What does Luke chapter 19 mean?
Luke 19 contains the end of Jesus' traveling ministry and the beginning of what some scholars refer to as "the presentation of Jesus in Jerusalem." The so-called "travelogue to Jerusalem" began in Luke 9:51 and ends in Luke 19:27. It covers a long collection of narrative, miracles, and parables giving the foundation for understanding the kingdom of God. In Luke 19:28—21:38, through a series of confrontations and discussions, Jesus will give Jewish religious leaders one last opportunity to accept Him as their Messiah.Luke 19:1–10 is the famous story of Zacchaeus the tax collector. As Jesus is traveling through the area around Jericho, an especially short man hears that He is coming. To see over the crowd, Zacchaeus climbs a sycamore tree. Jesus notices him and invites Himself to Zacchaeus' house. Zacchaeus is honored and by the end of the evening, he has repented of his sins. As a result, he promises to give half of all he owns to the poor and repay his theft victims four times over. Jesus declares that "salvation has come to this house" (Luke 19:9).
In Luke 19:11–27, Jesus tells the parable of the ten minas. He and His disciples are approaching Jerusalem. His followers still think the kingdom of God is coming soon. Jesus tells a story about how they need to be faithful with what He will entrust them. He is like a nobleman who will leave to receive a kingdom. They will not know when He will return. Those who are diligent to use His gifts well will receive great honor when He returns. Those who don't prove they don't really follow Him; they will be destroyed. The parable is like the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14–30.
Luke 19:28–40 records the triumphal entry. Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, as would a peaceful traveler, rather than on a warhorse like a conquering king (1 Kings 1:33; Zechariah 9:9–10). The people around Him cry out the traditional praises to God given when climbing the hill to the temple for Passover. The Pharisees understand what is happening and rebuke Jesus for letting His disciples carry on in such a manner. Jesus tells them that if they were silent, the rocks would cry out. Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–10, and John 12:12–15 also cover the triumphal entry.
In Luke 19:41–44, as Jesus looks upon Jerusalem and the temple Mount, He is overcome by what will happen. The Jewish religious and civil leaders will reject Him, their Messiah, bringing a spiritual destruction upon the nation. Then, about forty years later, the city itself will be destroyed by the Roman army. The thought of all that loss brings Him to tears.
In Luke 19:45–46, Jesus sees merchants have filled the Court of the Gentiles around the temple. Some are selling animals and other items traveling Jews must buy for their sacrifices; others are money changers for those who need to pay the temple tax. What Jesus sees is apparently upsetting: the temple grounds are being used for crass commercialism and sincere pilgrims are being taken advantage of. Jesus drives all the businessmen out. Matthew 21:12–13 and Mark 11:15–19 also record Jesus cleansing the temple. John 2:13–22 is similar but probably records an event early in Jesus' public ministry. It might even be that Jesus evicted the same general group of men twice on two separate occasions.
Luke 19:47–48 is a synopsis of how Jesus will spend the week. He will go to the temple and teach everyone willing to listen. As His popularity grows, the Sadducees, chief priests, and city elders will grow increasingly concerned. They conspire to destroy Him. First, however, they need to get Him away from the people.
Luke 20 contains some of the discussions Jesus has on the Temple Mount during this week. In Luke 21, He warns the disciples of the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem, the persecution they will face, and His eventual return. Luke 22–24 covers the Last Supper; Jesus' arrest, trials, crucifixion, and resurrection; and some of the reunions He shares with those who love Him. From there, Luke continues the story of the church in the book of Acts.