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1 And Iesus entred, and passed thorow Iericho.

2 And behold, there was a man named Zacheus, which was the cheefe among the Publicanes, and he was rich.

3 And he sought to see Iesus who he was, and could not for the prease, because he was litle of stature.

4 And he ranne before, and climed vp into a sycomore tree to see him, for he was to passe that way.

5 And when Iesus came to the place, he looked vp and saw him, and said vnto him, Zacheus, make haste, & come downe, for to day I must abide at thy house.

6 And he made haste, and came downe, and receiued him ioyfully.

7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

8 And Zacheus stood, and said vnto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the halfe of my goods I giue to the poore, & if I haue taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him foure fold.

9 And Iesus said vnto him, This day is saluation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is the sonne of Abraham.

10 For the sonne of man is come to seeke, and to saue that which was lost.

11 And as they heard these things, he added, and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Hierusalem, and because they thought that the kingdome of God should immediately appeare.

12 He said therefore, A certaine noble man went into a farre countrey, to receiue for himselfe a kingdome, and to returne.

13 And hee called his ten seruants, and deliuered them ten pounds, and said vnto them, Occupy till I come.

14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We wil not haue this man to reigne ouer vs.

15 And it came to passe, that when he was returned, hauing receiued the kingdome, then hee commaunded these seruants to be called vnto him, to whom he had giuen the money, that hee might know how much euery man had gained by trading.

16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

17 And he said vnto him, Well, thou good seruant: because thou hast bene faithfull in a very little, haue thou authoritie ouer ten cities.

18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained fiue pounds.

19 And hee said likewise to him, Bee thou also ouer fiue cities.

20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound which I haue kept layd vp in a napkin:

21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest vp that thou layedst not downe, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

22 And hee saith vnto him, Out of thine owne mouth will I iudge thee, thou wicked seruant: Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking vp that I layde not downe, and reaping that I did not sow.

23 Wherefore then gauest not thou my money into the bancke, that at my comming I might haue required mine owne with vsury?

24 And he said vnto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and giue it to him that hath ten pounds.

25 And they said vnto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.

26 For I say vnto you, That vnto euery one which hath, shalbe giuen, and from him that hath not, euen that hee hath shalbe taken away from him.

27 But those mine enemies which would not that I should reigne ouer them, bring hither, and slay them before mee.

28 ¶ And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending vp to Hierusalem.

29 And it came to passe when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethanie, at the mount called the mount of Oliues, he sent two of his disciples,

30 Saying, Goe ye into the village ouer against you, in the which at your entring ye shall find a Colt tied, whereon yet neuer man sate: loose him, and bring him hither.

31 And if any man aske you, Why do ye loose him? Thus shall ye say vnto him, Because the Lord hath neede of him.

32 And they that were sent, went their way, and found euen as hee had said vnto them.

33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said vnto them, Why loose ye the Colt?

34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

35 And they brought him to Iesus: and they cast their garments vpon the Colt, and they set Iesus thereon.

36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.

37 And when he was come nigh euen now at the descent of the mount of Oliues, the whole multitude of the disciples began to reioyce and praise God with a loud voice, for all the mighty workes that they had seene,

38 Saying, Blessed bee the King that commeth in the Name of the Lord, peace in heauen, and glory in the Highest.

39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude saide vnto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

40 And he answered, and said vnto them, I tell you, that if these should holde their peace, the stones would immediatly cry out.

41 ¶ And when he was come neere, he beheld the city and wept ouer it,

42 Saying, If thou hadst knowen, euen thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong vnto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

43 For the dayes shall come vpon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compasse thee round, and keepe thee in on euery side,

44 And shall lay thee euen with the ground, and thy children within thee: and they shall not leaue in thee one stone vpon another, because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

45 And he went into the Temple, and began to cast out them that solde therein, and them that bought,

46 Saying vnto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye haue made it a denne of theeues.

47 And he taught daily in the Temple. But the chiefe Priestes and the Scribes, and the chiefe of the people sought to destroy him,

48 And could not finde what they might doe: for all the people were very attentiue to heare him.

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Commentary for Luke 19

The conversion of Zaccheus. (1-10) The parable of the nobleman and his servants. (11-27) Christ enters Jerusalem. (28-40) Christ laments over Jerusalem. (41-48)1-10 Those who sincerely desire a sight of Christ, like Zaccheus, will break through opposition, and take pains to see him. Christ invited himself to Zaccheus' house. Wherever Christ comes he opens the heart, and inclines it to receive him. He that has a mind to know Christ, shall be known of him. Those whom Christ calls, must humble themselves, and come down. We may well receive him joyfully, who brings all good with him. Zaccheus gave proofs publicly that he was become a true convert. He does not look to be justified by his works, as the Pharisee; but by his good works he will, through the grace of God, show the sincerity of his faith and repentance. Zaccheus is declared to be a happy man, now he is turned from sin to God. Now that he is saved from his sins, from the guilt of them, from the power of them, all the benefits of salvation are his. Christ is come to his house, and where Christ comes he brings salvation with him. He came into this lost world to seek and to save it. His design was to save, when there was no salvation in any other. He seeks those that sought him not, and asked not for him.

11-27 This parable is like that of the talents, #Mt 25|. Those that are called to Christ, he furnishes with gifts needful for their business; and from those to whom he gives power, he expects service. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal, #1Co 12:7|. And as every one has received the gift, so let him minister the same, #1Pe 4:10|. The account required, resembles that in the parable of the talents; and the punishment of the avowed enemies of Christ, as well as of false professors, is shown. The principal difference is, that the pound given to each seems to point out the gift of the gospel, which is the same to all who hear it; but the talents, distributed more or less, seem to mean that God gives different capacities and advantages to men, by which this one gift of the gospel may be differently improved.

28-40 Christ has dominion over all creatures, and may use them as he pleases. He has all men's hearts both under his eye and in his hand. Christ's triumphs, and his disciples' joyful praises, vex proud Pharisees, who are enemies to him and to his kingdom. But Christ, as he despises the contempt of the proud, so he accepts the praises of the humble. Pharisees would silence the praises of Christ, but they cannot; for as God can out of stones raise up children unto Abraham, and turn the stony heart to himself, so he can bring praise out of the mouths of children. And what will be the feelings of men when the Lord returns in glory to judge the world!

41-48 Who can behold the holy Jesus, looking forward to the miseries that awaited his murderers, weeping over the city where his precious blood was about to be shed, without seeing that the likeness of God in the believer, consists much in good-will and compassion? Surely those cannot be right who take up any doctrines of truth, so as to be hardened towards their fellow-sinners. But let every one remember, that though Jesus wept over Jerusalem, he executed awful vengeance upon it. Though he delights not in the death of a sinner, yet he will surely bring to pass his awful threatenings on those who neglect his salvation. The Son of God did not weep vain and causeless tears, nor for a light matter, nor for himself. He knows the value of souls, the weight of guilt, and how low it will press and sink mankind. May he then come and cleanse our hearts by his Spirit, from all that defiles. May sinners, on every side, become attentive to the words of truth and salvation.

Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.

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