1And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
8And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
9And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, for somuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
11And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
12He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
14But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
15And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
20And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
21For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
22And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
23Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
24And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
25(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
26For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
27But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
28And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
29And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
30Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.
31And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
32And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.
33And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
34And they said, The Lord hath need of him.
35And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.
36And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.
37And when he was come nigh, even now 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 that they had seen;
38Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
39And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
40And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
41And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
42Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
43For 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,
44And shall lay thee even with 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.
45And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;
46Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.
47And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,
48And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.
Note:
- Highlights used for Jesus' words;
- Bolds used for the word that referred to Jesus' visitation to Jerusalem/Israel.
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My observations on Luke 19: The Visitation:
- In verse 2: And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. Zacchaeus knew who Jesus was (the Messiah), and he ran and climbed a tree for he was short, yet, he wanted to see the Son of God.
- In verses 5, then 9: Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. Since Zacchaeus recognized Him; Jesus stayed with him the night and blessed (Salvation) him. This was His way of announcing that very few welcomed him, and those that did were rewarded; None of the authorities acknowledged His "Visitation".
- In verse 11 through 26 - Jesus told the ones that complained about Him staying with Zachaeus: And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. Jesus told them a parable alluding to His "Visitation". Yet, they did not understand that who was speaking was the prophesied Messiah.
- Then in verse 27, Jesus foretold their sentence for neglecting the prophecies, and shunning the Son of God: But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
- Then as they approached Jerusalem (the Capital of the Jews), Jesus sent his Disciples to go fetch a colt for Him. In verse 33 and 34: And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him. Notice that the owners promptly recognized WHO it was that they were saying - the Lord hath need of him. Many recognized Jesus.
- As they made their triumphant entrance into Jerusalem: 37And when he was come nigh, even now 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 that they had seen;
38Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. The crowds cheerfully rejoiced that the King that was entering the city was the prophesied Son of God; they praised Him, and God. - In verses 39 & 40, when the some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. Jesus rebuked them instead for being blind before the Son of God, in spite of all their purported knowledge of the Scriptures; Jesus said that the stones had more wisdom than them.
- Then as he looked upon Jerusalem and He wept; He couldn't stand to see the blindness of the same ones that God had for so long favored; Had sent prophets, messengers, had delivered out of bondage in Egypt, and Babylon; Now God sends His, Son and they treated Him with indifference as the verse states: 26For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. Yet, they didn't recognize HIM.
- Then Jesus expresses His disappointment: 42Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. Jesus continued by telling of the destruction that was in store for Jerusalem (Pharisees, Scribes, rulers, and Teachers), and her blindness: and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
- Jesus entered the Temple and expelled all the thieves that had transformed His Father's House into a Hide-Out for scoundrels, instead of worshiping God and teaching His Word. (This is a prophesy that will be repeated). Jesus then taught daily in the Temple, and many of the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people plotted on how they would "kill Him", but, they feared the few that recognized Jesus and listened to every word that proceeded from His mouth.
Today, like during Jesus' short visit to the Earth, many disregard the prophetic signs that herald His soon return. Many totally discredit the Holy Scriptures, others believe, but, say He will not come for yet a while. Meanwhile, the faithful few that recognize that He is coming soon are preparing themselves, their loved ones, and preaching the Three Angels' Message. They acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God; And if He said that He would return when the signs in the world would so indicate: They are heeding His advice. They love Him above all other "things" in this world.
Like then, soon, Many will weep, and many will rejoice.
"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" Amen!
Arsenio.
