SCRIPTURE: LUKE 19
ZACCHAEUS THE TAX COLLECTOR (vs. 1-10)
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So, he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” (v. 5) So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and muttered, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner'” (v. 7) But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” (v. 8). Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (v. 9)
THE PARABLE OF THE TEN MINAS (vs. 11-27)
“A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king ands then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. and told them to put thee money to work until he came back. But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, “We don’t want this man to be our king. He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained within. The first one came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned ten more.” (v.16). The master replied “Well done, my good servant! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities. (v. 17) The second came and said, “Sir, your minas has earned five more.” (v. 18) His master answered, “Take charge of five cities” (v. 19) Then another servant came and said, “Sir here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow. This master replied, “I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that while I came back, I could have collected it with interest? (vs. 22-23) Then he said to those standing by, “Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas. (v. 24) They said, “Sir, he already has ten!” (v. 25). He replied, “I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them bring them here and kill them in front of me.” (vs. 26)
THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY (vs. 28-44)
Jesus went on ahead going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples saying: “Go to the village ahead of you and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him. ‘The Lord needs it'” (v. 30). Then they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. The whole crowd of disciples began top praise God joyfully in loud voices saying: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest” (v. 38)
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples. But Jesus replied: “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (v. 40) As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring your peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes. 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.” (vs. 42-44)
JESUS AT THE TEMPLE (vs. 45-48)
As Jesus entered the temple area, he began driving out those who were selling. He said to them: “It is written, my house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers.” (v. 45) Everyday, he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. But they could not find any way to do it because all the people hung on his words.
THOUGHTS:
Zacchaeus was considered a traitor by the Jews because he was working for the Romans as a tax collector. Tax collectors were unpopular because they cheated and were making themselves rich by gouging their fellow Jews. When Jesus entered Jericho, Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. But since he was a short man, he could not. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree. When Jesus saw him, he loved him and Zacchaeus responded. After he met Jesus, he realized his mistake and made restitution by giving half of his possessions to the poor and paying back four times the amount he cheated. This shows us two things. First, we should not give in to social pressure to avoid people who need to hear the Gospel. Second, Following Jesus needs inner change with outward action. Show your faith with a change of your behavior.
The Parable of the Ten Minas showed what followers of Jesus must do during the time between Jesus’ departure and his second coming. Jesus expects believers to use their resources and talents to expand God’s Kingdom, He asks each of us to account for what we do with his gifts. While awaiting the coming of Christ, we must do His work. Let us answer these questions: (1)-Do you want God’s Kingdom to grow? (2)-Are you as concern for another’s welfare as you are for your own? (3)-Are you willing to faithfully use what he has entrusted to you?
During the Triumphal Entry, the people lined the road, praising God, waving palm branches and throwing their cloaks in front of the colt as it passed before them. They made joyful shouts expecting him to be a national leader who would restore their nation. The Pharisees thought the crowd’s words were sacrilegious and blasphemous. They did not want someone challenging their power and authority and they did not want a revolt that would bring the Roman army down on them. So they asked Jesus to keep his people quiet. But Jesus said that if the people were quiet, the stones would burst into cheers. Jesus was saying that he was establishing God’s eternal Kingdom, a reason for the greatest celebration of all.
Those who were buying and selling outside the temple were wealthy leaders in politics, commerce and law. When Jesus drove them out, he had damaged their business in the Temple. Besides, Jesus was preaching against injustice and his teachings often favored the poor over the rich. His great popularity was in danger of attracting Rome’s attention, so the leaders of Israel wanted to get rid of Jesus.