CHAPTER 19
He was trying
to see
who
Jesus
was,
but
could not see
over
the
crowd,
because
he was
small
in stature.
So
he ran
on
ahead
and climbed
a sycamore tree
to
see
Him,
since
Jesus was about
to pass
that way.
When
Jesus came
to
that
place,
He
looked up
and said,
“Zacchaeus,
hurry
down,
for
I
must
stay
at
your
house
today.”
But
Zacchaeus
stood up
and said
to
the
Lord,
“Look,
Lord,
half
of
my
possessions
I give
to the
poor,
and
if
I have cheated
anyone,
I will repay it
fourfold."
Jesus
said
to
him,
“Today
salvation
has come
to this
house,
because
this man
too
is
a son
of Abraham.
While
the people
were listening to
this,
Jesus proceeded
to tell them
a parable,
because
He
was
near
Jerusalem
and
they
thought
the
kingdom
of God
would
appear
imminently.
So
He said,
“A
man
of noble birth
went
to
a distant
country
to lay claim
to his
kingship
and then
return.
Beforehand,
he called
ten
of his
servants
and gave
them
ten
minas.
‘Conduct business with this
until
I return,’
he said.
But
his
subjects
hated
him
and
sent
a delegation
after
him
to say,
‘We do not want
this man
to rule
over
us.’
When
he
returned
from procuring
his
kingship,
he summoned
the
servants
to whom
he had given
the
money,
to
find out
what
each one
had earned.
His master replied,
‘Well done,
good
servant!
Because
you have been
faithful
in
a very small matter,
you
shall have
authority
over
ten
cities.’
Then
another servant
came
and said,
‘Master,
here is
your
mina,
which
I have laid away
in
a piece of cloth.
For
I was afraid of
you,
because
you are
a harsh
man.
You withdraw
what
you did not deposit
and
reap
what
you did not sow.’
His master replied,
‘You wicked
servant,
I will judge
you
by
your
own words.
So you knew
that
I
am
a harsh
man,
withdrawing
what
I did not deposit
and
reaping
what
I did not sow?
Why
then
did you not deposit
my
money
in
the bank,
and
upon my return
I could have collected
it
with
interest?’
Then
he told
those
standing by,
‘Take
the
mina
from
him
and
give it
to the one who
has
ten
minas.’
‘I tell
you
that
everyone
who
has
will be given more;
but
the one who
does not
have,
even
what
he has
will be taken away
from him.
And
these
enemies
of mine
who
were unwilling for
me
to rule
over
them,
bring them
here
and
slay
them
in front of
me.’”
“Go
to
the
village
ahead of you,”
He said.
“As you enter it,
you will find
a colt
tied there,
on
which
no one
has ever
sat.
Untie
it
and bring it here.
And
as He
approached
the
descent
from the
Mount
of Olives,
the
whole
multitude
of
disciples
began
to praise
God
joyfully
in a loud voice
for
all
the miracles
they had seen:
“Blessed is
the
King
who comes
in
the name
of the Lord!”
“Peace
in
heaven
and
glory
in
the highest!”
and said,
“If only
you had known
on
this
day
what
would bring
you
peace!
But
now
it is hidden
from
your
eyes.
For
the days
will come
upon
you
when
your
enemies
will barricade
you
and
surround
you
and
hem you in
on every side.
They will level 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 your
visitation from God.”
He declared
to them,
“It is written:
‘My
house
will be
a house
of prayer.’
But
you
have made
it
‘a den
of robbers.’”
Jesus was
teaching
at
the
temple
every
day,
but
the
chief priests,
scribes,
and
leaders
of the
people
were intent
on killing
Him.