Luke 19 - Printer Friendly

What does Luke 19 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

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.

Luke 19:1–10 continues a pattern of stories which begin with a miracle and record Jesus teaching about the kingdom of God. Jesus has already healed blind Bartimaeus in the twin cities of Jericho (Luke 18:35–43). Now, He calls down Zacchaeus from a tree. The diminutive tax collector proves hungry for a chance to repent and follow Christ. The next, final story of the "travelogue to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51—19:27) is the parable of the ten minas: an illustration of faithful living despite Jesus' imminent departure (Luke 19:11–27).

Luke 19:11–27 is the final passage of a series of stories about the kingdom of God. In a parable, Jesus explains that He cannot take the kingdom now; He must leave to receive it. His followers will be those who have understanding about His kingship: the gospel. Those who faithfully spread that message will be greatly rewarded. Those who plot against Him will be destroyed. This parable is about responsibility with the gospel; the similar parable of the talents is about responsibility with resources like time and spiritual gifts (Matthew 25:14–30). Next comes the triumphal entry (Luke 19:28–44).

Luke 19:28–40 is the account of the triumphal entry when Jesus arrives in Jerusalem for His final Passover. Jesus presents Himself as the King of the Jews, challenging His followers, the religious leaders, and the many celebrants to choose whether to accept or reject Him. The triumphal entry is the first passage in the so-called "presentation of Jesus in Jerusalem" (Luke 19:28—21:38) where Jesus declares His authority (Luke 19:28—21:4) and reveals the future (Luke 21:5–38). The triumphal entry is one of the few events recorded in every Gospel (Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11; John 12:12–15).

Luke 19:41–44 records the scene as Jesus weeps over Jerusalem. He is on a donkey, riding toward the city. Soon, He will be mocked, beaten, humiliated, and crucified. Right now, however, He looks over the mighty walls and thinks about the city that holds the temple of God. The people there—the nation—will not accept Him as their Messiah. Then, in AD 70, Romans tear down the very stones. In the next passages, Jesus cleans out the temple and the Sanhedrin plot against Him, parallelling the conditions that will bring Jerusalem's destruction. Both Luke and Matthew record Jesus similarly lamenting over Jerusalem (Luke 13:31–35; Matthew 23:37–39). But Luke is the only Gospel writer to include this depiction of Jesus weeping over Jerusalem and its future.

Luke 19:45–48 records Jesus cleansing the temple of merchants and money changers after His triumphal entry. It also contains the growing threat of religious leaders who oppose His teaching. It's as if Jesus is a living prophecy of how the Romans will rob the temple and roll over the corrupt Jewish religious leaders when they sack Jerusalem in AD 70 (Luke 19:43–44). More detailed versions of this story are in Matthew 21:12–13 and Mark 11:15–18.

Chapter Summary:

Jesus approaches Jerusalem by way of Jericho. Along the road, he encounters Zacchaeus: an unusually short man and infamous tax collector. Zacchaeus responds to Jesus' invitation and demonstrates humility and repentance. Jesus gives a parable explaining a believer's obligation to encourage the spread of the gospel. Jesus enters Jerusalem to great fanfare, upsetting local Pharisees. As He rides, Jesus weeps to think of the future destruction in store for the city. He once again drives corrupt businessmen from the temple grounds. His enemies are furious, but too afraid of the adoring crowds to take direct action.

Chapter Context:

Luke 19 finishes the "travelogue of Christ to Jerusalem" and introduces His first actions there (Luke 9:51—19:27). This long passage semi-chronologically records Jesus' journey to Jerusalem and the theological reasons why He must go to the cross. It finishes here, in this chapter, with Jesus meeting Zacchaeus and the parable of the ten minas. The chapter continues with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem as its king—the triumphal entry. Jesus mourns over Jerusalem, its rejection of their Messiah, and its coming destruction in AD 70. He also cleanses the temple and teaches there. In the next segments, Luke covers the last hours of Jesus' earthly life (Luke 22—23) as well as Jesus' resurrection (Luke 24).

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.

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