Jesus and Zaccheus
1 ① When Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the city, 2a man named Zaccheus was there. He was a tax collector and a wealthy man. 3He wanted to see what Jesus was like, but he was a short man and could not see because of the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree. From there he would be able to see Jesus who had to pass that way. 5When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, come down quickly for I must stay at your house today.” 6So Zaccheus hurried down and received him joyfully.
7All the people who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to the house of a sinner as a guest.” 8But Zaccheus spoke to Jesus, “The half of my goods, Lord, I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four times as much.” 9Looking at him Jesus said, “Salvation has come to this house today, for he is also a true son of Abraham. 10The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”
The ten pounds
11 ② Jesus was now near Jerusalem and the people with him thought that God’s reign was about to appear. So as they were listening to him, Jesus went on to tell them a parable. 12He said, “A man of noble birth went to a distant place to have himself appointed king of his own people, after which he would return. 13Before he left, he summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds. He said: ‘Put this money to work until I get back.’ 14But his compatriots who disliked him sent a delegation after him with this message: ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’
15He returned, however, appointed as king. At once he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what profit each had made. 16The first came in and reported: ‘Sir, your pound has earned ten more.’
17The master replied: ‘Well done, my good servant. Since you have proved yourself capable in a small matter, I can trust you to take charge of ten cities.’ 18The second reported: ‘Sir, your pound earned five more pounds.’ 19The master replied: ‘Right, take charge of five cities.’
20The third came in and said: ‘Sir, here is your money which I hid for safekeeping. 21I was afraid of you for you are an exacting person; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’
22The master replied: ‘You worthless servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew I was an exacting person, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow! 23Why, then, did you not put my money on loan so that when I got back I could have collected it with interest?’
24Then the master said to those standing by: ‘Take from him that pound, and give it to the one with ten pounds.’ 25They objected: ‘But, sir, he already has ten!’
26‘I tell you: everyone who has will be given more; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27As for my enemies who did not want me to be king, bring them in and execute them right here in my presence.’”
Jesus enters Jerusalem
28So Jesus spoke, and he went on ahead of them, on his way to Jerusalem. 29When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, close to Mount Olivet, he sent two of the disciples with these instructions, 30“Go to the village opposite and as you enter it you will find a colt tied up that no one has yet ridden: untie it and bring it here. 31And if anyone says to you: ‘Why are you untying this colt?’ You shall give this answer: ‘The Master needs it.’”
32So the two disciples went and found things just as Jesus had said. 33As they were untying the colt, the owner said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34And they answered, “The Master needs it.” 35So they brought it to Jesus and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they mounted Jesus on it. 36And as he went down, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37When Jesus came near Jerusalem, at the place where the road slopes down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen, 38and they cried out, “Blessed is he who comes as king in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and Glory in the highest heavens.”
39Some Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Master, rebuke your disciples.” 40But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if they were to remain silent, the stones would cry out.”
41When Jesus had come in sight of the city, he wept over it 42and said, “If only today you knew the ways of peace! But now your eyes are held from seeing. 43Yet days will come upon you when your enemies will surround you with barricades and shut you in and press on you from every side. 44And they will dash you to the ground and your children with you, and leave not a stone within you, for you did not recognize the time and the visitation of your God.”
45Then Jesus entered the Temple area and began to drive out the merchants. 46And he said to them, “God says in the Scriptures: My house shall be a house of prayer:but you have turned it into a den of robbers.”
47Jesus was teaching every day in the Temple. The chief priests and teachers of the Law wanted to kill him and the elders of the Jews as well, 48but they were unable to do anything, for all the people were listening to him and hanging on his words.
- Lk 19,1 THE POWER OF JESUS Everyone in Jericho was pointing a finger at Zaccheus: how could a man involved in dirty deals, (like he was) be converted? What punishment would God send to him? Instead of punishing him, God comes to his home. Jesus shows that he is guided by the Spirit when he spots Zaccheus among so many people, and when he understands at that very moment, that on that day he has come to Jericho, above all, to save a rich man. Zaccheus knows that he is the object of envy and hatred. He is not all bad: although his hands are dirty, he has not lost the sense of what is good and he admires the prophet Jesus secretly. God is able to save him because of his good desires. The favor Jesus does to him compels him to manifest the human and good qualities hidden in him. It is said that he received Jesus joyfully: a joy which shows the transformation that has taken place in him. After that, he will have no trouble in rectifying his evil deeds. Then he will share and reestablish justice. The people are indignant, and in that they imitate the Pharisees; they believe that the prophet Jesus should share their prejudice and even their resentments. Jesus is not a demagogue; the crowd's lack of understanding does not matter to him any more than that of the Pharisees. Once again, Jesus shows his power; he destroys evil by saving the sinner. Lk 19,11 Galileans go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover and Jesus goes with them. He knows that death awaits him: they, nonetheless, are convinced that he will be proclaimed king and liberator of Israel. In his parable Jesus invites them to hold onto another hope. He will rule on his return from a faraway land (his own death) at the end of history. Meanwhile, his people are in charge of riches, which he has given them and which they must multiply. They should not wait in idleness for his return, since his enemies will take advantage of his absence to struggle against his influence. Jesus' servants will participate in his triumph to the degree that they have worked. This page is closely connected with the parable of the talents (Mk 25:15). Two differences are pointed out in what follows. For one thing, in the introduction and in the conclusion Jesus refers to his country's political life. The country depended on the Roman Empire and its kings had to be acceptable to the Roman government which protected them. On the other hand, the parable insists on God's justice: everyone receives according to his merit. Heavenly happiness is not something which can be distributed equally. Everyone will know God and will share his riches to the degree that one has been able to love throughout life. Every step we take by way of obedience, sacrifice and humility, develops our capacity to receive God and to be transformed by him.
- Lk 19,1 THE POWER OF JESUS Everyone in Jericho was pointing a finger at Zaccheus: how could a man involved in dirty deals, (like he was) be converted? What punishment would God send to him? Instead of punishing him, God comes to his home. Jesus shows that he is guided by the Spirit when he spots Zaccheus among so many people, and when he understands at that very moment, that on that day he has come to Jericho, above all, to save a rich man. Zaccheus knows that he is the object of envy and hatred. He is not all bad: although his hands are dirty, he has not lost the sense of what is good and he admires the prophet Jesus secretly. God is able to save him because of his good desires. The favor Jesus does to him compels him to manifest the human and good qualities hidden in him. It is said that he received Jesus joyfully: a joy which shows the transformation that has taken place in him. After that, he will have no trouble in rectifying his evil deeds. Then he will share and reestablish justice. The people are indignant, and in that they imitate the Pharisees; they believe that the prophet Jesus should share their prejudice and even their resentments. Jesus is not a demagogue; the crowd's lack of understanding does not matter to him any more than that of the Pharisees. Once again, Jesus shows his power; he destroys evil by saving the sinner. Lk 19,11 Galileans go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover and Jesus goes with them. He knows that death awaits him: they, nonetheless, are convinced that he will be proclaimed king and liberator of Israel. In his parable Jesus invites them to hold onto another hope. He will rule on his return from a faraway land (his own death) at the end of history. Meanwhile, his people are in charge of riches, which he has given them and which they must multiply. They should not wait in idleness for his return, since his enemies will take advantage of his absence to struggle against his influence. Jesus' servants will participate in his triumph to the degree that they have worked. This page is closely connected with the parable of the talents (Mk 25:15). Two differences are pointed out in what follows. For one thing, in the introduction and in the conclusion Jesus refers to his country's political life. The country depended on the Roman Empire and its kings had to be acceptable to the Roman government which protected them. On the other hand, the parable insists on God's justice: everyone receives according to his merit. Heavenly happiness is not something which can be distributed equally. Everyone will know God and will share his riches to the degree that one has been able to love throughout life. Every step we take by way of obedience, sacrifice and humility, develops our capacity to receive God and to be transformed by him.
