Luke 19

19 ¹Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. ²And there was a man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. ³He wanted to see who Jesus was, but couldn't for the crowd—he was short. ⁴He ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, since Jesus was about to pass that way.

⁵When Jesus reached the spot, looked up, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today."

⁶So he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. ⁷Seeing this, everyone grumbled, "He's gone to stay with a sinful man."

⁸Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half my possessions to the poor, and if I've cheated anyone, I'll repay four times as much."

⁹Jesus told him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he too is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

Faithful Servants Await the King

¹¹While they listened, he added a parable, since he was near Jerusalem and they thought our Father's kingdom would appear immediately.

¹²So he said, "A nobleman went to a distant land to receive a kingdom for himself and return. ¹³Calling ten of his servants, he gave each about three months' wages, saying, "Trade with this until I return." ¹⁴His citizens hated him and sent envoys after him, saying, "We don't want this man ruling over us."

¹⁵"Returning after receiving the kingdom, he called the servants he had given money to, to learn what they had earned. ¹⁶The first came, saying, 'Lord, your money has earned ten times as much.'"

¹⁷"He replied, 'Well done, good servant! Since you were faithful in a small matter, take charge of ten cities.'"

¹⁸"And the second came, saying, 'Lord, the money you gave me has earned five times as much.'"

¹⁹"And he said to him, 'And you will be in charge of five cities.'"

²⁰"Then another came, saying, 'Lord, here is your money back, which I kept wrapped in a cloth;' ²¹for I was afraid of you, because you're a harsh man: you take what you didn't deposit and reap what you didn't sow."

²²He answered, "By your own mouth I judge you, wicked servant! You knew I'm a harsh man, taking what I didn't deposit and reaping what I didn't sow? ²³Why then didn't you put my money in the bank? I'd have collected it with interest when I returned. ²⁴He said to those standing by, 'Take the money from him and give it to the one with ten times as much.'"

²⁵"And they said to him, 'Lord, he has ten times as much! ²⁶I tell you: everyone who has will be given more; but from the one who has none, even what he has will be taken. ²⁷But bring here these enemies of mine who refused my rule, and slaughter them before me.'"

The Son Enters Jerusalem as King

²⁸And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

²⁹Nearing Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, ³⁰saying, "Go into the village ahead. As you enter, you will find a colt tied there, never sat on. Untie it and bring it here. ³¹If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say, 'The Lord needs it.'"

³²So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. ³³As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" ³⁴And they said, "The Lord needs it." ³⁵They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt, and set Jesus on it. ³⁶And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. ³⁷As he neared the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began rejoicing, praising our Father loudly for all the mighty works they had seen, ³⁸saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of our Father! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

³⁹And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples."

⁴⁰He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out."

⁴¹And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it,

⁴²saying, "If only you had known today what brings you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. ⁴³Days are coming when your enemies will build a barricade around you, surround you, and hem you in on every side, ⁴⁴and they will level you and your children within your walls, leaving no stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation." ^a a v44 The 'time of your visitation' is the time when God came to Jerusalem in the person of Jesus.

Jesus Cleanses His Father's House

⁴⁵And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling,

⁴⁶he told them, "Scripture says, 'My house will be a house of prayer,' but you've made it a den of robbers."

⁴⁷He taught daily in the temple, while the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people looked for a way to kill him, ⁴⁸but they found nothing they could do, since all the people hung on his words.