November 13, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Luke? Here’s today’s reading:
Luke 19 (NIV)
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way........Continue Reading
Jesus came to save the lost. Ironically the same lost people who hung on His every word and teaching and triumphantly cheered upon His arrival in Jerusalem will unfortunately be the same ones who cry “Crucify Him” in a short time.
Like in the parable of the servants we are to do the work of God not because He needs us to (if no one worships the rocks will!) but because we are priveledged to be part of His work here on earth. Praising Him and sharing His love with others even when the crowd response is negative to that message. Like Zacchaeus we must work to get above the crowd to reach Jesus and He can use even the like of us to spread the Gospel and save the lost!
Luke 19
Can’t imagine what the people thought when Jesus befriends a tax collector who stole from the people to become rich. Jesus knowing zacchaeus heart. Does the best of all miracles: heart transplant to a sinner! Verse 11. Don’t waste your gifts that God has given us. Verse 28. People must have been extremely excited thinking Jesus was going to liberate them from Rome. Same people that shouted crucify him soon. He did liberate in a HUGE manor.
Just got my internet back. Really missed the comments. Love Luke 18 with the persistent widow story. Tells us if we are in the valley and in need. To pray and continue. Without getting discouraged. But with faith and confidence that our Father hears us and will deliver us!! So much comfort. A loving father!!!!
Luke 19
What fond memories of Sunday school came to mind in reading about Zacchaeus. There is even a song that recounts the tale. But I noticed for the first time here that Jesus calls out his name without being told what it is. Was this because of Zacchaeus’ reputation? Or does Jesus rely on special knowledge like when he calls the disciple Nathaniel? But what a mark of Jesus that He reaches out to those rejected by others, but when faith is expressed in Him, especially when that is reflected in life change, than salvation comes to that person.
And how similar and different this parable is to the parable of the talents in Matthew. There are many of the same expressions and scenarios but the beginning and end are very different. Here the noble person is going to be crowned king and is rejected by His subjects. And in the end. it is not the unworthy servant who is punished, but the subjects who rejected the King. Here Luke is talking about the kingdom of God. Matthew is talking about the kingdom of heaven. Clearly Jesus is the King and is telling this parable in reference to the Jew’s rejection of Him as well as how important it is for us to be good stewards of the things God entrusts us with. Jesus reiterates this sentiment about the Jews as He finds Himself outside Jerusalem and prophesies the destruction that will happen and relates the destruction to their rejection of Him.
And in the middle we have the familiar story of the triumphal entry. What a clear indication that Jesus knew who He was and what the Jews wanted Him to be. He is the only one at this point that knows how the week is going to turn out. But He still works to teach and see people saved. How sad it must have been to have HIs people reject Him. And yet God uses their rejection to accomplish ours and their salvation.
Zaccheus seeks eagerly after Jesus, Jesus sees him and invites Himself to Zaccheus’ house.
I always heard it interpreted that Zaccheus promises Jesus that he will give half his goods to the poor and that he will return 4-fold and $ taken falsely, but that is NOT what happens. Zacheus tells Jesus that that is what he does….has been doing all along. I don’t think that Jesus ascribes salvation to Zaccheus because of a promise of repentance, but because Zaccheus received Him into his house and that his heart was already demonstrating that he was a true “son of Abraham,” living lawfully and receiving Jesus. Jesus says several times that He came for Israel and here he repeats that He came to save that which is lost.
In the parable of the minas, the master (God) goes away and returns to see how his servants have been faring. He evaluates how they have been using the minas and awards each one accordingly. The one who hid it in his handkerchief has his gifts taken away and given to the more profitable servant. “For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” This does not support todays socialist sentiments! This is the Kingdom of God, so the servant remains the servant, but is not given rewards or leadership or ownership. However, the citizens that rejected God will be slain.
I was just thinking about the triumphal entry. The disciples are cheering and rejoicing about all that God was doing and the Pharisees TELL JESUS to rebuke His disciples. They are ORDERING GOD to stop His followers from rejoicing and praising Him! They clearly do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah, or if they do they obviously don’t understand what that means. Did they think that the Messiah would just come and do their bidding?
“……because you did not know the time of your visitation.”