View Luke 19 in the note window.
1: He passed through Jericho - So that Zaccheus must have
lived near the end of the town: the tree was in the town itself.
And he was rich - These words seem to refer to the discourse in
the last chapter, (Lu 18:24-27), particularly to (Lu 18:27).
Zaccheus is a proof, that it is possible by the power of God for
even a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
2: The chief of the publicans - What we would term, commissioner
of the customs. A very honourable as well as profitable place.
4: And running before - With great earnestness. He climbed up
- Notwithstanding his quality: desire conquering honour and shame.
5: Jesus said, Zaccheus, make haste and come down - What a strange
mixture of passions must Zaccheus have now felt, hearing one
speak, as knowing both his name and his heart!
7: They all murmured - All who were near: though most of them
rather out of surprise than indignation.
8: And Zaccheus stood - Showing by his posture, his deliberate,
purpose and ready mind, and said, Behold, Lord, I give - I
determine to do it immediately.
9: He also is a son of Abraham - A Jew born, and as such has a
right to the first offer of salvation.
10: (Mt 18:11).
11: They thought the kingdom of God - A glorious temporal kingdom,
would immediately appear.
12: He went into a far country to receive a kingdom - Christ went
to heaven, to receive his sovereign power as wan, even all
authority in heaven and earth.(Mt 25:14,Mr 13:34).
13: Trade till I come - To visit the nation, to destroy Jerusalem,
to judge the world: or, in a more particular sense, to require
thy soul of thee.
14: But his citizens - Such were those of Jerusalem, hated him,
and sent an embassy after him - The word seems to imply, their
sending ambassadors to a superior court, to enter their protest
against his being admitted to the regal power. In such a solemn
manner did the Jews protest, as it were, before God, that Christ
should not reign over them: this man - So they call him in contempt.
15: When he was returned - In his glory.
23: With interest - Which does not appear to be contrary to any law
of God or man. But this is no plea for usury, that is, the taking
such interest as implies any degree of oppression or extortion.
25: They said - With admiration, not envy.
26: (Mt 25:29,Lu 8:18).
27: He went before - The foremost of the company, showing his
readiness to suffer.
29: He drew nigh to the place where the borders of Bethphage
and Bethany met, which was at the foot of the mount of Olives.(Mt 21:1,Mr 11:1).
37: The whole multitude began to praise God - Speaking at once,
as it seems, from a Divine impulse, words which most of them
did not understand.
38: Peace in heaven - God being reconciled to man.
39: Rebuke thy disciples - Paying thee this immoderate honour.
40: If these should hold their peace, the stones, which lie
before you, would cry out - That is, God would raise up some
still more unlikely instruments to declare his praise.
For the power of God will not return empty.
42: O that thou hadst known, at least in this thy day - After thou
hast neglected so many. Thy day - The day wherein God still offers
thee his blessings.
43: Thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee
around - All this was exactly performed by Titus, the Roman general.
44: And thy children within thee - All the Jews were at that time
gathered together, it being the time of the passover. They
shall not leave in thee one stone upon another - Only three towers
were left standing for a time, to show the former strength and
magnificence of the place. But these likewise were afterward
levelled with the ground.
45: (Mt 21:12,Mr 11:1)1.
46: (Isa 56:7).
