Luke 19:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He entered Jericho and was passing through.

NIV: Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.

NASB: Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.

CSB: He entered Jericho and was passing through.

NLT: Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town.

KJV: And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

NKJV: Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

Jesus and a crowd of His disciples are passing through Jericho, east of Jerusalem, on their way to celebrate the Passover. "Jericho" consists of a city and a set of ruins. The ruins are what's left of the original city which God destroyed when Joshua and the Israelites marched around it (Joshua 6). The city was rebuilt hundreds of years later (1 Kings 16:34).

This short section (Luke 18:35—19:27) contains three powerful stories. In the first, Jesus completely changes a man's life by restoring his eyesight. The man started his day as a beggar on the side of the road; now his future is wide open (Luke 18:35–43).

Here, Jesus meets Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector: a Jewish man who supervises payments from other Jews to the occupying Romans. Men in this position were generally hated by their fellow Israelites; the fact that many were corrupt and deliberately overcharged for their own benefit made this reputation even worse. Yet Zacchaeus is eager to repent, including whatever greed and theft he might have committed. Jesus gives him just a little attention and he readily gives half his possessions to the poor and compensates his victims fourfold in keeping with the Mosaic law (Luke 19:8–10; Exodus 22:1).

Jesus' disciples have just seen two impressive restorations: sight to the blind and godliness to a fallen Jewish man. It's no wonder the disciples are more convinced than ever that Jesus is going to Jerusalem to take His rightful place as king. But Jesus responds that there's much more to do. He is leaving soon, but He is entrusting His followers with His business. Their faithfulness with His charge will reveal their faithfulness to Him. When He returns, they will be rewarded—or punished—accordingly (Luke 19:11–27).

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).

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.

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.