Luke 19:1. And Jesus entered
That is, he entered at one end of the town,
Luke 19:1. And passed through Jericho.
And so came out at the other end of it.
Luke 19:2. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
It was an important station for the collection of customs; there was a good deal of produce at Jericho upon which there was a tax, so Zacchaeus had a good post: he was rich.
Luke 19:3-7. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down and received him joyfully, And when they saw it, they all murmured,
Some of the very people, I suppose, who had just before given praise to God. So fickle are the judgments of men that we need not be elated when all of them speak well of us. It only needs that the wind should veer just half a point, and they will all speak ill of us. The cry of men, even when it is most clear and strong, is not to be depended on. They shout «Hosanna,» today; but, before the week is out, they cry, «Crucify him; crucify him.» So, here, «They murmured,»
Luke 19:7. Saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
I do not know where else he could have gone, for they were all sinners; but they meant that this tax-gatherer was «a sinner» by public reputation, he was an excommunicated person, who was regarded by everybody as «a sinner» in a very special sense.
Luke 19:8. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor;
«Henceforth, one half of my income shall go in almsgiving; «
Luke 19:8. And if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
«I will not give to the poor or to God that which is not lawfully mine. I will not steal a sheep, and give the feet to the poor; but I will give back, four times over, anything that I may have taken wrongfully, and still the half of my future income shall go to the poor.»
Luke 19:9-10. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
This exposition consisted of readings from Luke 18:36-43; and Luke 19:1-10.