[:en]SCRIPTURE: LUKE 19
Bible Verse:
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)
“The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” (Luke 19:43-44)
“It is written,” he said to them, ‘My house will be a house of prayer’[c]; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” (Luke 19:46)
ZACCHAEUS THE TAX COLLECTOR (vs. 1-10)
Zacchaeus was a short wealthy tax collector who climbed on a sycamore fig tree to see Jesus. Jesus looked up and said to him: “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today” (v. 5). So he came down and welcome Jesus. Zacchaeus told Jesus that he will give half of his possessions to the poor and pay back four times the amount he head cheated. Jesus said: Today salvation has come to this house, because this iman, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (vs. 9-10)
THE PARABLE OF THE TEN MINAS (vs. 11-27)
A man went to a distant country to have himself appointed king. Before he went, he called the first servant and gave him 10 minas, the second 5 minas and the third a mina. Upon his return, the first servant earned ten more, the second 5 more and the third servant earned nothing. To the first servant, he let him take charge of 10 cities, the second servant take charge of 5 cities and rebuked the third servant. He took his mina and gave to the one who had 10 minas. He said: “To everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away” (v. 26)
THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY (vs. 28–44)
Jesus sent his disciples to bring a colt to him. Then he rode the colt while people spread their cloaks on the road. They sang praises saying: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (vs. 28)
JESUS AT THE TEMPLE (vs. 45-48)
As Jesus entered the temple, he drove out people who were selling there and said: “My house will be a house of prayer but you have made it a den of robbers” (v. 46)
LESSON:
- Jesus took time to bring salvation to mankind. Follow Zacchaeus’ example to seek Him.
- Invest in what God has given you for His kingdom and glory. And he will come to bring you rewards.
- As we see what the world is happening now, we know that the time of the Lord’s coming is near. So be prepared.
- Jesus cleared the holy temple because it had become a religious market. The house of the Lord should be a place of worship. Let Jesus cleanse you when you come to worship him.
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