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Commentary on the Gospel According to St. Luke, Chapter 19:

Chapter 19 begins with Jesus on the move through Jericho, the final city before he reaches Jerusalem. On Jesus’ way into Jericho, he healed a blind beggar who sought him out (10:35-42). Now while leaving the city, Jesus will heal another man. This time the man who seeks out Jesus is a person with financial means and status, someone who unlike the blind beggar can control his own destiny, at least in the eyes of society (vs. 1-4). Just as Jesus rescued the blind beggar hedging into Jericho, he rescues this rich man, Zaccheus, on his way out of the city. Jesus demonstrates the truth of his previous answer to the rich ruler (18:26-27). Yet still, the three parables of Chapter 15 are relevant as people struggle to react with joy when they see the Lord’s mercy in action, when they see a sinner restored to true fellowship at table with Jesus (vs. 7). Zaccheus, like the woman in 7:37-50, has a response of love put into action--Salvation has come! (vs. 8-10) However, as Jesus and his followers near Jerusalem, the question of when the Kingdom of God will arrive is still a point of confusion (vs. 11). Jesus tells a parable about faithfulness and fruitfulness, without acting fearful, while waiting for a nobleman to receive kingly power and return to reign (vs. 12-27). Jesus then goes on ahead to Jerusalem (vs. 28), weeps over the state of the city (vs. 41-44), and enters the Temple to teach (vs. 45-48).

The Gospel According to St. Luke, Chapter 19:

Jesus and Zacchaeus

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector, and rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it they all mur­mured, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”

The Parable of the Ten Pounds

11 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. 12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive kingly power and then return. 13 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten pounds, and said to them, ‘Trade with these till I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him and sent an embassy after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15 When he returned, having received the kingly power, he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading. 16 The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made ten pounds more.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have au­thority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made five pounds.’ 19 And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your pound, which I kept laid away in a napkin; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, ‘I will condemn you out of your own mouth, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my money into the bank, and at my coming I should have collected it with interest?’ 24 And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the pound from him, and give it to him who has the ten pounds.’ 25 (And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten pounds!’) 26 ‘I tell you, that to every one who has will more be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me.’ ”

Jesus’ Entry into Jerusalem

28 And when he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Je­rusalem. 29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 say­ing, “Go into the village opposite, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat; untie it and bring it here. 31 If any one asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this, ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it as he had told them. 33 And as they were unty­ing the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The
Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their garments on the colt they set Jesus upon it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their gar­ments on the road. 37 As he was now drawing near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 say­ing, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem

41 And when he drew near and saw the city he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid­ den from your eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will cast up a bank and surround you, and hem you in on every side, 44 and dash you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you; because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold,46 saying to them, “It is writ­ ten, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer’; but you have made it a den of robbers.”

47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to de­stroy him; 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people hung upon his words.

*Daily Lectio Divina Question:

In this chapter, we read about the Kingship and authority of Jesus. Lord, is there some area of my life I have not surrendered to Your authority and allowed you to reign over?

Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan, an adult faith formation apostolate. Catholic Biblical School of Michigan (cbsmich.org/join). 

Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
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