Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on Luke 19

CHAPTER 19

Lu 19:1-10. Zaccheus the Publican.

The name is Jewish.

2-4. chief among the publicans--farming a considerable district, with others under him.

rich--Ill-gotten riches some of it certainly was. (See on Lu 19:8.)

5-6. looked up,--in the full knowledge of who was in the tree, and preparatory to addressing him.

Zaccheus--whom he had never seen in the flesh, nor probably heard of. "He calleth His own sheep by name and leadeth them out" (Joh 10:3).

make haste, and come down--to which he literally responded--"he made haste and came down."

for to-day, &c.--Our Lord invites Himself, and in "royal" style, which waits not for invitations, but as the honor is done to the subject, not the sovereign, announces the purpose of royalty to partake of the subject's hospitalities. Manifestly our Lord speaks as knowing how the privilege would be appreciated.

to-day ... abide--(Compare Joh 1:39), probably over night.

7. to be guest--or lodge: something more than "eating with" such (Lu 15:2).

a sinner--that was one but a minute ago, but now is not. This mighty change, however, was all unknown to them. But they shall know it presently. "Sinner" would refer both to his office, vile in the eyes of a Jew, and to his character, which it is evident was not good.

8-10. stood--before all.

said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord--Mark how frequently Luke uses this title, and always where lordly authority, dignity, or power is intended.

if I have--that is, "so far as I have," for evidently the "if" is so used (as in Php 4:8).

taken by false accusation--defrauded, overcharged (Lu 3:12, 13).

fourfold--The Roman law required this; the Jewish law, but the principal and a fifth more (Nu 5:7). There was no demand made for either; but, as if to revenge himself on his hitherto reigning sin (see on Joh 20:28), and to testify the change he had experienced, besides surrendering the half of his fair gains to the poor, he voluntarily determines to give up all that was ill-gotten, quadrupled. He gratefully addressed this to the "Lord," to whom he owed the wonderful change.

12. a far country--said to put down the notion that He was just on His way to set up His kingdom, and to inaugurate it by His personal presence.

to receive ... a kingdom--be invested with royalty; as when Herod went to Rome and was there made king; a striking expression of what our Lord went away for and received, "sitting down at the right hand of the Majesty on high."

to return--at His second coming.

13. Occupy--"negotiate," "do business," with the resources entrusted.

14. his citizens--His proper subjects; meaning the Jews, who expressly repudiating our Lord's claims said, "We have no king but Cæsar" (Joh 19:15). In Christendom, these correspond to infidel rejecters of Christianity, as distinguished from professed Christians.

15-26. (See on Mt 25:19-29.)

ten ... five cities--different degrees of future gracious reward, proportioned to the measure of present fidelity.

27. bring hither, &c.--(Compare 1Sa 15:32, 33). Referring to the awful destruction of Jerusalem, but pointing to the final destruction of all that are found in open rebellion against Christ.

Lu 19:28-44. Christ's Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem and Tears over It.

(See on Mt 21:1-11.)

29-38. Bethphage--"house of figs," a village which with Bethany lay along the further side of Mount Olivet, east of Jerusalem.

40. the stones, &c.--Hitherto the Lord had discouraged all demonstrations in His favor; latterly He had begun an opposite course; on this one occasion He seems to yield His whole soul to the wide and deep acclaim with a mysterious satisfaction, regarding it as so necessary a part of the regal dignity in which as Messiah He for this last time entered the city, that if not offered by the vast multitude, it would have been wrung out of the stones rather than be withheld (Ha 2:11).

41-44. when beheld ... wept--Compare La 3:51, "Mine eye affecteth mine heart"; the heart again affecting the eye. Under this sympathetic law of the relation of mind and body, Jesus, in His beautiful, tender humanity, was constituted even as we. What a contrast to the immediately preceding profound joy! He yielded Himself alike freely to both. (See on Mt 23:37.)

Lu 19:45-48. Second Cleansing of the Temple and Subsequent Teaching.

45-46. As the first cleansing was on His first visit to Jerusalem (Joh 2:13-22), so this second cleansing was on His last.

den of thieves--banded together for plunder, reckless of principle. The mild term "house of merchandise," used on the former occasion, was now unsuitable.

47. sought--continued seeking, that is, daily, as He taught.

48. were very attentive to hear him--hung upon His words.