Luke 19
1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
Zacchaeus was the richest of all the tax collectors because he was above all the rest, taking more from the people than he should.
3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
So many people where there to see Christ, Zacchaeus couldn't get through the crowd to see Him.
4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
Christ sets the example we are to follow. It's not all about fellowship in same the mind, but getting The Truth to ALL those open to hearing it.
8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
Zacchaeus just woke up. He sees The Light and is lead in the correct direction. "By false accusation" Greek word sukophanteo = To Inform of a breach of the law and make it right. Exodus 22:1 If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
The whole reason Christ came †
11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
Same as today, they didn't understand Christ was talking about His two comings. Today's Christians want to believe there are three.
12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
Christ being that nobleman going to that far country = heaven.
13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
These ten servants are given ten pounds and to make it multiply while He is gone. This 10 pounds = The Word of God being spread throughout the world.
14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
Those crowds that were following Him, turned on Him.
15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
Those that were given The Truth to spread throughout the world, will be held accountable for what they did with it.
16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
An increase of ten times what He was given.
17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
This one took The Word and kept it to themselves. What good are they?
21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
Do you know who should fear God? Those that don't follow Him, that's who! When we are given seeds = The Word, you aren't to put them in a box, keeping it for yourselves.
22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
God gave this person something and they made a reason within themselves to not use the gift for good.
23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
Someone else could have taken The Word given to that one and had it grow into the world and many could have used it.
24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
Hey, if they're not going to use it to get things done, someone else should have it that will use it correctly.
25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
Sounds like today's liberals and the "fair share" they preach. They're just jealous over others blessings.
26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
If you seek The Truth in His Word, He will give it to you, but if you refuse to use it and show others, God WILL take it from you.
27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
There will always be those that try to stop The Truth from being told. In the world today, there are many!
28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
Christ Jesus now goes to complete His purpose. He heads towards Jerusalem to be crucified.
29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
On the mount of Olives are "Bethphage" = "house of figs" and "Bethany" ="the house of misery" overlooking Jerusalem.
30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.
31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
This isn't theft, this is heaven sent. When God has a plan, it will happen.
32 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.
33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.
35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.
36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.
37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
Christ rides out of Jerusalem with people praising Him and riding into people crucifying Him.
39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
They hate Christ and don't like the attention being taken off them.
40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
If the people didn't say it, the stones would say "Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest."
41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
Jerusalem is God's favorite place out of all the places and planets He created.
42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
No different today. People close their eyes to The Truth and because of that, they'll have no peace of mind.
43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
This started in May of 1948 and continues today. The whole world is circling Jerusalem.
44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
This day is fast approaching us.
45 And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;
If He did that today, the "church" would tell Christ "that's not very Christian" and this is because the "church" today doesn't know much about Christ and His Word.
46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Most churches have been turned into a place to grab a show or sell books of fiction and some have been turned into traditional acts of "worship" instead of hearing The Word of God, Chapter by Chapter and verse for verse.
47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,
Not much different today. Whenever you teach The Truth to those that are more interested in numbers, be it people or money, they'll want you gone.
48 And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.
The kenite leaders of the "church" were growing more angry as Christ spoke The Truth.