In the end of the previous chapter, the blind man proclaimed Jesus, the “Son of David,” while the multitude told him that “Jesus of Nazareth” passeth by. The blind man owned Him as the Messiah. In this chapter He goes on to present Himself at Jerusalem as the King. On the way He acts in sovereign grace, bestowing blessing on the outcast sinner, and entirely opposed to the thoughts of the religious leaders.
Verse 1. Jesus entered and passed through Jericho—the city of the curse—and the city of Israel’s entry into the land.
Verses 2.-4. Zacchaeus, the rich chief of the despised tax gatherers, hated because of in the employ of the Roman government and which taxing put the Jews ever in mind of their sin that made them of their sin that made them subject to Gentile rule. It was a position of reproach for a Jew to hold, and all this made him a fine case for grace to display itself in.
This man had an earnest desire to see Jesus, who He was, a desire wrought by the Spirit in his soul, but being little of stature, he could not see Him for the press, so he ran before and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was to pass that way.
The grace that had wrought in this man, made him oblivious to what people might say or think. One purpose was before him, and difficulties must be overcome, though it makes him little in the eyes of others. The Lord could rightly estimate this wholeheartedness, and answer the desire He had implanted in his soul. Here we are reminded of how He met us in our need.
Verses 5-8. When Jesus came to the place, He looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, “Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house.”
What a surprise to the publican, and such gracious words, actually inviting Himself to abide in his house. It did not take him long to respond, for he made haste, and came down, and received Him joyfully.
More than he were surprised, for when they saw it, they all murmured, as they had done on another occasion (15:2), saying “That He was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.”
Yes, indeed, He came for that very purpose. Blessed be His name!
Zacchaeus heard the murmur too. It touched him, and he stood, and said unto the Lord: “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” Notice this is not a new beginning, a resolve for the future; it is “I give,” “I restore,” that is, what he had been doing. It does not say when he commenced doing this. It looks like an apology for his position as tax gatherer, a wrong position for a Jew, but it also shows an upright life, and he could not have said it if it had not been true. Was there another man in the crowd who could say it? Could any of us Christians say it? But what answer does the Lord, make? He ignores it altogether. He needs no apology for His actions, and the ground of His going to a sinner’s house is grace alone. It should make the murmuring Pharisees, ashamed of their ways also, and alarmed about themselves, but blind men cannot see; their orthodox religion had no such pity for the poor, nor upright behavior in money affairs, yet they boasted in their goodness. The Lord knew them better (chap. 20:46; 47).
Verses 9, 10. And Jesus said unto him, “This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” There is no merit in the sinner; he cannot make any. The Savior comes to seek, to beget a desire in the sinner’s soul; and to save, to satisfy that desire. All the sons of Abraham need a Savior, for all are lost. And he was the good Shepherd of Israel come, calling His lost sheep by name, as one of His own. O blessed day for Zacchaeus! What a happy day in that house where Jesus has come to abide as God’s salvation. Does the reader know of joy like this?
Verse 11. Those who heard these things began to think that the Kingdom of God was about to be set up in manifest power. The Lord spake a parable to correct this thought.
Verse 12. He said therefore, “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.” In this we see the Lord sitting on high at the Father’s right hand Waiting the time when He will claim His Kingdom in power and glory.
Verse 13. Meantime his servants left behind are supplied with the means, and told to “Occupy till I come.” This is our present service for Christ.
Verse 14. “But his citizens, the Jews, hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’” In Acts 3 Peter was authorized to tell the Jews that if they would repent, Jesus would return and fulfill prophecy and set up the Kingdom, but they arrested and persecuted His servants, and then murdered Stephen, thus sending this message after Him. Jesus received the messenger on high, so the door was closed.
Verse 15. Each of the servants is called to give an account when the lord returns. In this parable each servant receives alike one pound, and is rewarded according as the lord approves his success. In Matthew 25 each is given talents according to his ability, and each good servant receives the same approval, so that Matthew 25 shows the Lord’s sovereignty in giving. Here it is more the servant’s responsibility in laboring.
Verses 16, 17. Then came the first, saying, “Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.” And he said unto him, “Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.” And indeed it is in a very little any of us have been faithful. (See Luke 17:1010So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. (Luke 17:10)). What an enormous reward for a little faithfulness! It surely is all of grace. Even the small return we are able to make is what grace, His grace, has wrought in us.
Verses 18, 19. The second gained five pounds, and to him is given five cities to rule over. Should not these examples stimulate us to more diligence to, please Him?
Verses 20-26. Another came with his lord’s pound laid up in a napkin; no use to himself, nor to any one else, nor to his master, but he did not know his master’s character, he misjudged him, and feared. Alas! he was a wicked servant, his mind was set on other things than his Lord’s service. His Lord judges him out of his own confession. So—what he had is taken from him, and given to the one who had the most, for the more we use, the more we get. Yes, the diligent soul has an entrance ministered abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:10, 1110Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:10‑11)).
Verse 27. The doom of the Christ-rejecting Jews is here declared, “Slay them before me.” (And Matt. 22:77But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. (Matthew 22:7); Luke 21:23, 2423But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:23‑24); 1 Thess. 2:1616Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. (1 Thessalonians 2:16); tell that it is carried out).
Verse 28-38. Having thus spoken, He leads the way going up to Jerusalem. He prepares for the entry into Jerusalem. And it is to be noticed, that everything favors this. The divine influence makes the hearts of all respond for the occasion. The owners of the colt let it go, the people place their garments on the colt and strew them in the way. They set Him on the colt, and when He was come nigh, even now to the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples, swayed by the power of God and the remembrance of all they had seen and heard in and of Him, began to praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. It is the pathway of the great King entering His city, but, alas! because of man’s condition, He is there in lowly grace, the meek and lowly one come to suffer.
Verses 39, 40. A discordant note breaks into this joyful scene. The Pharisees, the religious Christ-rejecters, cannot bear it. They said unto Him, “Master, rebuke Thy disciples.” And He answered and said unto them, “I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” Alas! for the hearts that would quench such a song.
But it is “peace in heaven.” “It is glory in the highest,” and earth is still the abode of sin and opposition to God. And the Savior must be rejected and suffer.
Verses 41-44. His tears now flow as He looks on the beloved city, soon to be in the throes of judgment, to be leveled to the ground because of its sin, because it knew not the day of its visitation. The things which were for its peace were hid from its eyes. Nothing remained for it but judgment.
Verses 45-48. He went into the temple and began to cast out the avaricious dealers that now occupied it, saying unto them, “It is written, My house is the house of prayer” (Isa. 56:77Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. (Isaiah 56:7)), “but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Jer. 7:1111Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 7:11)). Still He went on with it, teaching daily. The chief priests, scribes and chief of the people seeking to destroy Him, but unable to find how to do it, as all the people were attentive to hear Him.