Luke 19

Zacheus seeketh to see Christ 1 receiveth him into his house 6 testifieth his repentance and is comforted by Christ 8 by the similitude of the distributing of the pounds Christ teacheth that we ought to employ our gifts of advantage11 maketh his entrance into Jerusalem riding upon an ass 29 and is received with the multitude of acclamation 37 weepeth over the city of Jerusalem and foretelleth her desolations 41 driveth the buyers and the sellers out of the temple 45 the chief priest and the scribes seek to put him to death47.

1. And Jesus being come in [namely into the city see chapter 18 verse 35] he went through Jericho [of the condition of this city see Mark 10:46]

2. And behold there was a man called by the name Zacheus and he as chief of the publicans [in every province or city there were divers publicans amongst whom one was the chief which was to be accountable for the tribute to the Romans see the like in Josephus antiq lib 12 cap4]and he was rich

3. And he sought to see Jesus who could not by reason of the multitude because he was little of person [Gr stature or length]

4. And running forth before climbed upon a wild fig tree [Gr sycomorea which was a tre in Syria and Egypt having the bigness and the leaves of a mulberry tree and fruit like figs but without kennel plin lib 13 cap 13] that he might see him for he was to pass by that way

5. And then Jesus came to that place looking upwards he saw him and said unto him Zacheus make haste and come down for I must today abide in thine house [that is lodge as is expounded verse 7]

6. And he made haste and came down and he received him with joy [Gr being glad]

7. And all that saw it murmured saying that he is gone into a sinful man to lodge [Gr to unloose a phrase taken from unloosen of the horses being coming to inn]

8. And Zacheus stood and said unto the Lord behold the halve of my good Lords I give to the poor and if I have deprived any man of anything by deceit [or have taken away by false and accusation see Luke3.14 have taken away by false information or accusation see Luke 3:14] I give that again four folds [namely according to the law of punishment for theft Exodus 22:1,2 2 Samuel 12:6]

9. And Jesus said unto him today is salvation happened in this house [that is household seeing that when the master of the family is also reckoned to be the covenant according to the promise Genesis 17:7 Acts 2:39 and 16.15, 31, 32,33 except that through their unbelief they rejected this grace] seeing that this man is also a son of Abraham [namely not only according to the flesh but also according to the promise Romans 9:8]

10. For the son of man is come to seek and save for that which was lost

11. And as they heard that he added and spake a similitude because he was nigh to Jerusalem and because they thought that the kingdom of God [namely which they imagined should be wordly kingdom should immediately be manifest

12. He said therefore a certain noble man [man Gr bomo by this noble man he understands himself by the servant his disciples especially the teachers by these citizens and stiffnecked Jews by the land lying afar off from heaven by the pounds spiritual gifts by his return his last coming to judgment by the giving of cities and spiritual and eternal reward] traveled into a country lying afar off to receive for himself a kingdom and then to return

13. And having called the ten servants he gave unto the ten pounds [Gr mna in Latin Mina which reckoned at sixty common sheckels or a hundred and twenty denarii or drachmes of silver see Ezekiel 45:12 and what a denarius is worth see Matthew 18:28 if we will understand with mina of gold then it is worth so much as old is more in value than silver] and said unto them negotiate till I come

14. And his citizen hated him and sent his messengers after him saying we will not that this man the king over us

15. And it came to pass when he came again when he received the kingdom that he said [that is commanded] that the servants should be called unto him to he should give his money [Gr the silver] that he might know what every one might gained by trading

16. And the first came and saith Lord thy pound hath gained ten pounds besides

17. And he said unto him well thou good servant seeing thou hath been faithful in the least thou hath the power [or command] over ten cities

18. And the second came and said Lord thy pound hath gained [Gr made] five pounds

19. And he said also unto him And thou be thou over five cities

20. And another came saying Lord lo here thy pound which I had laid away in a napkin [or handkerchief or linen cloath]

21. For I feared thee because thou art a severe man thou takest away that thou laidst not down and thou reapest that thou didst not sow

22. But he said unto him out of thy own mouth shall I judge thee thou wicked servant thou knewest that I am a severe man taking away that I laid down and reaping that I did not sow

23. Wherefore then didst not thy give my money into thy bank [Gr table that is to those that keep a table or bank to give out money on exchange or for gain] and I coming might be able to ask he same with usury [that is gain not that the Lord commended unlawful usury [that is gain not that the Lord commendeth unlawful usury but that thereby he would teach that we ought to employ our gifts for the benefit and edification of our neighbor and for the glory of God see the like Matthew 25:27]

24. And he said unto them that stood by him and give it to him that hath the ten rounds

25. And he said unto him Lord he hath ten pounds

26. And I say unto ye that to everyone that hath shall be given [this reason agrees not to the verse before but to the 24 verse whereof see Matthew 13:12] but from him that hath not from him shall be taken even that he hath

27. But these mine enemies are[hereby are understood the stiffnecked Jews which verse 14 are called his citizens and by their rebellion were become his enemies]which would not that I should be kingdom over them bring hither and smite them dead [Gr slay them]here before me

28. And having said this he went away before them [or before to shew his willingness and readiness of undergoing his sufferings] and went up towards Jerusalem

29. And it came to pass when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany [how far distant these places were from Jerusalem see Matthew 21:1] at the mount called Olive mount [Gr for the olives that he sent forth two of his disciples

30. saying go your way into that town which is over against ye into which entering ye shall find a colt tied [namely of a she ass with his dam see Matthew 21:2 Mark 11:2 whereon no man ever sate unloose the same and bring it

31. And if any one ask ye if ye loose that? Thus shall ye say unto him thus shall ye say unto him because the LORD needed of it

32. And they that were sent forth being gone found it as he had said unto them

33. And as they loosed the colt the masters of the same said unto them wherefore loose the colt?

34. And they said the LORD hath need of it

35. And they bought the same and [Gr led it] to Jesus and having cast their garments [that is upper garments or cloaks] they set Jesus thereon

36. And as he went forward they [namely many of the multitude Mark 11:8] spread their cloathes under him on the way

37. And when he now drew near to the descent of the mount of olives all the multitudes of the disciples [namely as well as they followed him as they that came out of Jerusalem to meet him John 12 verse 12, 13] began to rejoice and to praise God with a great voice because of all the mighty deeds [Gr the powers which they had seen

38. Saying blessed is the King [see hereof Matthew 21:9]which cometh in the name of the Lord peace be in heaven and glory in the highest places that is God be pacified and reconciled unto mankind by the coming of this king and thereby glorified]

39. And some of the Pharisees of the multitude said unto him master rebuke the disciples

40. And he answering said unto them I say unto you that if these held their peace the stones will soon cry out

41. And when he came near and saw the city and wept over it

42. Saying o if thou also knewest even yet in this thy day [namely in which I know for the last time come unto thee and give thee warning for thy preservation and salvation this is an abrupt speech and to be completed how happy then shouldst thou be? Or somewhat the like] that which serveth for thy peace by now it is hid from thy eyes

43. For there shall days come upon thee that thine enemies [namely the romances see the fulfilling hereof in Josephus de bello Jud lib 6] shall up a trench round about thee [or wall cast up of earth digged out] and shall compass thee round and distress thee on all sides.

44. And shall cast thee down to the ground and thy children in thee [that is inhabitants as Matthew 23:37] and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another stone because that thou knewest not the time not the time of visitation [namely in which by the preaching of the gospel the grace of God is now offered unto thee.]

45. And being gone into the temple he began to drive out them that sold in there

46. Saying unto them it is written mine house [that is the temple] is a house of prayer but ye have made it a den of murders

47. And he taught daily in the temple and the chief priest and the scribes and the rulers of the people [Gr the first or chiefest] sought to put him to death [Gr to destroy or ruine]

48. And they found not what they should do for all the people hung upon him [Gr hung that is adhered to him of him or was very desirous to hear him] and heard him.