Luke 19:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.

NIV: So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

NASB: So he ran on ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree in order to see Him, because He was about to pass through that way.

CSB: So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way.

NLT: So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.

KJV: And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

NKJV: So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.

Zacchaeus is a Jewish man who works for the Romans. He's around the Jericho area and has heard the man named Jesus is nearby. Unfortunately, he's quite short (Luke 19:1–3). He can't see above the crowd. So, he climbs a tree. This not only indicates how small he must have been, but it also speaks to his commitment. Especially since he was already hated, as a tax collector, he was probably mocked for needing to do something undignified just to see over other people.

We don't know what Zacchaeus has heard about Jesus or why he's so interested. Since early in Jesus' public ministry, He has allowed no confusion about how He feels about tax collectors: He loves them. Levi, also known as Matthew), one of Jesus' first disciples, was a tax collector. When Levi invited Him to his home for a feast, Jesus gladly went and even more gladly interacted with Levi's friends. The Pharisees grumbled about Jesus eating with "tax collectors and sinners," but Jesus merely responded that He had come for the lost, the sinners who needed to repent (Luke 5:27–32).

It's easier for those who live under society's condemnation to see their need to repent, as compared to someone who thinks they obey the law flawlessly. This was the moral of Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9–14). The two men go to the temple to pray. The Pharisee is arrogant and self-aggrandizing; the tax collector is contrite and repentant. Both got what they wanted: the Pharisee got attention from the people around him, and the tax collector received God's forgiveness.

At this point in the story, we don't know Zacchaeus' motives. Perhaps he is actively looking for Jesus so he can learn to repent. Or he may just be curious. Jesus doesn't ask. He calls Zacchaeus down and invites Himself to the man's home, and Zacchaeus joyfully responds (Luke 19:5–8).

Sycamores, related to "fig-mulberries," grow extremely tall and have good branches for climbing. The word used here is related to those applied in the New Testament to similar plants (Luke 17:6).

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.