Luke 19

Luke 19:4

—48. We have here,

1. The tears of Jesus shed over the devoted city Jerusalem. Being now in full view of that rejected place, and heretofore the impending miseries ready to overwhelm the inhabitants, he was ever it, as man, feeling the tenderest compassion towards them; Joyous, If thou hadst known, or, O that thou hadst known ’even thou, a wicked and bloody city as thou hast been, at least in this thy day, when the most abundant means of grace have been vouchfated to thee, the things which belong unto thy peace, temporal and eternal; but now they are hid from thine eyes; thou art abandoned to judicial blindness, and utter reprobacy, the consequence of which will shortly be utter ruin; when thine enemies shall be large and enter into thee, massacre the inhabitants, and leave not one Stone upon another; because thou knowest not the time of thy visitation; rejecting the light of my gospel, the warnings of my ministers, and the overtures of mercy, which were vouchfated to thee. Note, (1.) A Christian’s heart, like his Mother’s, feels the tenderest compassion towards perishing sinners, and grieves to behold their approaching miseries. (2.) There is a time of visitation, when the Lord is pleased to see before us the things which belong to our pardon, peace, and salvation, and to urge them upon us by his providence, his word, his Spirit: not to know, or abide this day of grace, is to be undone. (3.) However long we have trespassed on God’s patience, or however greatly we have provoked him; if at last we are prevailed upon to return to him, it is never too late to find favour with him. Let none therefore despair, who desire now to return without delay to the Lord. (4.) Juffy are they given up to judicial blindness and hardness of heart, who reject the counsel of God against their own souls. (5.) All the threatnings of Jesus will be as surely fulfilled, as we have seen this against Jerusalem accomplished in the total overthrow of that city and people. Let every sinful city, every sinful soul, take warning by her fall.

2. Being come to Jerusalem, he goes immediately to the temple, cleansing it from the profanations there practised; casting out the buyers and sellers, who had made that house of prayer a den of thieves; testifying his zeal for his Father’s honour; and when he had thus purged this holy place from such gross abuses, he preached there to the people the doctrines of his rich grace. Note, The preaching of the gospel is the great glory of every temple devoted to the Saviour’s honour.

3. The chief priests, scribes, and rulers, were highly exasperated at his discourses and conduct, which so deeply reflected on their corruptions, and therefore sought how to murder him immediately; but they could not just then contrive any scheme for the execution of their bloody purposes, the people in general being very attentive to his discourse, (Lovers 1) they hung upon his lips, eagerly catching every word which dropped; for he spoke with such power, energy, and conviction, as from their own scribes they had never heard before.

Luke 19:11-27

1. AND Jefus entred, and passed through Jericho. 2. And behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3. And he fought to see Jesus, who he was, and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4. And he ran before, and climbed up into a fycamore-tree to see him; for he was to pass that way. 5. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, that ‘he was gone to be guest with a man that is a finner. 8. And Zaccheus flood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor: and if I have taken any thing from

any man by false accusation, ‘I restore how your-fold. 9. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as ‘he also is ’the son of Abraham. 10. For ’the Son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost.

9. 1—10. Whilst the conversion of every finner’s heart bepeaks the great power of God, the change wrought on some appears still more worthy to be remembered and admired; as in the case of Zaccheus.

10. He was a publican, yea chief among the publicans, and rich; two great obstructions, in human view, to the salvation of his soul: but Christ has his elect among the great and wealthy, as well as among the poor, and nothing is too hard for his almighty grace. The chief of finners he can make the chief of home.

11. He took great pains to get a sight of Christ, and to satisfy a society which the great fame of him had raised: being short, and unable to overlook the crowd of people that usually extended Jesus in his travels, he ran before, and climbed up into a fycamore-tree, that he might see him as he passed by. *Nere, (1.) They who would gain a sight of Jesus must break through every obstacle in their way. (2.) Consider, though often ligaments, in many cases is praise-worthy. To see and hear those of whom there are strange reports is the best way to judge for ourselves.

12. There the eye of Jesus discovered him; and, as he had led him to that tree by the hand of his providence, he now furnishes him with the calls of his grace, and, by name addressing him, desires him to come down quickly, intending to be shut

day his guest. With joy the publican aboyed, little expecting such a favour, and received him with heartfelt welcome. *Nere, (1.) Many who have come merely through curiosity to hear and see some minister, whofe some hath been spread abroad; have been graciously surprised with the call of God, and from that hour converted unto him. (2.) There is a wondrous providential disposition of our affairs, which, when we are turned to God, we can reflect upon with amazement, and see his hand leading us when we had not one thought of his designs. (3.) When Christ calls we should gladly run; his word can open for him a welcome into our house and our hearts, and make us with delight reply, Come in, dear Lord, to me. (4.) Come down is the gospel call; we must sink low in our own eyes, to rise high in God’s favour.

4. Many, who were present, were exceedingly offended, that one, who presided himself a prophet of such diffusing-blood faculty, should go to eat with a person who was so notorious a finner. His profession made him odious as a publican, his riches might be regarded as the fruit of extortion, and his character might be known as infamous: but it did not follow, because he had been bad, that he was so, as their censure employed; nor was Jesus to be blamed for visiting those, who, the more desperate their case seemed, so much the more needed his healing grace.

5. Whatever Zaccheus had been, he now gives the most undoubted proofs of genuine and undisgared repentance. The grace of Jesus had powerfully wrought upon his heart, and the effects of it appeared visible to his words and actions. However grazing he had been of wealth, and intent on gain, now at a stroke half his goods he gives to the poor, and, if any man had ought to lay against him of fraud or extortion, he was ready to make the utmost restitution which the law demanded. Nere, (1.) One of the best symptoms of real conversion to God is destitute to the world. (2.) There can be no true repentance without restitution, at least without the desire to make it to the utmost of our power. (3.) They who would show the spirit of true charity, should not leave it merely to their wills to bequeath their wealth to pious sites, but employ it during their lives.

6. Christ testified his approbation of Zaccheus’s conduct, and comforted him with the assurance of that salvation which was now come to him and to his house, forasmuch as he also was a son of Abraham. He now shewed himself a genuine descendant of this father of the faithful: his salvation was therefore secured, his sins pardoned, his person accepted, and eternal glory his portion; whilst all his family also shared his mercy. And what Christ had done in this case was in direct conformity with the great design of his coming into the world, to seek and save that which was lost. *Nere, (1.) Every finner is a lost soul; lost in error and sin, unable to recover himself, and ready to perish eternally: and a great point is gained, when we begin to be deeply convinced of this alarming truth. (2.) Christ is the favour of the desperate: none are so far gone as to be past his recovery. (3.) He must first seek us, or we shall never seek to him for salvation.

7. And as they heard these things, he added, and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. 12. He said therefore, ‘A certain noble-man went into a far country, to receive for him, self a kingdom, and to return. 13. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, ‘Occupy till I come. 14. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 15. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, ’that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, ‘have thou authority over ten cities. 18. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. 20. And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 21. For I feared thee, ‘because thou art an austere man thou takest up that thou layest not down, and reaped that thou dust not low. 22. And he saith unto him, ‘Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23. Wherefore thou gaveest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have re-

quired mine own with usery? 24. And he said unto them that flood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds). 26. For his unto you, that ‘unto every one which hath shall be given: and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. 27. But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and stay them before me.

What Christ had said to Zaccheus gave occasion to some, who heard him, to conclude, that the temporal kingdom of the Messiah was about to be set up in the world, and that, on his arrival at Jerusalem, he would declare himself openly. To recollect such a mistake therefore he broke the following parable, intimating to them therein, that the generality of the Jewish people would not submit to the kingdom of his grace, and that the kingdom of his glory was more distant than they imagined.

2. If certain noblemen, a person of high birth, went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom; to be invested with sovereign authority, as the governors of Judah were by the Roman emperors; and to return, with full power and authority, to reward or punish his subjects. Thus the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven, to receive the mediatorial kingdom, and far down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; being quickly to return from thence in the mission of his Spirit, to spread his gospel through the earth; in the destruction of the Jewish people and nation; and finally at the day of judgment. And as surely as he once came into the world, so surely will he return again, and will not tarry.

3. He committed to his servants a certain sum of money, that during his absence they might trade (venile in vehedo) and improve their capital, in order that at his return he might receive the fruits of their industry. The ministers of Christ in particular, and all his people in general, are those servants; each hath his portion of gifts, natural or providential, which he is required to employ for his Master’s honour and interest. All we have is derived from him, and should be devoted to him. Till he comes, we are called upon to use all diligence. Every soul won by us will prove our own unbreakable gain; and whatever he the success of our labours, whether more or less, if we approve ourselves faithful to him till death, we are sure not to lose our reward.

4. Two of the servants, on their master’s return, with satisfaction appeared before him, and rendered him a faithful account of the truth committed to them. The one had gained more, the other less; but both had been diligent, received his commendation, and were preferred according to the advantages they had made. Whereas we are taught, (1) That we must one day be called upon to give a solemn account to our great Lord and Master of all the means and mercies, gifts and grace, which we have enjoyed, and our profiting thereby. (2) They who are found faithful will receive the approbation of the Chief Shepherd, and be rewarded by him. (3) Whatever success we have, we must, to the glory of our Lord, own, that it is thy pound hath gained it; for not to our endeavours, but to the grace, are we indebted for the effect of our ministry. (4) If we have the Saviour’s commendation of our diligence, we need not care who may find fault with us. (5) They who are most zealous in their labours for Christ will receive the greatest reward, exalted, as one star different from another star in glory.

5. The third, sunk in sunk and carelessness, began to seek excuses; and, having produced the pound committed to his charge, pretended his fear of his master’s authority, as if he would call on him the blame of his own ailments. But out of his own mouth was this wicked servant condemned; since that apprehension he pleaded of his master’s authority should at least have led him to place the money at the banker’s, where, with lawful interest, he might have received his own. Justly therefore he commands the pound to be taken from him, and given to him who had gained the ten pounds: for his having so much is so far from being an objection, as some present intimated, v. 25. that it was a reason why he should have more, having made so good a use of the former truth; whilst he, who made no use, or so had a one, of the pound delivered to him, justly deserved to have it taken from him. Note. (1) Not only the abode of our gifts, but our negligence to improve and employ them for Christ’s honour and the good of men’s souls, will be esteemed highly criminal. (2) The pleas of faithful professors, as a judgment-day, shall turn to their everlasting conviction and condemnation. (3) Idle servants are wicked servants. Ministers who are not active in Christ’s service effectually serve the interests of Satan. (4) Hard thoughts of God are at the bottom of every unhumbled sinner’s heart. (5) Diligence to improve the gifts and graces, which the Lord hath bestowed on us, is the sure way to have both abundantly increased under his blessing; whilst sunk makes all our attainments to wither and decay.

6. He foretells the ruin of the Jewish people in general. They were the citizens who sent after him in his absence, refusing to submit to his government: they paid no regard to his apostles and ministers when he was ascended into heaven: and, having filled up the measure of their iniquities by rejecting his gospel, he seized the rebels with his arm of judgment, and the Roman sword miserably massacred innumerable multitudes of this devoted people, and ruined their country. And such will be the case with all impenitents sinners. They say, in the pride and rebellion of their hearts, We will not have this man to reign over us, rejecting the government of his laws and the warnings of his servants: but their terrible destruction approaches: the King, their Judge, clothed with vengeance, is ready to be revealed from heaven, when wrath to the uttermost will come upon them; and they who refused to bow to the sceptre of his grace shall be broken with the rod of his judgments. They who will not be ruled must be eternally ruined.

7. ¶ And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. 29. ¶ And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 30. Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your ensuing ye shall find a cult wed, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. 31. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. 32. And they that were sent, went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. 33. And as they were loosing the cult, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the cult? 34. And they said, The Lord hath need of him. 35. And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the cult, and they see Jesus thereon. 36. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. 37. And when he was come nigh, even now 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 be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: ‘peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you, that if these should hold their peace, ’the stones would immediately cry out.

Luke 19:38-40

Eager to accomplish the salvation of his people, the blessed Jesus hailers to the scene of his sufferings, not intimidated by all the dreadful events he foresaw. Was he so willing to die for us, and shall we be cowards in his service? We have here what we met with twice before:

1. The triumphant story of Jesus into Jerusalem, amidst the acclamations of the multitude. He was mounted, not as a conqueror on a triumphal car, but, as Zion’s lowly King, on an ash’s colt; and that not his own. He sent to borrow it for this occasion; and, having the dominion over all creatures, and in his hands the hearts of all men, the owners readily sent him at the Saviour’s holding. Mounted thereon, the garments of his poor disciples were the trappings, and served as carpets spread to adorn his entry: whilst, filled with wonder and praise at all the miracles they had seen, the multitude cried, Blessed be the King, Messiah; may all happiness and prosperity attend him that cometh in the name of the Lord, invested with divine authority and power: peace in heaven; let the God of heaven bless his undertakings, and crown it with success, appearing now a reconciled God to us; and glory in the highest; let the greatest honour, praise, and adoration redound to him for this salvation, and be ascribed to him by men on earth and angels in heaven.

2. Christ vindicates his disciples from the envious cavils of the Pharisees, who could not bear to hear such acclamations, and would infatuate that it was the highest pride to permit such incense to be offered to him. But, though he came in great humility, the present occasion demanded these praises; and, if the multitude had been silent, he assured these cavilates the very stones would cry out, reproaching their stupidity, and ascribing to God the glory due unto his name.

3. ¶ And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42. Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side. 44. And I shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within

within thee; and if they shall not leave in thee one Stone upon another: “because thou knowest not the time of thy visitation. 45. ‘And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that fold therein, and them that bought, 46. Saying unto them, It is written, ‘My house is the house of prayer: but ‘ye have made it a den of thieves. 47. And he taught daily in the temple. But ’the chief priests and the scribes, and the chief of the people thought to destroy him, 48. And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to bear him.