Luke 19

 

 1 Now (1) when Jesus entered and passed through Jericho,

 

(1) Christ preventeth them with his grace especially which seemed to be furthest from it.

 

 2 Behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, which was the (a) chief receiver of the tribute, and he was rich.

 

(a) The overseer and head of the Publicans which were there together; for the Publicans were divided into companies; as we may gather by many places of Cicero his orations.

 

 3 And he sought to see Jesus, who he should be, and could not for the press, because he was of a low stature.

 

 4 Wherefore he ran before, and climbed up into a wild fig tree, that he might see him, for he should come that way.

 

 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheus, come down at once, for today I must abide at thy house.

 

 6 Then he came down hastily, and received him joyfully.

 

 7  (2) And when all they saw it, they murmured, saying, that he was gone in to lodge with a (*) sinful man.

 

(2) The world forsaketh the grace of God, and yet is unwilling that it should be bestowed upon others.

(*) Or, a man of a wicked life.

 

 8  (3) And Zaccheus stood forth, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken from any man by (b) (*) forged cavillation, I restore him fourfold.

 

(3) The example of true repentance, is known by the effect.
(b) By falsely accusing any man; and this agreeth most fitly to the master of the customer’s person, for commonly they have this trade among them when they rob and spoil the commonwealth, they have nothing in their mouths, but the profit of the commonwealth, and under that color they play the thieves, insomuch that if men reprove and go about to redress their robbery, and spoiling, they cry out, the commonwealth is hindered.

(*) Or, false accusation.

 

 9 Then Jesus said to him, This day is salvation come unto this (*) house, forasmuch as he is also become the (c) (♣) son of Abraham.

 

(*) Zaccheus adoption was a sign that the whole family was received to mercy. Notwithstanding this promise, God reserveth to himself free liberty either to choose or forsake as in Abraham’s house.

(c) Beloved of God, one that walketh in the steps of Abraham's faith; and we gather that salvation came to that house, because they received the blessing as Abraham had, for all the household were circumcised.

(♣) To be the son of Abraham, is to be chosen freely, Romans 9:8; to walk in the steps of the faith of Abraham, Romans 4:12; to do the works of Abraham, John 8:39; by the which things we are most assured of life everlasting, Romans 8:29 .

 

 10  (*) For the Son of man is come to seek, and to save that which was lost.

 

(*) Matthew 18:12 .

 

 11  (4) And whiles they heard these things, he continued and spake a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because also they thought that the kingdom of God should shortly appear.

 

(4) We must patiently wait for the judgment of God, which shall be revealed in his time.

 

 12 He said therefore, (*) A certain noble man went into (♣) a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and so to come again.

 

(*) Matthew 25:14 .

(♣) This was to declare to them that he must yet take great pains before his kingdom should be established.

 

 13  (5) And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten (*) pieces of money, and said unto them, (♣) Occupy till I come.

 

(5) There are three sorts of men in the Church; the one sort fall from Christ whom they see not; the other, which according to their vocation, bestow the gifts which they have received of God, to his glory with great pains and diligence; the third live idly, and do no good. As for the first, the Lord when he cometh will justly punish them in his time; the other he will bless, according to the pains which they have taken, and as for the slothful and idle persons, he will punish them as the first.

(*) This piece of money is called Mina, and the wholesome mounteth about the value of seventeen pounds, esteeming every piece, about five nobles and seven pence.

(♣) God will not that his graces remain idle with us.

 

 14 Now his citizens hated him, and sent an ambassage after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

 

 15 And it came to pass, when he was come (*) again, and had received his kingdom, that he commanded the servants to be called to him, to whom he gave his money, that he might know what every man had gained.

 

(*) Whereby we learn that the second coming of our Saviour Christ shall be more glorious, and excellent, than it doeth now appear.

 

 16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, (d) thy piece hath increased ten pieces.

 

(d) This was a piece of money which the Grecians used, and was in value about a hundred pence, which is about ten crowns.

 

 17 And he said unto him, Well, good servant, because thou hast been faithful in a very little thing, take thou authority over ten cities.

 

 18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy piece hath increased five pieces.

 

 19 And to the same he said, Be thou also ruler over five cities.

 

 20  (6) So the other came, and said, Lord, behold thy piece, which I have laid up in a napkin;

 

(6) Against them which spend their life idly in deliberating, and otherwise, in contemplation.

 

 21 For I feared thee, because thou art a strait man; thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

 

 22 Then he said unto him, Of thine own (*) mouth will I judge thee, O evil servant. Thou knewest that I am a strait man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow.

 

(*) They that suppress the gifts of God, and live in idleness, are without all excuse.

 

 23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the (e) bank, that at my coming I might have required it with vantage?

 

(e) To the bankers and changers.

 

 24 And he said to them that stood by, Take from him that piece, and give it him that hath ten pieces.

 

 25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pieces.)

 

 26  (*) For I say unto you, that unto all them that have, it shall be (♣) given, and from him that hath not, even that he hath, shall be taken from him.

 

(*) Luke 8:18; Matthew 13:12; Matthew 25:29; Mark 4:25 .

(♣) He that faithfully bestoweth the grace of God, shall have them increased; but they shall be taken away from him that is unprofitable, and useth them not to God’s glory.

 

 27 Moreover, those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

 

 28  ¶ And when he had thus spoken, (f) he went forth (*) before, ascending up to Jerusalem.

 

(f) The disciples staggered and stayed at the matter, but Christ goeth on boldly though death were before his eyes.

(*) Hereby we perceive the excellent constancy of Christ, who notwithstanding he did now fight against the terror of death, and God’s judgment, yet went before his fearful disciples and led the way to death.

 

 29  (*) (7) And it came to pass, when he was come near to Bethphage, and Bethany, besides the mount which is called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

 

(*) Matthew 21:1; Mark 11:1 .

(7) Christ sheweth in his own person, that his kingdom is not of this world.

 

 30 Saying, Go ye to the town which is before you, wherein as soon as ye are come, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him hither.

 

 31  (*) And if any man ask you, why ye loose him, thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

 

(*) Christ presenteth such difficulties as might have troubled his disciples.

 

 32 So they that were sent, went their way, and found it 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  ¶ (*) So they brought him to Jesus, and they cast their garments on the colt, and set Jesus thereon.

 

(*) Matthew 21:7; John 12:14 .

 

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

 

 37 And when he was now come near to the going down of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice, and to praise God with a loud voice, for all the great works that they had seen,

 

 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the Name of the Lord; (*) peace in heaven, and glory in the highest places.

 

(*) They wish that God may be appeased and reconciled with men; and so by this means be glorified.

 

 39  (8) Then some of the Pharisees of the company said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

 

(8) When they linger which ought to be the chiefest preachers and setters forth of the kingdom of God, he will raise up others extraordinarily, in despite of them.

 

 40 But he answered, and said unto them, I tell you, that if these should hold their peace, the stones would cry.

 

 41  ¶ (*) (9) And when he was come near, he beheld the City, and wept for it,

 

(*) Luke 21:6; Matthew 24:1; Mark 13:1 .

(9) Christ is not simply delighted with the destruction, no not of the wicked.

 

 42  (g) Saying, (h) (*) O if thou hadst even known (i) at the least in this (k) thy day (♣) those things, which belong unto thy (l) peace! But now are they (♠) hid from thine eyes.

 

(g) Christ breaketh off his speech, which sheweth partly how he was moved with compassion for the destruction of the city, that was like to ensue; and partly to upbraid them for their treachery and stubbornness against him, such as hath not lightly been heard of.
(h) At least wise thou, O Jerusalem, to whom the message was properly sent.

(*) Christ partly pitieth the City which was so near her destruction, and partly upbraideth their malice which would not embrace Christ their Saviour, and therefore pronounceth greater punishment to Jerusalem than to other cities, which had not received like graces.
(i) If after slaying so many Prophets, and so oft refusing me the Lord of the Prophets, now especially in this my last coming to thee, thou hadst had any regard to thyself.
(k) The fit and commodious time is called the day of this city.

(♣) Meaning Christ, without whom there is no salvation and with whom is all felicity.
(l) That is, those things wherein thy happiness standeth.

(♠) Through thine own malice thou are blinded.

 

 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,

 

 44 And shall make thee even with the ground, and thy children which are in thee, and they shall not leave in thee a stone upon a stone, because thou knewest not (m) the time of thy (*) visitation.

 

(m) That is, this very instant wherein God visited thee.

(*) And receivedst not the redeemer, which was sent thee.

 

 45  ¶ (*) (10) He went also into the Temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought,

 

(*) Matthew 21:13 .

(10) Christ sheweth after his entry into Jerusalem by a visible sign, that it is his office enjoined him of his Father to purge the Temple.

 

 46 Saying unto them, It is written, (*) My house is the house of prayer, (♣) but ye have made it a den of thieves.

 

(*) Mark 11:17; Isaiah 56:7 .

(♣) Jeremiah 7:11 .

 

 47 And he taught (*) daily in the Temple. And the high Priests and the Scribes, and the chief of the people sought to destroy him.

 

(*) Or, in the daytime.

 

 48 But they could not find what they might do to him, for all the people (*) hanged upon him when they heard him.

 

                        (*) That is, were most attent to hear.

 

Steve

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