Moff LUKE Chapter 19

◄ LUKE 19 ► ║ ═ ©

19 Then he entered Jericho. And as he passed through it, 2 there was a man called Zacchaeus, the head of the taxgatherers, a wealthy man, 3 who tried to see what Jesus was like; but he could not, on account of the crowd — for he was small of stature. 4 So he ran forward and climbed into a sycomore tree to get a sight of him, as he was to pass that road. 5 But when Jesus reached the spot he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down at once, for I must stay at your house to-day." 6 He came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 But when they saw this, everyone began to mutter that he had gone to be the guest of a sinner. 8 So Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, "I will give the half of all I have, Lord, to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will give him back four times as much." 9 And Jesus said of him, "To-day salvation has come to this house, since Zacchaeus here is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man has come to seek and save the lost."

11 He went on to tell a parable in their hearing, as he was approaching Jerusalem and as they imagined God's Reign would instantly come into view. 12 "A nobleman," he said, "went abroad to obtain royal power for himself and then return. 13 He first called his ten servants, giving them each a five-pound note, and telling them, "Trade with this till I come back." 14 Now his people hated him and sent envoys after him to say, "We object to him having royal power over us." 15 However he secured the royal power and came home. Then he ordered the servants to be called who had been given the money, that he might find out what business they had done. 16 The first came up saying, "Your five pounds has made other fifty, sir." 17 "Capital," he said, "you excellent servant! because you have proved trustworthy in a trifle, you are placed over ten towns." 18 Then the second came and said, "Your five pounds has made twenty-five, sir." 19 To him he said, "And you are set over five towns." 20 Then the next came and said, "Here is your five pounds, sir; I kept it safe in a napkin, 21 for I was afraid of you, you are such a hard man — picking up what you never put down, and reaping what you never sowed." 22 He replied, "You rascal of a servant, I will convict you by what you have said yourself. You knew, did you, that I was a hard man, picking up what I never put down, and reaping what I never sowed! 23 Why then did you not put my money into the bank, so that I could have got it with interest when I came back?" 24 Then he said to the bystanders, "Take the five pounds from him and give it to the man with fifty." 25 "Sir," they said, "he has fifty already!" 26 "I tell you,

to everyone who has shall more be given,

but from him who has nothing, even what he has shall be taken. 27 And now for these enemies of mine who objected to me reigning over them — bring them here and slay them in my presence." "

28 With these words he went forward on his way up to Jerusalem. 29 When he was near Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Olive-Orchard, he despatched two of his disciples, 30 saying, "Go to the village in front, and on entering it you will find a colt tethered on which no one ever has sat; untether it and bring it. 31 If anyone asks you, "Why are you untethering it?" this is what you will say, "The Lord needs it."" 32 The messengers went off and found the colt exactly as he had told them. 33 As they were untethering it, the owners said to them, "Why are you untethering the colt?" 34 And they said, "Because the Lord needs it." 35 So they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their clothes on the colt they mounted Jesus upon it. 36 As he went forward they spread their clothes under him on the road; 37 and as he was now close to the descent from the Hill of Olives, all the multitude of the disciples started joyfully to praise God with a loud voice for all they had seen, 38 saying,

"Blessed be the king who comes in the Lord's name!

Peace in heaven and glory in the High places!" 39 Some Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Check your disciples, teacher." 40 But he replied, "I tell you, if they were to keep quiet, the very stones would shout."

41 And when he saw the city, as he approached, he wept over it, 42 saying, "Would that you too knew even to-day on what your peace depends! But no, it is hidden from you! 43 A time is coming for you when your enemies will throw up ramparts round you and encircle you and besiege you on every side 44 and raze you and your children within you to the ground, leaving not one stone upon another within you — and all because you would not understand when God was visiting you."

45 Then he went into the temple and proceeded to drive out those who were selling. 46 "It is written," he told them, "my house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers."

47 Day after day he taught within the temple. The high priests and scribes tried to have him put to death, and so did the leaders of the people, 48 but they could not discover what was to be done, for the whole of the people hung upon his lips.

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