LUKE 19

Jesus enters Jericho, still on His eventual way to Jerusalem, and He encounters Zaccheus. How Jesus knew his name is not known. Zaccheus, being a wealthy tax collector, was not liked by many. His encounter with Jesus causes him to repent of his shifty business practices, repay those he has defrauded, and he receives Jesus “gladly”. He is rejoicing in having met the Christ. When asked what the primary role of Jesus was/is, we should recall verse 10; He came to seek and save that which was lost. Luke’s readers should still have fresh in their minds the parables of the lost sheep, coin, and son, and Jesus’ seeking and saving really should have hit home.

So much of this chapter is framed by verse 11. The followers of Jesus really did think His presence indicated the coming of the kingdom, only they seemed to believe it was going to appear right then and there, probably with this new king’s entrance into Jerusalem. But Jesus knew He had much work for His followers to do, and so He tells a parable about a nobleman and his servants. The master gives each of three servants a different amount of minas, or roughly 100 days’ wages. Of note is that the third servant does nothing with those apportioned to him, and he tries to blame his lack of effort on the nobleman, calling him a “hard man”. By this, he meant that the nobleman was known to take a high amount of interest off the proceeds, along with his principal investment. And so his mina was taken and given to one who did much work with his. The reward for the servants is very disproportionate, receiving ten and five cities in pay, respectively. The reader here should see in the nobleman’s leaving and returning the hint at Jesus’ leaving and eventual return (Rapture, to us), and also the heavenly reward for being faithful. For us, we are to be faithful in obeying the full measure of the gospel. Further, judgment will fall on those who reject what Jesus has for them.

So, while they quibble over the kingdom’s presence, He teaches them there is work to be done for a while.

They finally reach Jerusalem, and Jesus makes His “triumphal” entry into the City. So many OT prophecies are fulfilled here, one of which is Zech. 9:9 in verse 35. Those shouting are the crowd of disciples following Jesus, those who have seen His miracles firsthand. And after the Pharisees ask for quiet, Jesus laments over Jerusalem, over the opportunity that has gone unrecognized by the religious leaders and those they keep from the truth.

Citing Isaiah again (remember when He did this and declared Scripture being fulfilled in Him?), he now turns to the temple and how it is being used primarily as a place of business, and not necessarily honest business, at that. The city at this time would have swelled to see hundreds of thousands of people there during the day, many pilgrims visiting for Passover week, and they would have been buying merchandise for the week, and most notably buying animals they would need to sacrifice. While there surely were some honest businesses around, many took advantage of the travelers who were at the mercy of the merchants. Jesus does not take well to that, and he chastises them with a prophecy, written hundreds of years prior, aimed squarely at them.

Jesus spends the week teaching, in the temple and other places. All the while, His opposition, supposed “God-fearers”, are plotting murder against Him.

“And the people were hanging on to every word He said.”

SO WHAT...?

So, I must rejoice at the fact that Jesus is still seeking and saving that which was lost.

So, a job has been given to me, and you, the church, to be done well until He returns. Tell people of Jesus, the impending judgment, the eternal reward, the need to repent and accept Him. He will pay well, eternally-speaking” when He next appears.

So, I pray I will always see His Word as being as refreshing as those in Jerusalem that week, “hanging on to every word...” May I never lose the awe of His truth.