:9|NIV}}: NIV a phrase with double meaning: Jesus, meaning salvation, physically came to Zacchaeus' home, and Zacchaeus' life change evidenced spiritual salvation coming to his house today.Wright, N. T., Luke for Everyone. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, pp. 224–226.Green, Joel B. The Gospel of Luke. NICNT. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1997, pp. 669–671.Bock, Darrell L. Luke 9:51–24:53. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1996, pp. 1520–1523.

{{Main|Parable of the minas}}

:Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.{{bibleverse|Luke|19:11|NKJV}}: NKJV

The journey which Jesus had embarked on "steadfastly" in {{bibleverse|Luke|9:51|NKJV}} is drawing towards its climax. Hugo Grotius held that "they" (who heard these things) refers to the disciples. Heinrich Meyer argues that "they" were the murmurers of verse 7.Meyer, H. A. W., [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/meyer/luke/19.htm Meyer's NT Commentary] on Luke 19, translated from the German sixth edition, accessed on 9 August 2020

Meyer also notes some uncertainty regarding the chronology of events: verse 5 has Jesus planning to stay with Zacchaeus overnight, whereas verse 28 suggests a more immediate departure for Jerusalem after the telling of the parable.

{{Main|Triumphal entry into Jerusalem}}

In verse 29, Jesus instructs two of his disciples to take possession of a colt for him to ride. They place their cloaks or "upper garments" on the colt to use as a cushion,{{bibleverse|Luke|19:35|ESV}}: ESV and accompany Jesus on his way. Those who throw their cloaks on the road ahead of him (verse 36) are presumably the crowd of his disciples, whose presence is indicated in verses 37-38.Gill, J. (1746–48), [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/gill/luke/19.htm Gill's Exposition] on Luke 19, accessed on 13 April 2025

On the downward slope of the Mount of Olives, there is a scene of great rejoicing:

:"Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!

:Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"{{bibleverse||Luke|19:38|NKJV}}, cf. {{bibleverse||Psalm|118:26|NKJV}}

The Hebrew word "Hosanna", which appears in the parallel accounts in Matthew and Mark, is not used by Luke. Meyer suggests that Luke's version might reflect a tradition which has avoided using this word.

As he drew near to the city, Jesus wept, anticipating the destruction of the Temple,{{bibleverse||Luke|19:41-44|NKJV}} an occasion known as Flevit super illam in Latin.*{{cite book|last1=Boring|first1=M. Eugene |last2=Craddock|first2=Fred B. |title=The People's New Testament Commentary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N0tLXRIiIe0C|year=2004|publisher=Westminster John Knox Press|isbn=978-0-664-22754-8}}{{cite book|last1=Majerník|first1=Ján |last2=Ponessa|first2=Joseph |last3=Manhardt|first3=Laurie Watson |title=Come and See: The Synoptics: On the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cqP5xHXGYPQC|year=2005|publisher=Emmaus Road |isbn=978-1-931018-31-9}} Another occasion when Jesus wept is recorded in John's gospel following the death of his friend Lazarus.{{bibleverse||John|11:35|NKJV}}) In his lament, Jesus states:

:"If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."{{bibleverse||Luke|19:42-44|NKJV}}: NKJV

Lutheran biblical scholar Johann Bengel contrasts Jesus' reaction with the immediately preceding scene of rejoicing:

:Behold before thee the compassionate King, amidst the very shouts of joy raised by His disciples!

:Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, and yet compels no man by force.Bengel, J. A., [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/bengel/luke/19.htm Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament] on Luke 19, accessed 11 July 2018

The Jerusalem Bible suggests that "your peace" is a reference to "the peace of the messianic age".Jerusalem Bible (1966), footnote f at Luke 19:42

:When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.{{bibleverse||Luke|19:28|NKJV}}: NKJV

In many translations, Jesus went on "ahead", i.e. "in front of" his disciples.{{bibleverse||Luke|19:28|GNT}}: Good News Translation Erasmus, Kypke, Kuinoel, Heinrich Ewald and others translate as "He went forwards", i.e. he pursued his journey, cf. the God's Word to the Nations translation, "he continued on his way".{{bibleverse||Luke|19:28|GW}}: God's Word Translation

As with Luke's earlier text at {{bibleverse||Luke|13:34-35|NKJV}}, Jesus contemplates the significance and fate of Jerusalem, the holy city. This passage is rich in Old Testament allusions.Footnote g at Luke 19:44 in the Jerusalem Bible

{{Main|Cleansing of the Temple}}

: [Jesus] Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.{{bibleverse|Luke|19:46|KJV}}: KJV

In expelling the dealers from the Temple, Jesus' words draw from both Isaiah 56:7 (a house of prayer for all nations) and Jeremiah 7:11 (a den of thieves). Matthew 21:13{{cite book

| last = Huey

| first = F. B.

| title = The New American Commentary - Jeremiah, Lamentations: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture, NIV Text

| publisher = B&H Publishing Group

| year = 1993

| pages = 106

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=HBguYZCdAM4C

| isbn = 9780805401165

}} and Mark 11:17 have the same quotations.

: And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him.{{bibleverse|Luke|19:47|NKJV}}: NKJV

Luke reiterates at {{bibleverse|Luke|21:37|NKJV}} and {{bibleverse-nb|Luke|23:27|NKJV}} that Jesus taught in the Temple on a daily basis. Anglican churchman Henry Alford suggests that this "general description" of Jesus' engagement in the temple is fittingly located at the end of the chapter which concludes his "last journey to Jerusalem".Alford, H., [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/alford/luke/19.htm Henry Alford - Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary] on Luke 19, accessed 23 October 2023 Alexander Maclaren refers to his "calm courage" in continuously teaching there.Maclaren, A., [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/maclaren/luke/19.htm Expositions Of Holy Scripture] on Luke 19, accessed 23 October 2023

:and [they] were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.{{bibleverse|Luke|19:48|NKJV}}: NKJV

Literally, the people “were hanging from him”, i.e. hung on His lips.Farrar, F. W. (1891), [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/luke/19.htm Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges] on Luke 19, accessed 12 August 2020 The Jerusalem Bible translates this as "the people as a whole hung on his words".Jerusalem Bible (1966), Luke 19:48

• Jericho
• Mina
• Ministry of Jesus
• Parables of Jesus
• Sycamore tree
• Zacchaeus
• Related Bible parts: Isaiah 56, Jeremiah 7, Zechariah 9, Matthew 21, Matthew 25, Mark 11, John 2, John 12

{{reflist}}

• {{bibleverse|Luke|19|KJV}} King James Bible - Wikisource
• [http://www.latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=1&b=3&c=19 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate]
• [http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=Luke+19 Online Bible at GospelHall.org] (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=49&chapter=19 Multiple bible versions at Bible Gateway] (NKJV, NIV, NRSV etc.)

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