Lucas 19

¹ Jesus passed through Jericho.

² There was an important, wealthy, chief tax collector called Zacchaeus.

³ He tried to see who Jesus was. Being a short person he could not see over the crowd.

⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore fig-mulberry tree near where he would pass by in order to see him.

⁵ When Jesus came to the place he looked up at Zacchaeus and said: »Come down quickly for today I must visit your home.«

⁶ He hurried down to receive him joyfully.

⁷ Many in the crowd complained saying: »He is staying with a man who is a sinner.«

⁸ Zacchaeus stood before Jesus and said: »Lord, I now give half of all my possessions to the poor. If I have defrauded any one I will give back four times the amount taken.«

⁹ Jesus said to him: »Salvation has come to this house today. He is also a son of Abraham.

¹⁰ »The Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.«

¹¹ They were close to Jerusalem. They assumed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. Jesus responded to their assumption with an illustration.

¹² He said: »A nobleman traveled to a country far away to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

¹³ »He called ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds, and said do business with this until I return.

¹⁴ »His citizens hated him. They sent a spokesman to him saying we do not want this man to rule us.

¹⁵ »He received the kingdom and went back to check on his servants. He wanted to know what they had gained by trading with the money he gave them.

¹⁶ »The first reported: Your pound has made ten pounds more.

¹⁷ »He said: Well done, you good servant. You were faithful in very little. Now you shall have authority over ten cities.

¹⁸ »The second said: Your pound, Lord, has made five pounds.

¹⁹ »He replied: You should be over five cities.

²⁰ »Another reported: Lord, here is your pound. I kept it stored in a napkin.

²¹ »I feared you because you are an austere man. You take up what you do not lay down and you reap that which you did not sow.

²² »He said to him: Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I am an austere man, taking up that which I did not lay down, and reaping that which I did not sow.

²³ »Why did you not put my money in the bank? That way I could collect interest when I returned.

²⁴ »The nobleman said: Take away the pound he was given and give it to him that has the ten pounds.

²⁵ »They said: Lord he has ten pounds!

²⁶ »I say to you, that every one who has more shall be given. The man who does not have what little he has shall be taken away from him.

²⁷ »Bring my enemies that do not want me to rule over them and kill them in front of me.«

²⁸ After Jesus spoke he went to Jerusalem.

²⁹ When he came close to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples.

³⁰ He told them, »Go into the nearby village. You will find a colt tied. No man has ever sat on him. Untie him and bring him to me.

³¹ »If any one asks why you untied him say the Lord needs him.«

³² They left and found things to be as he said.

³³ The owners found them when they untied the colt and asked why do you untie the colt?

³⁴ They said: »The Lord needs him.«

³⁵ They brought him to Jesus. Then they threw their garments on the colt and Jesus sat on him.

³⁶ As he went, they spread their garments in the way.

³⁷ He was near the descent of the Mount of Olives. The entire crowd of disciples rejoiced and praised God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen.

³⁸ They said: »Blessed is the King that comes in the name of Jehovah! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!« (Psalms 118:26; 134:3)

³⁹ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, »Teacher, rebuke your disciples.«

⁴⁰ He answered: »I tell you if these remain quiet the stones will cry out!«

⁴¹ When he came close to the city he wept over it.

⁴² He said: »If you only knew today the things needed to bring peace! But they are hidden from your eyes.

⁴³ »The time is coming when your enemies will surround you and blockade you with a rampart wall on all sides. They will close in on you.

⁴⁴ »They will knock you and your children down to the ground. They will not leave one stone upon another. What’s more you do not know when this visit will take place.«

⁴⁵ Jesus entered the temple and drove out the merchants.

⁴⁶ He said: »It is written my house shall be a house of prayer. You have made it a den of robbers.«

⁴⁷ Everyday he taught in the temple. The chief priests, scribes and other important men of the people looked for ways to destroy him.

⁴⁸ They could not find a way for the people listened to every thing he said.