Luke 19:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

NIV: For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

NASB: For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.'

CSB: For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost."

NLT: For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.'

KJV: For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

NKJV: for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Jesus is walking through Jericho when He sees a small man in a sycamore tree, peering at Him over the heads of the large crowd. Jesus calls the man down and tells him, "I must stay at your house today" (Luke 19:5). The man hurries down, delighted to host Jesus (Luke 19:1–6). The man is a tax collector named Zacchaeus. He works for the Roman government taking money from the Jews to fund their occupation. In addition, he adds a hefty fee for himself. He has betrayed his countrymen on several different levels.

When he meets Jesus, however, everything changes. He repents of his extortion and proves it by returning what he has taken unjustly—with substantial interest. Jesus declares he is restored as a child of Abraham (Luke 19:7–9).

This statement is especially poignant considering the situation. Directly following, Luke records the parable of the ten minas (Luke 19:11–27). He begins, "As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately" (Luke 19:11).

Only recently, James, John, and their mother asked Jesus to give the sons favored positions in His kingly court. This, directly after Jesus told the disciples—again—that when they reach Jerusalem, the chief priests and scribes will betray Him and have Him crucified (Matthew 20:17–23). The other disciples heard and were angry at James and John. Jesus told the entire group, "the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).

Here, Jesus repeats the sentiment with a slightly different emphasis. He hasn't come to be king—yet. He has come to save the lost, like Zacchaeus. The triumphal entry will be a glorious and appropriate reaction to Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem (Luke 19:28–40), but during the rest of that week, the Jewish leaders will reject Him as their Messiah and crucify Him.

Christ's kingdom is coming, but His disciples need to be patient and faithful. He will give them significant responsibilities. Their faithfulness with those responsibilities will reflect their faith in Him and determine their positions in His future kingdom (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.