Luke 19:1-4 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And Jesus entered, &c.— After conferring sight on the beggars, (see Matthew 9:27; Matthew 9:38.) Jesus entered Jericho attended by them, by his disciples, and by the multitude: he made no stay however in this town, because he hastened to be at Jerusalem eight or ten days before the passover, intending to preach and work miracles in the most public manner, under the eye of all the people, and of the grandees; whose resentment should influence him no longer, because his ministry had continued the determined time, and he was resolved to die at this passover. A man, however, belonging to this town, one of the principal tax-gatherers, having heard of our Lord's miracles, had a great curiosity to see what sort of a person he was; but he could not for the crowd; for, the passover being at hand, the roads to Jerusalem were full of people; and many of them happening to meet with our Lord, chose to travel in his company, that they might behold his miracles. Zaccheus, therefore, ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore-tree to see him. It seems he was in Jericho, when Jesus passed through: this accounts for his running before the multitude on this occasion; for by the 5th verse it appears that his house was further on, in the way to Jerusalem. His desire to see Jesus was increased, no doubt, by the account which he had received in Jericho, of the miracles performed on the blind beggars; for the news of so extraordinary a transaction would be quickly spread abroad. The words, and he was rich, at the end of Luke 19:2 seem to refer to the discourse in the last chapter, Luke 19:24, &c. particularly to Luke 19:27. Zaccheus is a proof that it is possible for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.