Luke 19

Zacchaeus Meets Jesus

1 Jesus was passing through Jericho.2 A man named Zacchaeus was there. He was the director of tax collectors, and he was rich.3 He tried to see who Jesus was. But Zacchaeus was a small man, and he couldn’t see Jesus because of the crowd.

4 So Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a fig tree to see Jesus, who was coming that way.
5 When Jesus came to the tree, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down! I must stay at your house today.”6 Zacchaeus came down and was glad to welcome Jesus into his home.

7 But the people who saw this began to express disapproval. They said, “He went to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 Later, at dinner, Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Lord, I’ll give half of my property to the poor. I’ll pay four times as much as I owe to those I have cheated in any way.”9 Then Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “You and your family have been saved today. You’ve shown that you, too, are one of Abraham’s descendants.

10 Indeed, the Son of Man has come to seek and to save people who are lost.”

A Story About a King

11 Jesus was getting closer to Jerusalem, and the people thought that the kingdom of God would appear suddenly. While Jesus had the people’s attention, he used this illustration.12 He said, “A prince went to a distant country to be appointed king, and then he returned.

13 Before he left, he called ten of his servants and gave them ten coins. He said to his servants, ‘Invest this money until I come back.’
14 “The citizens of his own country hated him. They sent representatives to follow him and say to the person who was going to appoint him, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’15 “After he was appointed king, he came back. Then he said, ‘Call those servants to whom I gave money. I want to know how much each one has made by investing.’16 “The first servant said, ‘Sir, the coin you gave me has earned ten times as much.’17 “The king said to him, ‘Good job! You’re a good servant. You proved that you could be trusted with a little money. Take charge of ten cities.’18 “The second servant said, ‘The coin you gave me, sir, has made five times as much.’19 “The king said to this servant, ‘You take charge of five cities.’20 “Then the other servant said, ‘Sir, look! Here’s your coin. I’ve kept it in a cloth for safekeeping because

21 I was afraid of you. You’re a tough person to get along with. You take what isn’t yours and harvest grain you haven’t planted.’
22 “The king said to him, ‘I’ll judge you by what you’ve said, you evil servant! You knew that I was a tough person to get along with. You knew that I take what isn’t mine and harvest grain I haven’t planted.23 Then why didn’t you put my money in the bank? When I came back, I could have collected it with interest.’

24 The king told his men, ‘Take his coin away, and give it to the man who has ten.’
25 “They replied, ‘Sir, he already has ten coins.’26 “ ‘I can guarantee that everyone who has something will be given more. But everything will be taken away from those who don’t have much.

27 Bring my enemies, who didn’t want me to be their king. Kill them in front of me.’ ”

The King Comes to Jerusalem—Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11; John 12:12–19

28 After Jesus had given this illustration, he continued on his way to Jerusalem.29 When he came near Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives (as it was called), Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead of him.30 He said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter, you will find a young donkey tied there. No one has ever sat on it. Untie it, and bring it.

31 If anyone asks you why you are untying it, say that the Lord needs it.”
32 The men Jesus sent found it as he had told them.

33 While they were untying the young donkey, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the donkey?”
34 The disciples answered, “The Lord needs it.”35 They brought the donkey to Jesus, put their coats on it, and helped Jesus onto it.36 As he was riding along, people spread their coats on the road.37 By this time he was coming near the place where the road went down the Mount of Olives. Then the whole crowd of disciples began to praise God for all the miracles they had seen.

38 They shouted joyfully,
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven.”39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell your disciples to be quiet.”40 Jesus replied, “I can guarantee that if they are quiet, the stones will cry out.”41 When he came closer and saw the city, he began to cry.42 He said, “If you had only known today what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden, so you cannot see it.43 The time will come when enemy armies will build a wall to surround you and close you in on every side.

44 They will level you to the ground and kill your people. One stone will not be left on top of another, because you didn’t recognize the time when God came to help you.”

Jesus Throws Out the Moneychangers—Matthew 21:12–17; Mark 11:15–19

45 Jesus went into the temple courtyard and began to throw out those who were selling things there.

46 He said to them, “Scripture says, ‘My house will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a gathering place for thieves.”
47 Jesus taught in the temple courtyard every day. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people looked for a way to kill him.

48 But they could not find a way to do it, because all the people were eager to hear him.

Luke 19

1 And he entered and was passing through Jericho.2 And behold, a man called by name Zacchaeus; and he was a chief publican, and he was rich.3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the crowd, because he was little of stature.4 And he ran on before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to-day 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, He is gone in to lodge with a man that is a sinner.8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wrongfully exacted aught of any man, I restore fourfold.9 And Jesus said unto him, To-day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham.10 For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was immediately to appear.12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.13 And he called ten servants of his, and gave them ten pounds, and said unto them, Trade ye herewith till I come.14 But his citizens hated him, and sent an ambassage after him, saying, We will not that this man reign over us.15 And it came to pass, when he was come back again, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these servants, unto whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading.16 And the first came before him, saying, Lord, thy pound hath made ten pounds more.17 And he said unto him, Well done, thou good servant: because thou wast found faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.18 And the second came, saying, Thy pound, Lord, hath made five pounds.19 And he said unto him also, Be thou also over five cities.20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I kept laid up in a napkin:21 for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that which thou layedst not down, and reapest that which thou didst not sow.22 He saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up that which I laid not down, and reaping that which I did not sow;23 then wherefore gavest thou not my money into the bank, and I at my coming should have required it with interest?24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take away from him the pound, and give it unto him that hath the ten pounds.25 And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.26 I say unto you, that unto every one that hath shall be given; but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away from him.27 But these mine enemies, that would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.28 And when he had thus spoken, he went on before, going up to Jerusalem.29 And it came to pass, when he drew nigh unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples,30 saying, Go your way into the village over against you; in which as ye enter ye shall find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat: loose him, and bring him.31 And if any one ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say, The Lord hath need of him.32 And they that were sent went away, and found even as he had said unto them.33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they threw their garments upon the colt, and set Jesus thereon.36 And as he went, they spread their garments in the way.37 And as he was now drawing nigh, even at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen;38 saying, Blessed is the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.39 And some of the Pharisees from the multitude said unto him, Teacher, rebuke thy disciples.40 And he answered and said, I tell you that, if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.41 And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it,42 saying, If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.43 For the days shall come upon thee, when thine enemies shall cast up a bank about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,44 and shall dash thee to the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.45 And he entered into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold,46 saying unto them, It is written, And my house shall be a house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of robbers.47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him:48 and they could not find what they might do; for the people all hung upon him, listening.