Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Luke 19:6

Clarke's Commentary

Verse Luke 19:6. Received him joyfully. — He had now seen WHO he was, and he wished to hear WHAT he was; and therefore he rejoiced in the honour that God had now conferred upon him. How often does Christ make the proposal of lodging, not only in our house, but in our heart, without its being accepted! We lose much because we do not attend to the visitations of Christ: he passes by - he blesses our neighbours and our friends; but, often, neither curiosity nor any other motive is sufficient to induce us to go even to the house of God, to hear of the miracles of mercy which he works in behalf of those who seek him.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

114. Jesus and Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)

Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector of Jericho and was wealthy. He wanted to see Jesus, and Jesus wanted to talk to him. So Jesus went to his house, much to the disapproval of the local citizens (Luke 19:1-7).

The outcome of Jesus’ visit was that Zacchaeus repented and believed in Jesus. To show that his repentance was genuine, Zacchaeus repaid (with generous interest) those he had cheated and gave freely even to those he had not cheated (Luke 19:8). Being a tax collector, he was despised by his fellow Jews as one not worthy to be called a ‘son of Abraham’. But that was no reason for him to be cut off from salvation. On the contrary, sinners such as this were the people that Jesus came to save. And once Zacchaeus was saved, he was a true ‘son of Abraham’, a genuine believer (Luke 19:9-10).

Smith's Bible Commentary

Now Jesus has entered into Jericho ( Luke 19:1 ).

And as He is passing through the city,

Behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans ( Luke 19:2 ),

The city of Jericho was an oasis. It was a resort town; it was the Palm Springs, except even more lush. The winters can get quite cold in Jerusalem. They get even an occasional snow. But down in Jericho in the wintertime the weather is just really perfect. The days are usually clear. You get less than two inches of rain during the year. And yet, because it is about 1100 feet below sea level, there are all kinds of springs and little streams down there in Jericho because of your depth. And there's just these artesian wells or springs and all of this fresh water. And with the warm temperatures which are usually in the wintertime into the eighties during the daytime, it just makes for lush growing and a year-round growing season. And there's just great citrus and all types of fruits that are grown there in the area around Jericho. So it became a retreat for the wealthy people. They would all have their winter houses down in Jericho. And Jericho was filled with publicans, that is the tax collectors, because they were the wealthy people, and Pharisees.

And so, "Jesus was passing through Jericho. And there was a man named Zacchaeus and he was the chief of the publicans, the tax collectors,"

and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was ( Luke 19:2-3 );

Now, the blind man, when they said, "It's Jesus of Nazareth," he knew who He was. This man didn't know who He was, but he was curious. There was a tremendous crowd of people moving along. "Who in the world are they thronging after? Who is He?"

and he could not see, because he was so small ( Luke 19:3 ).

A short little fellow, could not see over the crowd, and he dared not to venture into the crowd because people knew who he was and they hated him. He was public enemy number one, he was the chief of the tax collectors. And to go in and try and work his way through the crowd to see Jesus, he had been beaten to death. He would have been elbowed, gouged, pinched, and they would have really gotten him if he dared get into the crowd. He knew better than getting into a crowd of people.

So he saw that Jesus was going down the street.

He ran ahead of him, climbed up into a sycamore tree; and waited for Jesus to pass under ( Luke 19:4 ).

Just so he could see this Man. He didn't know who He was, but he just wanted to see Him. And to his amazement,

As Jesus came to the tree, he looked up, and he saw him, and he said, Come down, Zacchaeus, hurry up; because today I must abide at your house ( Luke 19:5 ).

It's interesting that even though Zacchaeus did not know Jesus, Jesus knew Zacchaeus and called him by his name. John tells us that "Jesus did not need that any man should testify Him of man, because He knew man and He knew what was in man." He knew what was in the heart of this man. Now, there are many ways that Jesus could have gone to Jerusalem without going through Jericho. I think that He went through Jericho just because He knew there was this man there whose heart was yearning for God. I think He made a detour in order that He might meet Zacchaeus.

And so Zacchaeus made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully ( Luke 19:6 ).

Probably because he knew that it would upset the Pharisees. Now at this point the door is closed on us. We are not taken into the feast. We are not brought into the conversation. But here, Jesus abiding at the house of Zacchaeus, began to talk to him, no doubt, about the kingdom of God. No doubt about life and the real values of life, probed his heart, his soul. Outside, where we must stand with the crowd, we hear only the murmuring of the Pharisees against Jesus for going into the house of a sinner. For they

murmured against him, saying, He had gone to be the guest of a man who was a sinner ( Luke 19:7 ).

Outside there was that mulling around of the crowd as they waited for Jesus to come back out. They probably heard an occasional roar of laughter come from within the house. You say, "Oh, you believe that Jesus laughed?" You bet I do! I think that He had a keen sense of humor. I do not picture Him as always very sober. I think it was a very tragic period of the church when somberness became equated with spirituality and it was a sign of unspirituality to smile. So the ministers took on such a...well, they wore the black suits. And they took on that quality of tone in their voice and that very somber, serious, sober, "Go-o-od mo-r-n-ing." And you think, "Oh, what a spiritual man!" So sober, so serious. I think of Jesus as a regular fellow. I can see Him just laughing with the disciples, slapping them on the shoulder...and just a man's man. But yet, there were those periods of silence where they didn't hear the laughter outside, those times when Jesus was probing, talking, dealing with Zacchaeus.

Now the doors are opening again and Zacchaeus is standing there before the Lord. He was a short little fellow, probably looking up at Him.

Lord, a half of my riches I'm going to give to the poor; and if I've taken anything from a man falsely, I'm going to restore to him fourfold. And Jesus answering him, said, Today salvation has come to this house, inasmuch as he is become a son of Abraham ( Luke 19:8-9 ).

Now, there are two ways to look at that. The translation in our King James is: "This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham." And there could be a fine bit of satire and humor in that. Anytime you hear a Jew say, "I'm going to give away half of my riches," you know that salvation has come to his house. You know, one of these type of Jews that Zacchaeus was. But the other is probably the correct. "...inasmuch as he has become..." And either translation can be accepted. "..a son of Abraham." Paul tells us that it wasn't the physical descendants of Abraham that would inherit the kingdom of heaven, but the spiritual descendants. For Abraham was not the father of the physical seed, but of the spiritual seed of those who would believe as their father Abraham; who believed God, became the father of the spiritual seed, those who would believe and trust in God. And so we are children of Abraham through faith, Paul teaches us. So Jesus could be using that spiritual application now through the faith that is in this man. He is become, indeed, a son of Abraham; that is, a spiritual descendant. There were Jews who said to Jesus, "We are of our father Abraham." Jesus said, "If you were of your father Abraham, then you would have known Me, because Abraham testified of Me and he saw Me." And they said, "You're not fifty years old. When did Abraham see You?" And He said, "Before Abraham was, I Am." Then Jesus said, "But you're of the father, the devil, not the sons of Abraham." "We have Abraham for our father." And He said, "Don't say that. Don't you realize that God can raise up rocks as children of Abraham, if He wanted?" It's the spiritual seed, those who believe. Abraham was the father, so we have become children of Abraham through our faith, and heirs, then, of the promises of God that were given to Abraham. They are ours because we are the spiritual sons of Abraham, the man who believed God. And we are his first sons. Now, you can't carry that too far, as some people tragically do, and say, "Well, the church is Israel." No, the church is not Israel. And God is yet going to deal with the nation of Israel, as He has promised.

But Jesus then said to the crowd, those who were murmuring,

For the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost ( Luke 19:10 ).

Find fault! You were murmuring because I was a guest of a sinner. But that's who I came to seek. That's who I came to save.

And as they heard these things, he added a parable, because they were near to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear ( Luke 19:11 ).

Now they had heard Zacchaeus saying, "All that I have, half of it I'm going to give to the poor." Now Jesus accepted that, didn't He? He said to the rich young ruler, "Sell everything that you have and give to the poor." But now with Zacchaeus saying, "A half that I have I give to the poor. And I restore fourfold anything that I have taken dishonestly." Jesus said, "Salvation has come to this house." So you see, it isn't a demand that I have to sell everything to follow Jesus, it's just that I can't let that be my god. "No man can serve two masters; you cannot serve God and mammon." Now Jesus, because they were getting near to Jerusalem, and because...notice...they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He had just told them, "I'm going to despised, I'm going to be rejected, I'm going to be slain, I'm going to be spit upon," and the whole thing, and yet, they still thought the kingdom was going to immediately appear. And so He spoke a parable unto them to the intent that they would see that there will be a delay of time before the kingdom will be established.

And so there was a certain nobleman who went to a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return ( Luke 19:12 ).

Now, it is interesting that Jericho was the city where Archilles had built his palace. And Archilles was the Roman procurator over that area. And Archilles, prior to this, had gone to Rome in order that he might be elevated to the title of king. Because he felt that procurator just wasn't a big enough title for him, and he was wanting the title of king. And that could only be bestowed by the Roman senate. And so Archilles had gone to Rome to receive the title of king, that he might come back and dwell in his palace and reign there in the area of Jericho. And when he went to Rome, he left his duties in the hands of some of his subordinates with whom he left the funds that they might run the affairs of state. With Archilles, however, there were other emissaries who went to Rome and spoke in the senate against him; and rather than receiving the title of king, the Roman senate took away his position even as the procurator of that area. So Archilles had sort of a bad experience, much as did Herod later, who went to Rome with the same desires and was actually banished to Spain...not Herod the Great, but one of his sons, Antipas.

So, it could be that Jesus, in giving this parable, is touching on something that historically had not happened too long ago, and something that they had all known about in Archilles' leaving Jericho to go to Rome to get the title king.

"But there was a certain nobleman went to a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return."

And he called his ten servants, and delivered to them ten pounds, and he said unto them, Occupy till I come ( Luke 19:13 ).

Now, this is the word of Jesus to the waiting church, "Occupy till I come." We are not to sit back and say, "Well, the Lord is coming; there's no sense of finishing my education. Well, the Lord is coming; there's no sense of not entering into this business venture...or, let's just wait, because the Lord is coming." We are not to plan our lives, "Well, let's go out and charge everything, because the Lord's coming, and we won't have to pay for it." We are not to plan our lives predicated upon the Lord's coming in a particular span of time. But we are to occupy until He comes. Yet, anticipating Him to come at any moment, never getting so involved that I'm not ready to drop things in a moment's notice. Because that I may have to do. I am to use the time that I have wisely in my serving the Lord. I am to occupy until He comes, but never to just sit down and say, "Okay, Lord, we're just going to wait now here until you come. Oh, praise the Lord." And just have a glory hallelujah meeting as we're waiting for the Lord to just come and rapture us. Never! We're to occupy, we're to keep busy until He comes.

And so he delivered the ten pounds, and said, "Now occupy till I come."

But his citizens hated him [as did those of Archilles], and they sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us ( Luke 19:14 ).

And that's exactly what they had sent to the Roman senate concerning Archilles, "We will not have him reign over us."

And so it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom [which Archilles did not do], then he commanded these servants to be called to him, whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, and he said, Lord, your pound has gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou has been faithful in a very little, you will now have authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, your pound has gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is your pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: for I feared thee, because I know that you're an austere man: you take that which you did not lay down, you reap that which you did not sow. And he said unto him, Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, taking up that which I did not lay down, and reaping that which I did not sow: Therefore you should have given the money to the bank, that at my coming I might have required at least my own with interest? And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, But, Lord, he has ten pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that which he has shall be taken away from him. But those mine enemies, which would not have that I should reign over them, bring them hither, and slay them before me ( Luke 19:15-27 ).

Those people that say, "We'll not have Christ to rule over us," they'll be brought before judgment and destroyed. However, those servants to whom He has entrusted His goods will be judged according to what they did, their stewardship of those goods with which they were entrusted. Now, it is interesting here that their reward is in their place of rulership in the kingdom. When the Lord comes to establish His kingdom upon the earth, the Bible teaches that we will reign with Him over the earth. To the church of Thyatira, "to him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My kingdom. And they shall rule over the earth with a rod of iron" ( Revelation 2:26-27 ). Actually, in the book of Revelation, the first chapter, "Unto Him who loved us and gave Himself for us, who has redeemed us, and we shall reign as a kingdom of priests with Him upon the earth." And then in Revelation, the fifth chapter, "Thou art worthy to take the scroll and unloose the seals thereof, for Thou has redeemed us by Thy blood out of every nation, kindred, tribe, tongue and people and hath made us unto our God kings and priests; and we shall reign with Thee upon the earth." So the church reigning with the Lord upon the earth. Now, reigning over five cities, reigning over ten cities, reigning over two cities...according to our faithfulness with what God has entrusted us now, as I am a steward of God's things. I don't know what it's going to take to get Hawaii, but I'm working towards it.

Now when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem ( Luke 19:28 ).

You see, He's on His way, He's moving towards Jerusalem, and this parable was on their way up. Because they felt the kingdom was going to come immediately. "No, it's going to be like a king who went away to a far country to receive the kingdom, and then he returns later on and requires of his servants that which they did with his goods. And those who sent the message and say, 'Hey, we don't want him to reign over us,' they are to be cut off."

Now they are arriving near Jerusalem. "When He had thus spoken, He went before ascending up to Jerusalem." From Jericho to Jerusalem you're going from 1200 feet below sea level, you're ascending up to about 2700 above sea level, so it's a good climb.

And it came to pass, when he was come near to Bethpage and to Bethany ( Luke 19:29 ),

These are the little villages that are on the wilderness side of the Mount of Olives, away from Jerusalem.

and the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, Saying, Go into the village opposite you, at the which when you enter you're going to find a colt that is tied, whereon a man has never sat: loose him, and bring him. And if any man asks you, Why are you loosing him? you shall just say unto him, Because the Lord needs him. And so they that were sent went their way, and they found even as he had said unto them. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners said unto them, Why are you untying the colt? And they said, The Lord needs him. And so they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. And when he was come near, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives ( Luke 19:29-37 ),

That is, He's come over the Mount of Olives and started now to descend on the other side.

the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all of the mighty works that they had seen; saying, Blessed be the king that comes in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, you better rebuke your disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. And when he was become near, he beheld the city, and he wept over it, saying, If thou hast known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto your peace! but now they are hid from your eyes ( Luke 19:37-42 ).

The triumphant entry of Jesus, riding on a colt, takes us back to the prophecy of Zechariah, chapter 9. "Rejoice greatly, O daughters of Jerusalem: shout for joy! For thy king cometh unto thee. But He is lowly; He is sitting on a colt, the foal of an ass." And so, here He comes riding, the King. Notice, on a colt that had never been broken, showing again His mastery over nature. No man had ever sat on this little colt. Yet, He sat on it.

As He is riding in, the disciples began to cry out Psalm 118 , which is a Messianic Psalm. If you look at the Psalm 118 , you find that the prophecy concerning Jesus there in verse Luke 19:22 , "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes." When Solomon built the temple, the story is told how that all of the stones were quarried away from the temple site. Actually, on up the hill on Mount Moriah above the site of the temple you can still see the stone quarry today. In fact, you can go into what they call the Solomon's Quarries and see where many of the stones were taken for the temple building and all out of this huge cavern that comes under Jerusalem. And, of course, the quarried area that ultimately made a canyon between the wall of Jerusalem and the top of Mount Moriah, which was later called Calvary because of the quarrying of the stone the caves left as they pulled the stones out. It left the impression of a skull in the side of the mountain. And so they named the skull Golgotha, or Calvary. And so, the story goes that as they quarried the stones, each of them were marked and sent to the temple site where they were placed in place without the use of mortar. For there was to be no sound of a trowel or a tool, but everything was just there at the site itself, no chipping of the blocks there. Everything was all cut to size according to the patterns, and numbered and labeled and then sent; and the builders just put the wall on up. And, according to the story, there came to the builders a stone which they did not recognize. They did not understand its place in the building. And so, according to the story, the stone was just set aside as a mistake at the quarry. And in the years that it took to build the temple, ultimately they came to the completion and the time for the dedication. But they were missing one stone, the chief cornerstone of the building. And so, the builders sent the message to the quarries, "We're ready to dedicate but we're missing the chief cornerstone. You better send it." And they said, "We've already sent it." They said, "You can't. We don't have it." "Well, here's our records. Look, it's been sent. We've already sent it." And so finally, some fellow found this stone. Now the bushes had overgrown and they pulled it out, the stone that had been set aside by the builders. And sure enough, it was the chief cornerstone. And so they put this thing in place and had their dedication. That's the story, whether or not it is authentic I don't know. But, here is a reference: "The stone which was set of not by the builders, the same has become the chief cornerstone." And Jesus, or course, is that stone. The builders of that whole Judaic religious system set Him aside. But yet, as Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build My church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The chief cornerstone upon which the kingdom of God is to be built is the stone that was set aside by the religious leaders and of the Judaic religious system. So, it's definitely a prophecy of Jesus Christ. Peter makes reference to it and the best commentary you can get on the Old Testament is the New Testament, you know that.

Now, going on. "This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" ( Psalms 118:24 ). What day? The day that God establishes the King, and then the cry, "Hosanna! I beseech Thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech Thee, send now prosperity. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord" ( Psalms 118:25-26 ). This is the Psalm that the disciples were crying, "Hosanna, hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" Because the Pharisees knew that that was a Messianic Psalm, they began to rebuke the disciples, or began to tell Jesus, "You better rebuke them." And Jesus said, "Look, I'll tell you something; if they would hold their peace, these stones would immediately begin to cry out." "This is the day that the Lord has made." So Jesus, as He looked at Jerusalem, He was coming down the Mount of Olives, looking to cross the Kidron Valley, straight across on the same level, Mount Moriah, the temple mount on the opposite side the city of Jerusalem; He began to weep. And He said, "If you had only known, even thou, at least in this thy day," the day that the Lord had made, the day when they should be rejoicing and be glad in it. "At least in this thy day, if you only knew the things that belong to your peace. If you only knew that God was establishing peace with man. If you only knew what God would do for you if you'd just surrender your lives to Him...but they are hid from your eyes." And He is weeping first at their blindness, but then at the result of that blindness, the tragedy that would befall them.

For the days shall come upon you, your enemies will cast a trench about you, they will compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side ( Luke 19:43 ),

As Jesus is describing now the siege by the Roman legion under Titus, who in less than forty years would destroy Jerusalem and kill over one million people in the process. And so Jesus saw the devastation and the desolation, and He said,

They shall lay thee even with the ground ( Luke 19:44 ),

This glorious beautiful temple that Herod had built is going to be leveled, not one stone will be left standing upon the other. These tremendous monuments in Jerusalem all to be leveled. And Jesus, looking at this magnificent city, weeping because it's going to be destroyed,

and the children within thee will be destroyed; they will not leave in thee one stone upon another; because you did not know the time of your visitation ( Luke 19:44 ).

Because you were blinded to the work of God.

This is the day that the Lord has made. This is the day that God had planned, the redemption of Israel. This is the day for the unveiling of the Messiah to the people. Prior to this day, Jesus would not allow any public acclamation of Himself as Messiah. He would reveal it to individuals on an individual basis, but often He'd say, "Don't tell anybody. Go your way. Tell no man." But this day He is encouraging the people's demonstration. He's getting that little colt in order that He might fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah. "This is the day that the Lord has made," the day in history when the Messiah would come.

It is, to me, very significant that this day took place 173,880 days after the commandment by Artaxerxes in March 14, 445 B.C. to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. Which, according to Daniel the prophet, that from the time the commandment goes forth to restore and rebuild Jerusalem under the coming of the Messiah, the prince will be seven sevens and sixty-two sevens, or 483 years, or 173,880 days in the Babylonian calendar. And exactly to the day, April 6, 32 A.D., "this is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad." But they didn't rejoice. Instead, they rejected Him. And knowing that He was to be despised and rejected, knowing that He was to be crucified, He wept as He looked at the city, because of the blindness and the resulted devastation that would result from the blindness.

And then he went into the temple, and he began to cast them out that sold, and those that bought; saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer; but you've made it a den of thieves ( Luke 19:45-46 ).

I believe that if Jesus came today to His church that He would be doing a lot of cleaning up. I think that He would take these fraudulent computerized letters that are being mailed out by these T.V. evangelists and healers and rip them up. It is interesting to me that in a lot of the mail that I receive, invariably those letters that come from "Faith Mission," the "Faith Broadcast," or the "Faith...wherever." They put the name faith in it. They are usually appeals for money. It causes me to wonder, where is their faith? Is it in man or is it in God? And these men who are willing through their great faith to bring you God's power and God's working, how is it that they can't have enough faith to maintain their fleet of jets in the Lord, but have to rely upon their mailing lists and their gimmicks?

"My house shall be called a house of prayer," He said, "but you've made it a den of thieves." I thank the Lord that I'm not as other men. You see, it's hard to be in the right. No, it's sad and it's tragic, the things that have been done in the name of Jesus Christ. The things that are BEING done in the name of Jesus Christ, the whole fund-raising gimmickry within the church, the schemes and the professionalism that has been brought in, it's tragic; it's sad. Let's just pray a moment.

Father, we pray that You keep us from the trap of over-extending for our own ambition's sake and thus creating financial pressures, as we're trying to keep alive programs that were not given by You, but were only designed to fulfill some ambition or need that we have. Father, we wish to thank You for the way that You have abundantly provided for the needs here at Calvary Chapel. Thank you, Lord, that You have given us far more, a surplus. That through this surplus we can broadcast Thy Word around the world, Lord. And yet, just depend upon You and never have to ask, Lord. How we thank You for this, Father! For we recognize it, Lord, as Your work. You've done it. And we thank You, Lord, that You have provided abundantly so that we've not been tempted to stoop to gimmicks or some other method of raising funds. God, I pray for those that have been caught in that trap. I ask, God, that You will convict them of the distortions and fraud and lies. And may they see so, God, their fraudulent ways. And may they come to a real trust in You and cut back, Lord, if necessary on those ambitious programs that cannot bring glory to You. In Jesus' name, Father. Amen.

Jesus taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, but they could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him ( Luke 19:47-48 ).

So Jesus was receiving the popular ear of the people at this point. They were attentive to hear Him. However, the leaders had conspired and determined at this point that He must be destroyed. And so, we see now that movement towards the plotting, the subterfuge that will lead to the betrayal and the arrest and the crucifixion. But the next couple of chapters, we get into very interesting aspects as we get this Olivet discourse, chapter 21, as Jesus deals with the signs of the end of the age and of His return in glory to establish to His kingdom. So next week, chapters 20 and 21.

You know, at the board meeting, it is great that the first thing we usually do after the minutes is we have a Bible reading and prayer and then the minutes. And then the treasurer's report. And then we have a praise and worship time, as we just praise the Lord for the marvelous way that He has provided for the needs here at Calvary Chapel. More than what we need, so that we are able to expand the ministry and are constantly looking for just new ways to extend and to expand the ministry of the Word of God that He has given to us here. And so as the result of the prayers, the establishment of The Word For Today broadcast, and we are presently negotiating time on the radio in Monte Carlo that has a million watts of power that covers all of Europe and North Africa. We are planning to go on the Far Eastern Broadcasting Corporation that covers all of the area of the Philippines on into large areas of China and into India. And also into a radio station in South America that covers all of the South American continent. And we are just continuing to expand the ministry of the Word of God, just the teaching of the Word of God to people around the world so that that which God has used to bless us here can also become a blessing to people around the country. And it is thrilling to be able to go into these various cities and to meet thousands of people whose lives are being blessed, strengthened, and are growing through the study of the Word of God through The Word For Today radio broadcast, half hour daily, all over the United States. And now, moving out to powerful stations that will cover the world, actually. So, it's a thrill that God has provided that we can do this. And it is all generated just right here, the surplus funds that the Lord brings in to expand His work this way. And so we have a neat praise time every month at the board meeting, as we just praise the Lord that He has so abundantly provided. Just like He said, He would do exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think. And that's exactly what He's doing. And we just praise Him for it.

May the Lord be with you. May the Lord bless you and keep His hand upon your life this week. May your life in Christ be enriched. May you grow in your walk and fellowship with Him. May you enter into that fullness of the walk in the Spirit. In Jesus' name. "

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

6. Zaccheus’ ideal response to Jesus 19:1-10

This section in Luke’s long narrative of Jesus’ ministry as He traveled to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51 to Luke 19:27) is climactic. It is a choice example of Jesus offering salvation to a needy person. Zaccheus accepted Jesus’ offer and responded appropriately with joy and the fruits of repentance. He also gave an excellent example of how disciples should use what wealth they have. The section closes with a summary of Jesus’ ministry that is really the key verse in this Gospel.

Zaccheus displayed traits of the tax collector in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14). They shared the same despised occupation, the same sense of personal need, and the same childlike humility and receptivity toward God. He also resembles the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-23). He, too, had wealth, but his response to Jesus was precisely the opposite of that other rich man. His salvation is a great example of the truth that with God all things are possible (Luke 18:25-27). Zaccheus, moreover, demonstrated the same faith in Jesus and consequent insight into his responsibility to follow Jesus and glorify God that the blind man did (Luke 18:35-43). His story brings together many themes that Luke interwove in this section in which he stressed the recipients of salvation (Luke 18:9 to Luke 19:27).

"The incident contains several primary Lukan features: the universal appeal of the gospel (Luke 19:2-4); the ethical problem of wealth (Luke 19:2); the call of a ’sinner’ who was in social disfavor (Luke 19:7); the sense of God’s present work (Luke 19:5; Luke 19:9); the feeling of urgency (’immediately,’ speusas, Luke 19:5), of necessity (’must,’ Luke 19:5), and of joy (Luke 19:6); restitution, with goods distributed to the poor (Luke 19:8); and, above all, salvation (Luke 19:9-10)." [Note: Liefeld, "Luke," p. 1007.]

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

Jesus initiated a relationship with Zaccheus. Since he called him by name He evidently knew about him, though Zaccheus had obviously not seen Jesus formerly. Jesus not only wanted to talk with him but to stay in his house. Jesus spoke as though He felt compelled to do this, as is clear from the recurrence of one of Luke’s favorite words, "must" (Gr. dei, cf. Luke 4:43; et al.). "Today" further stresses urgency and the fulfillment of God’s plan (cf. Luke 2:11; Luke 4:21; Luke 19:9). [Note: Ellis, p. 221.] This attitude was typical of Jesus who sought out lost people. Zaccheus gladly and obediently responded to Jesus’ offer.

". . . the coming of Jesus to share his home is a sign of fellowship and ultimately forgiveness." [Note: Marshall, The Gospel . . ., p. 697.]

Luke 19:5 records an instance of divine sovereignty and Luke 19:6 human responsibility. [Note: Liefeld, "Luke," p. 1007.]

Barclay's Daily Study Bible

Chapter 19

THE GUEST OF THE MAN WHOM ALL MEN DESPISED ( Luke 19:1-10 )

19:1-10 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. And--look you--there was a man called Zacchaeus by name, and he was commissioner of taxes, and he was rich. He was seeking to see who Jesus was, and he could not for the crowd, because he was short in height. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree, for he was to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus! Hurry and come down! for this very day I must stay at your house." So he hurried and came down, and welcomed him gladly; and when they saw it they all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look you--half of my goods, Lord, I hereby give to the poor. If I have taken anything from any man by fraud I give it back to him four times over." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost."

Jericho was a very wealthy and a very important town. It lay in the Jordan valley and commanded both the approach to Jerusalem and the crossings of the river which gave access to the lands east of the Jordan. It had a great palm forest and world-famous balsam groves which perfumed the air for miles around. Its gardens of roses were known far and wide. Men called it "The City of Palms." Josephus called it "a divine region," "the fattest in Palestine." The Romans carried its dates and balsam to world-wide trade and fame.

All this combined to make Jericho one of the greatest taxation centres in Palestine. We have already looked at the taxes which the tax-collectors collected and the wealth they rapaciously acquired ( Luke 5:27-32). Zacchaeus was a man who had reached the top of his profession; and he was the most hated man in the district. There are three stages in his story.

(i) Zacchaeus was wealthy but he was not happy. Inevitably he was lonely, for he had chosen a way that made him an outcast. He had heard of this Jesus who welcomed tax-collectors and sinners, and he wondered if he would have any word for him. Despised and hated by men, Zacchaeus was reaching after the love of God.

(ii) Zacchaeus determined to see Jesus, and would let nothing stop him. For Zacchaeus to mingle with the crowd at all was a courageous thing to do, for many a man would take the chance to get a nudge, or kick, or push at the little tax-collector. It was an opportunity not to be missed. Zacchaeus would be black and blue with bruises that day. He could not see--the crowd took an ill delight in making sure of that. So he ran on ahead and climbed a fig-mulberry tree. A traveller describes the tree as being like "the English oak, and its shade is most pleasing. It is consequently a favourite wayside tree . . . It is very easy to climb, with its short trunk and its wide lateral branches forking out in all directions." Things were not easy for Zacchaeus but the little man had the courage of desperation.

(iii) Zacchaeus took steps to show all the community that he was a changed man. When Jesus announced that he would stay that day at his house, and when he discovered that he had found a new and wonderful friend, immediately Zacchaeus took a decision. He decided to give half of his goods to the poor; the other half he did not intend to keep to himself but to use to make restitution for the frauds of which he had been self-confessedly guilty.

In his restitution he went far beyond what was legally necessary. Only if robbery was a deliberate and violent act of destruction was a fourfold restitution necessary ( Exodus 22:1). If it had been ordinary robbery and the original goods were not restorable, double the value had to be repaid. ( Exodus 22:4; Exodus 22:7). If voluntary confession was made and voluntary restitution offered, the value of the original goods had to be paid, plus one-fifth ( Leviticus 6:5; Numbers 5:7). Zacchaeus was determined to do far more than the law demanded. He showed by his deeds that he was a changed man.

Dr. Boreham has a terrible story. There was a meeting in progress at which several women were giving their testimony. One woman kept grimly silent. She was asked to testify but refused. She was asked why and she answered, "Four of these women who have just given their testimony owe me money, and I and my family are half-starved because we cannot buy food."

A testimony is utterly worthless unless it is backed by deeds which guarantee its sincerity. It is not a mere change of words which Jesus Christ demands, but a change of life.

(iv) The story ends with the great words, the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost. We must always be careful how we take the meaning of this word lost. In the New Testament it does not mean damned or doomed. It simply means in the wrong place. A thing is lost when it has got out of its own place into the wrong place; and when we find such a thing, we return it to the place it ought to occupy. A man is lost when he has wandered away from God; and he is found when once again he takes his rightful place as an obedient child in the household and the family of his Father.

THE KING'S TRUST IN HIS SERVANTS ( Luke 19:11-27 )

19:11-27 As they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell them a parable because he was near Jerusalem, and they were thinking that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. So he said, "There was a noble man who went into a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself and then to return. He called ten of his own servants and gave them 5 pounds each and said to them, 'Trade with these until I come.' His citizens hated him, and they despatched an embassy after him, saying, 'We do not wish this man to be king over us.' When he had received the kingdom and had returned, he ordered the servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had made by trading with it. The first came and said, 'Sir, your 5 pounds has produced 50 pounds.' So he said to him, 'Well done, good servant! Because you have shown yourself faithful in a little thing, you shall have authority over ten cities.' And the second came and said to him also, 'Sir, your 5 pounds has made 25 pounds.' He said to him also, 'You, too, are to be promoted over five cities.' Another came to him and said, 'Sir, here is your 5 pounds, which I was keeping laid away in a towel, for I was afraid of you, because I know that you are a hard man. You take up what you did not put down and you reap what you did not sow.' He said to him, 'Out of your own mouth I judge you, wicked servant. You knew that I am a hard man, taking up what I did not put down, and reaping what I did not sow. You ought, therefore, to have given my money to the bankers, so that when I came, I would have received it plus interest.' He said to those standing by, 'Take the 5 pounds from him and give it to him who has 50 pounds.' They said to him, 'Sir, he has 50 pounds.' I tell you, that to everyone who has it will be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. But as for these my enemies, who did not wish to have me as their king--bring them here and hew them to pieces in my presence."

This is unique among the parables of Jesus, because it is the only one whose story is in part based on an actual historical event. It tells about a king who went away to receive a kingdom and whose subjects did their best to stop him receiving it. When Herod the Great died in 4 B.C. he left his kingdom divided between Herod Antipas, Herod Philip and Archelaus. That division had to be ratified by the Romans, who were the overlords of Palestine, before it became effective. Archelaus, to whom Judaea had been left, went to Rome to persuade Augustus to allow him to enter into his inheritance, whereupon the Jews sent an embassy of fifty men to Rome to inform Augustus that they did not wish to have him as king. In point of fact, Augustus confirmed him in his inheritance, though without the actual title of king. Anyone in Judaea, on hearing the parable, would immediately remember the historical circumstances on which it was based.

The parable of the king and his servants illustrates certain great facts of the Christian life.

(i) It tells of the king's trust. He gave his servants the money and then went away and left them to use it as they could and as they thought best. He did not in any way interfere with them, or stand over them. He left them entirely to their own devices. That is the way in which God trusts us. Someone has said, "The nicest thing about God is that he trusts us to do so much by ourselves."

(ii) It tells of the king's test. As always, this trust was a test, of whether or not a man was faithful and reliable in little things. Sometimes a man justifies a certain large inefficiency in the ordinary routine affairs of life by claiming that "he has a mind above trifles." God has not. It is precisely in these routine duties that God is testing men. There is no example of this like Jesus himself. Of his thirty-three years of life Jesus spent thirty in Nazareth. Had he not discharged with absolute fidelity the tasks of the carpenter's shop in Nazareth and the obligation of being the breadwinner of the family, God could never have given him the supreme task of being the Saviour of the world.

(iii) It tells us of the king's reward. The reward that the faithful servants received was not one which they could enjoy by sitting down and folding their hands and doing nothing. One was put over ten cities and the other over five. The reward of work well done was more work to do. The greatest compliment we can pay a man is to give him ever greater and harder tasks to do. The great reward of God to the man who has satisfied the test is more trust.

(iv) The parable concludes with one of the inexorable laws of life. To him who has, more will be given; from him who has not, what he has will be taken away. If a man plays a game and goes on practising at it, he will play it with ever greater efficiency; if he does not practise, he will lose much of whatever knack and ability he has. If we discipline and train our bodies, they will grow ever fitter and stronger; if we do not, they will grow flabby and lose much of the strength we have. If a schoolboy learns Latin, and goes on with his learning, the wealth of Latin literature will open wider and wider to him; if he does not go on learning, he will forget much of the Latin he knows. If we really strive after goodness and master this and that temptation, new vistas and new heights of goodness will open to us; if we give up the battle and take the easy way, much of the resistance power we once possessed will be lost and we will slip from whatever height we had attained.

There is no such thing as standing still in the Christian life. We either get more or lose what we have. We either advance to greater heights or slip back.

THE ENTRY OF THE KING ( Luke 19:28-40 )

19:28-40 When Jesus had said these things, he went on ahead on the way up to Jerusalem. When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, which is near the mount called the Mount of Olives, he despatched two of his disciples. "Go to the village opposite," he said. "As you come into it, you will find tethered a colt upon which no man has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. And if any one asks you, 'Why are you loosing this colt?' you will say, 'The Lord needs it.'" Those who had been despatched went off, and found everything exactly as he had told them. And as they were loosing the colt, its owners told them, "Why are you loosing the colt?" They said, "The Lord needs it"; and they brought it to Jesus. They flung their garments on the colt, and mounted Jesus on it. As he went they strewed their garments on the road. When he was now drawing near, at the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to rejoice, and to praise God with shouts for all the deeds of power they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the heights!" Some of the Pharisees who were in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." "I tell you," he answered, "if these keep silent, the stones will cry out."

From Jerusalem to Jericho was only seventeen miles, and now Jesus had almost reached his goal. Jerusalem, journey's end, lay just ahead. The prophets had a regular custom of which they made use again and again. When words were of no effect, when people refused to take in and understand the spoken message, they resorted to some dramatic action which put their message into a picture which none could fail to see. We get examples of such dramatic actions in 1 Kings 11:29-31; Jeremiah 13:1-11; Jeremiah 27:1-11; Ezekiel 4:1-3; Ezekiel 5:1-4. It was just such a dramatic action which Jesus planned now. He proposed to ride into Jerusalem in a way that would be an unmistakable claim to be the Messiah, God's Anointed King. We have to note certain things about this entry into Jerusalem.

(i) It was carefully planned. It was no sudden, impulsive action. Jesus did not leave things until the last moment. He had his arrangement with the owners of the colt. The Lord needs it was a pass-word chosen long ago.

(ii) It was an act of glorious defiance and of superlative courage. By this time there was a price on Jesus' head. ( John 11:57.) It would have been natural that, if he must go into Jerusalem at all, he should have slipped in unseen and hidden away in some secret place in the back streets. But he entered in such a way as to focus the whole lime-light upon himself and to occupy the centre of the stage. It is a breath-taking thing to think of a man with a price upon his head, an outlaw, deliberately riding into a city in such a way that every eye was fixed upon him. It is impossible to exaggerate the sheer courage of Jesus.

(iii) It was a deliberate claim to be king, a deliberate fulfilling of the picture in Zechariah 9:9. But even in this Jesus underlined the kind of kingship which he claimed. The ass in Palestine was not the lowly beast that it is in this country. It was noble. Only in war did kings ride upon a horse; when they came in peace they came upon an ass. So Jesus by this action came as a king of love and peace, and not as the conquering military hero whom the mob expected and awaited.

(iv) It was one last appeal. In this action Jesus came, as it were, with pleading hands outstretched, saying, "Even now, will you not take me as your king?" Before the hatred of men engulfed him, once again he confronted them with love's invitation.

THE PITY AND THE ANGER OF JESUS ( Luke 19:41-48 )

19:41-48 When Jesus had come near, and when he saw the city, he wept over it. "Would that, even today," he said, "you recognised the things which would give you peace! But as it is, they are hidden from your eyes; for days will come upon you when your enemies will cast a rampart around you, and will surround you, and will hem you in on every side, and they will dash you and your children within you to the ground, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you, because you did not recognise the day when God visited you."

And he entered into the Temple and began to cast out those who were selling. "It is written," he said to them, "My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a brigands' cave."

And he taught daily in the Temple. The chief priests and the scribes sought to kill him, as did the chief men of the nation; and they could not discover anything they could do to him, for all the people, as they listened to him, hung upon his words.

In this passage there are three separate incidents.

(i) There is Jesus' lament over Jerusalem. From the descent of the Mount of Olives there is a magnificent view of Jerusalem with the whole city fully displayed. As Jesus came to a turn in the road he stopped and wept over Jerusalem. He knew what was going to happen to the city. The Jews were even then embarking upon that career of political manoeuvre and intrigue which ended in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, when the city was so devastated that a plough was drawn across the midst of it. The tragedy was that if only they had abandoned their dreams of political power and taken the way of Christ it need never have happened.

The tears of Jesus are the tears of God when he sees the needless pain and suffering in which men involve themselves through foolish rebelling against his will.

(ii) There is the cleansing of the Temple. Luke's account is very summary; Matthew's is a little fuller ( Matthew 21:12-13). Why did Jesus, who was the very incarnation of love, act with such violence to the money changers and the sellers of animals in the Temple courts?

First, let us look at the money changers. Every male Jew had to pay a Temple tax every year of half a shekel. That was equal to about 6 pence, but, in evaluating it, it must be remembered that it was equal to nearly two days' pay for a working man. A month before the Passover, booths were set up in all the towns and villages and it could be paid there; but by far the greater part was actually paid by the pilgrims in Jerusalem when they came to the Passover Feast. In Palestine all kinds of currencies were in circulation, and, for ordinary purposes, they were all--Greek, Roman Tyrian, Syrian, Egyptian--equally valid. But this tax had to be paid either in exact half shekels of the sanctuary or in ordinary Galilaean shekels. That is where the money changers came in. To change a coin of exact value they charged one maah, which was equal to 1 pence. If a larger coin was tendered a charge of one maah was made for the requisite half shekel and of another maah for the giving of change. It has been computed that these money changers made a profit of between 28,000 and 9,000 British pounds per anum. It was a deliberate ramp, and an imposition on poor people who could least of all afford it.

Second, let us look at the sellers of animals. Almost every visit to the Temple involved its sacrifice. Victims could be bought outside at very reasonable prices; but the Temple authorities had appointed inspectors, for a victim must be without spot or blemish. It was, therefore, far safer to buy victims from the booths officially set up in the Temple. But there were times when a pair of doves would cost as much as 75 pence inside the Temple and considerably less than 5 pence outside. Again it was a deliberately planned victimization of the poor pilgrims, nothing more or less than legalized robbery. Worse, these Temple shops were known as the Booths of Annas and were the property of the family of the High Priest. That is why Jesus was brought first before Annas when he was arrested ( John 18:13). Annas was delighted to gloat over this man who had struck such a blow at his evil monopoly. Jesus cleansed the Temple with such violence because its traffic was being used to exploit helpless men and women. It was not simply that the buying and selling interfered with the dignity and solemnity of worship; it was that the very worship of the house of God was being used to exploit the worshippers. It was the passion for social justice which burned in Jesus' heart when he took this drastic step.

(iii) There is something almost incredibly audacious in the action of Jesus in teaching in the Temple courts when there was a price on his head. This was sheer defiance. At the moment the authorities could not arrest him, for the people hung upon his every word. But every time he spoke he took his life in his hands and he knew well that it was only a matter of time until the end should come. The courage of the Christian should match the courage of his Lord. He left us an example that we should never be ashamed to show whose we are and whom we serve.

-Barclay's Daily Study Bible (NT)

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And he made haste,.... Such power went along with the words of Christ, that they immediately reached his heart, awakened his conscience, affected his mind, and drew his soul to Christ, and knit him to him, that be made all imaginable haste to be with him. So souls sensible of their dangerous state and condition by nature, and apprehensive of impending ruin and destruction, and having some intimation of safety and happiness in Christ, and being filled with love to him, and a liking of him flee with all haste to him for refuge, for righteousness, peace, pardon, life, and salvation:

and came down; from the tree he had climbed, merely to indulge his curiosity, little thinking that he should be called by name by him; that he should have him a guest at his house, and have such a knowledge of him, and familiar acquaintance with him: so souls, when called by Christ, and made sensible of their need of him, and the worth there is in him, quit their former post and place, part with their carnal lusts and sinful companions, and renounce their own righteousness and works, and come as sinners, humble and lowly, and venture upon Christ:

and received him joyfully; not only into his house, but into his arms and heart: Christ was a welcome guest to him, as he is to every sensible sinner, who by faith receives him, as the Father's free gift; as the alone Saviour and Redeemer; as the great Mediator, in all his offices, of prophet, priest, and king; and in every relation and character he bears; and embraces his doctrines, and submits to his ordinances, and that with, the greatest joy; as there is reason for it, since with him, he receives the free and full forgiveness of his sins, a justifying righteousness, an abundance of grace, and a right unto, and meetness for heaven.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

The Conversion of Zaccheus.

      1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.   2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchæus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.   3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.   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, Zacchæus, 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.   8 And Zacchæus 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.   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.

      Many, no doubt, were converted to the faith of Christ of whom no account is kept in the gospels; but the conversion of some, whose case had something in it extraordinary, is recorded, as this of Zaccheus. Christ passed through Jericho, Luke 19:1; Luke 19:1. This city was build under a curse, yet Christ honoured it with his presence, for the gospel takes away the curse. Though it ought not to have been built, yet it was not therefore a sin to live in it when it was built. Christ was now going from the other side Jordan to Bethany near Jerusalem, to raise Lazarus to life; when he was going to do one good work he contrived to do many by the way. He did good both to the souls and to the bodies of people; we have here an instance of the former. Observe,

      I. Who, and what, this Zaccheus was. His name bespeaks him a Jew. Zaccai was a common name among the Jews; they had a famous rabbi, much about this time, of that name. Observe, 1. His calling, and the post he was in: He was the chief among the publicans, receiver-general; other publicans were officers under him; he was, as some think, farmer of the customs. We often read of publicans coming to Christ; but here was one that was chief of the publicans, was in authority, that enquired after him. God has his remnant among all sorts. Christ came to save even the chief of publicans. 2. His circumstances in the world were very considerable: He was rich. The inferior publicans were commonly men of broken fortunes, and low in the world; but he that was chief of the publicans had raised a good estate. Christ had lately shown how hard it is for rich people to enter into the kingdom of God, yet presently produces an instance on one rich man that had been lost, and was found, and that not as the prodigal by being reduced to want.

      II. How he came in Christ's way, and what was the occasion of his acquaintance with him. 1. He had a great curiosity to see Jesus, what kind of a man he was, having heard great talk of him, Luke 19:3; Luke 19:3. It is natural to us to come in sight, if we can, of those whose fame has filled our ears, as being apt to imagine there is something extraordinary in their countenances; at least, we shall be able to say hereafter that we have seen such and such great men. But the eye is not satisfied with seeing. We should now seek to see Jesus with an eye of faith, to see who he is; we should address ourselves in holy ordinances with this in our eye, We would see Jesus. 2. He could not get his curiosity gratified in this matter because he was little, and the crowd was great. Christ did not study to show himself, was not carried on men's shoulders (as the pope is in procession), that all men might see him; neither he nor his kingdom came with observation. He did not ride in an open chariot, as princes do, but, as one of us, he was lost in a crowd; for that was the day of his humiliation. Zaccheus was low of stature, and over-topped by all about him, so that he could not get a sight of Jesus. Many that are little of stature have large souls, and are lively in spirit. Who would not rather be a Zaccheus than a Saul, though he was higher by head and shoulders than all about him? Let not those that are little of stature take thought of adding cubits to it. 3. Because he would not disappoint his curiosity he forgot his gravity, as chief of the publicans, and ran before, like a boy, and climbed up into a sycamore-tree, to see him. Note, Those that sincerely desire a sight of Christ will use the proper means for gaining a sight of him, and will break through a deal of difficulty and opposition, and be willing to take pains to see him. Those that find themselves little must take all the advantages they can get to raise themselves to a sight of Christ, and not be ashamed to own that they need them, and all little enough. Let not dwarfs despair, with good help, by aiming high to reach high.

      III. The notice Christ took of him, the call he gave him to a further acquaintance (Luke 19:5; Luke 19:5), and the efficacy of that call, Luke 19:6; Luke 19:6. 1. Christ invited himself to Zaccheus's house, not doubting of his hearty welcome there; nay, wherever Christ comes, as he brings his own entertainment along with him, so he brings his own welcome; he opens the heart, and inclines it to receive him. Christ looked up into the tree, and saw Zaccheus. He came to look upon Christ, and resolved to take particular notice of him, but little thought of being taken notice of by Christ. That was an honour too great, and too far above his merit, for him to have any thought of. See how Christ prevented him with the blessings of his goodness, and outdid his expectations; and see how he encouraged very weak beginnings, and helped them forward. He that had a mind to know Christ shall be known of him; he that only courted to see him shall be admitted to converse with him. Note, Those that are faithful in a little shall be entrusted with more. And sometimes those that come to hear the word of Christ, as Zaccheus did, only for curiosity, beyond what they thought of, have their consciences awakened, and their hearts changed. Christ called him by name, Zaccheus, for he knows his chosen by name; are they not in his book? He might ask, as Nathanael did (John 1:48), Whence knowest thou me? But before he climbed the sycamore-tree Christ saw him, and knew him. He bade him make haste, and come down. Those that Christ calls must come down, must humble themselves, and not think to climb to heaven by any righteousness of their own; and they must make haste and come down, for delays are dangerous. Zaccheus must not hesitate, but hasten; he knows it is not a matter that needs consideration whether he should welcome such a guest to his house. He must come down, for Christ intends this day to bait at his house, and stay an hour or two with him. Behold, he stands at the door and knocks. 2. Zaccheus was overjoyed to have such an honour put upon his house (Luke 19:6; Luke 19:6): He made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully; and his receiving him into his house was an indication and token of his receiving him into his heart. Note, When Christ calls to us we must make haste to answer his calls; and when he comes to us we must receive him joyfully. Lift up your heads, O ye gates. We may well receive him joyfully who brings all good along with him, and, when he takes possession of the soul, opens springs of joy there which shall flow to eternity. How often has Christ said to us, Open to me, when we have, with the spouse, made excuses! Song of Solomon 5:2; Song of Solomon 5:3. Zaccheus's forwardness to receive Christ will shame us. We have not now Christ to entertain in our houses, but we have his disciples, and what is done to them he takes as done to himself.

      IV. The offence which the people took at this kind greeting between Christ and Zaccheus. Those narrow-souled censorious Jews murmured, saying that he was gone to be a guest with a man that is a sinner, para hamartolo andri--with a sinful man; and were not they themselves sinful men? Was it not Christ's errand into the world to seek and save men that are sinners? But Zaccheus they think to be a sinner above all men that dwelt in Jericho, such a sinner as was not fit to be conversed with. Now this was very unjust to blame Christ for going to his house; for, 1. Though he was a publican, and many of the publicans were bad men, it did not therefore follow that they were all so. We must take heed of condemning men in the lump, or by common fame, for at God's bar every man will be judged as he is. 2. Though he had been a sinner, it did not therefore follow that he was now as bad as he had been; though they knew his past life to be bad, Christ might know his present frame to be good. God allows room for repentance, and so must we. 3. Though he was now a sinner, they ought not to blame Christ for going to him, because he was in no danger of getting hurt by a sinner, but in great hopes of doing good to a sinner; whither should the physician go but to the sick? Yet see how that which is well done may be ill construed.

      V. The proofs which Zaccheus gave publicly that, though he had been a sinner, he was now a penitent, and a true convert,Luke 19:8; Luke 19:8. He does not expect to be justified by his works as the Pharisee who boasted of what he had done, but by his good works he will, through the grace of God, evidence the sincerity of his faith and repentance; and here he declares what his determination was. He made this declaration standing, that he might be seen and heard by those who murmured at Christ for coming to his house; with the mouth confession is made of repentance as well as faith. He stood, which denotes his saying it deliberately and with solemnity, in the nature of a vow to God. He addressed himself to Christ in it, not to the people (they were not to be his judges), but to the Lord, and he stood as it were at his bar. What we do that is good we must do as unto him; we must appeal to him, and approve ourselves to him, in our integrity, in all our good purposes and resolutions. He makes it appear that there is a change in his heart (and that is repentance), for there is a change in his way. His resolutions are of second-table duties; for Christ, upon all occasions, laid great stress on them: and they are such as are suited to his condition and character; for in them will best appear the truth of our repentance.

      1. Zaccheus had a good estate, and, whereas he had been in it hitherto laying up treasure for himself, and doing hurt to himself, now he resolves that for the future he will be all towards God, and do good to others with it: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. Not, "I will give it by my will when I die," but, "I do give it now." Probably he had heard of the command of trial which Christ gave to another rich man to sell what he had, and give to the poor (Matthew 19:21), and how he broke with Christ upon it. "But so will not I," saith Zaccheus; "I agree to it at the first word; though hitherto I have been uncharitable to the poor, now I will relieve them, and give so much the more for having neglected the duty so long, even the half of my goods." This is a very large proportion to be set apart for works of piety and charity. The Jews used to say that a fifth part of a man's income yearly was very fair to be given to pious uses, and about that share the law directed; but Zaccheus would go much further, and give one moiety to the poor, which would oblige him to retrench all his extravagant expenses, as his retrenching these would enable him to relieve many with his superfluities. If we were but more temperate and self-denying, we should be more charitable; and, were we content with less ourselves, we should have the more to give to them that need. This he mentions here as a fruit of his repentance. Note, It well becomes converts to God to be charitable to the poor.

      2. Zaccheus was conscious to himself that he had not gotten all he had honestly and fairly, but some by indirect and unlawful means, and of what he had gotten by such means he promises to make restitution: "If I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, or if I have wronged any man in the way of my business as a publican, exacting more than was appointed, I promise to restore him four-fold." This was the restitution that a thief was to make, Exodus 22:1. (1.) He seems plainly to own that he had done wrong; his office, as a publican, gave him opportunity to do wrong, imposing upon the merchants to curry favour with the government. True penitents will own themselves not only in general guilty before God, but will particularly reflect upon that which has been their own iniquity, and which, by reason of their business and employment in the world, has most easily beset them. (2.) That he had done wrong by false accusation; this was the temptation of the publicans, which John Baptist had warned them of particularly, Luke 3:14; Luke 3:14. They had the ear of the government, and every thing would be stretched in favour of the revenue, which gave them an opportunity of gratifying their revenge if they bore a man an ill will. (3.) He promises to restore four-fold, as far as he could recollect or find by his books that he had wronged any man. He does not say, "If I be sued, and compelled to it, I will make restitution" (some are honest when they cannot help it); but he will do it voluntarily: It shall be my own act and deed. Note, Those who are convinced of having done wrong cannot evidence the sincerity of their repentance but by making restitution. Observe, He does not think that his giving half his estate to the poor will atone for the wrong he has done. God hates robbery for burnt-offerings, and we must first do justly and then love mercy. It is no charity, but hypocrisy, to give that which is none of our own; and we are not to reckon that our own which we have not come honestly by, nor that our own which is not so when all our debts are paid, and restitution made for wrong done.

      VI. Christ's approbation and acceptance of Zaccheus's conversion, by which also he cleared himself from any imputation in going to be a guest with him, Luke 19:9; Luke 19:10.

      1. Zaccheus is declared to be now a happy man. Now he is turned from sin to God; now he has bidden Christ welcome to his house, and is become an honest, charitable, good man: This day is salvation come to this house. Now that he is converted he is in effect saved, saved from his sins, from the guilt of them, from the power of them; all the benefits of salvation are his. Christ is come to his house, and, where Christ comes, he brings salvation along with him. He is, and will be, the Author of eternal salvation to all that own him as Zaccheus did. Yet this is not all. Salvation this day comes to his house. (1.) When Zaccheus becomes a convert, he will be, more than he had been, a blessing to his house. He will bring the means of grace and salvation to his house, for he is a son of Abraham indeed now, and therefore, like Abraham, will teach his household to keep the way of the Lord. He that is greedy of gain troubles his own house, and brings a curse upon it (Habakkuk 2:9), but he that is charitable to the poor does a kindness to his own house, and brings a blessing upon it and salvation to it, temporal at least, Psalms 112:3. (2.) When Zaccheus is brought to Christ himself his family also become related to Christ, and his children are admitted members of his church, and so salvation comes to his house, for that he is a son of Abraham, and therefore interested in God's covenant with Abraham, that blessing of Abraham which comes upon the publicans, upon the Gentiles, through faith, that God will be a God to them and to their children; and therefore, when he believes, salvation comes to his house, as the gaoler's to whom it was said, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house,Acts 16:31. Zaccheus is by birth a son of Abraham, but, being a publican, he was deemed a heathen; they are put upon a level, Matthew 18:17. And as such the Jews were shy of conversing with him, and expected Christ should be so; but he shows that, being a true penitent, he is become rectus in curia--upright in court, as good a son of Abraham as if he had never been an publican, which therefore ought not to be mentioned against him.

      2. What Christ had done to make him, in particular, a happy man, was consonant to the great design and intention of his coming into the world, Luke 19:10; Luke 19:10. With the same argument he had before justified his conversing with publicans, Matthew 9:13. There he pleaded that he came to call sinners to repentance; now that he came to seek and save that which was lost, to apololos--the lost thing. Observe, (1.) The deplorable case of the sons of men: they were lost; and here the whole race of mankind is spoken of as one body. Note, The whole world of mankind, by the fall, is become a lost world: lost as a city is lost when it has revolted to the rebels, as a traveller is lost when he has missed his way in a wilderness, as a sick man is lost when his disease is incurable, or as a prisoner is lost when sentence is passed upon him. (2.) The gracious design of the Son of God: he came to seek and save, to seek in order to saving. He came from heaven to earth (a long journey), to seek that which was lost (which had wandered and gone astray), and to bring it back (Matthew 18:11; Matthew 18:12), and to save that which was lost, which was perishing, and in a manner destroyed and cut off. Christ undertook the cause when it was given up for lost: undertook to bring those to themselves that were lost to God and all goodness. Observe, Christ came into this lost world to seek and save it. His design was to save, when there was not salvation in any other. In prosecution of that design, he sought, took all probable means to effect that salvation. He seeks those that were not worth seeking to; he seeks those that sought him not, and asked not for him, as Zaccheus here.

Spurgeon's Verse Expositions of the Bible

The Honoured Guest

A Sermon

by

C. H. SPURGEON

1834-1892

"And he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully."-- Luke 19:6 .

Are you prepared, like Zaccheus, to give the Lord Jesus Christ a glad and

grateful welcome? If we would obtain the full benefit of his devoted life,

his atoning death, and his triumphant resurrection, we must receive him

into our hearts by simple faith, and entertain him with tender love.

Outside the door of our heart Jesus is a stranger; he is no Saviour to us;

but inside the heart which has been opened, by divine grace, to admit

him, his power is displayed, his worth is known, and his goodness is felt.

My dear hearer, you have heard his fame, you have witnessed the

miracles he has wrought upon others, and now it remains that you

receive him yourself to ensure your own well-being. He stands at the

door and knocks; you must open to him. The promise is, "If any man will

open unto me, I will come in and sup with him." "To as many as

received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God." Not

upon all who heard was the privilege conferred, for many, when they

heard, did not believe. Alas! they provoked him, and so they perished in

their sins. But those who hail Jesus as a friend salute him as an honoured

guest, sit at his feet, and hang on his lips, find how he lights every

chamber of their soul with joy, satisfies every craving of their better

nature, and enriches them with all the endowments of adopted children.

In many respects Zaccheus supplies us with a noble example. He shows

us how to receive the Saviour. You will observe that he received him

speedily. "He made haste and came down." It is not always easy to come

down from a tree with great speed. He came down, however, as fast as he

could. There was no demur or hesitancy in his manner. I daresay his

heart was down before his feet. In like manner they who would receive

Christ must receive him now. This is not a call or a counsel to be trifled

with. The procrastination of Felix, which led him to say, "When I have a

more convenient season I will send for thee," is a very dangerous spirit.

Let those who talked as Felix talked beware lest they perish as Felix

perished. "Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts."

Zaccheus made haste. They who receive Christ heartily must receive

Christ immediately.

We notice, too, that Zaccheus received the Lord obediently. When the

Master said, "Make haste," he made haste. Hardly had he said, "Come

down," when down he came. If thou, my hearer, be likewise willing and

obedient, thou shalt eat of the good of the land. Christ likes us to be

obedient to him, though he speaks to us less as a Lawgiver than as a

Saviour and a Friend. If we refuse to take his yoke upon us, and learn of

him, how can we reasonably expect to find rest unto our souls? The

words of Jesus must be deeply respected and diligently observed by those

who would have him for their Rock, their Refuge, and their Hiding

Place. Let him be your Councillor if you want to partake of his

redemption. Render allegiance to him as your King, if you would enjoy

all the grace of his priestly mediation and intercession.

There was also a thorough heartiness on the part of Zaccheus in

receiving Christ. He made a great feast for him. He did not admit him as

one who intruded. It was not with cold civility, but with cordial

hospitality that he greeted him. I think I see the satisfaction that sparkled

in his face! I think I hear the salutation that leaped from his tongue,

"Come in-- come in, my gracious Lord; never did my house enter-tain so

welcome a guest as thou art!" Would you receive Christ, you must throw

the doors of your heart wide open; then your eyes, your lips, every

muscle of your body will express your earnestness. Your whole spirit,

soul and strength will be stirred to enthusiasm if you know his worth,

and feel the honour he confers on you. A man who findeth a treasure hid

in a field will congratulate himself on his good fortune. A woman, when

she embraceth her first-born child, will dote on him with exquisite

fondness. Shall no strong emotions prove our sincerity when we receive

the Lord of life and glory?

And mark you, too, this Chief of the Publicans received Christ

spiritually. His convictions were in keeping with his conduct. When he

distributed his goods to the poor, and made a bold confession of his faith

before his fellow-men, there was proof positive that Christ had not only

crossed the threshold of Zaccheus's house, but had also penetrated the

chambers of his heart. Ah! beloved, it is useless to receive Christ

nominally, professionally, ceremonially, or with rites and ceremonies, to

do him empty homage. By a sincere reception of him who was sent of

God, your nature, your disposition, and your habits will be transformed

from what they were, and conformed to what he is; and the change will

be conspicuous, for if ye be in Christ, and Christ be in you, all things

will become new.

A prominent feature, however, so distinctly stated that it should not be

carelessly overlooked was this, that he received him joyfully. This was

crowning evidence of the purity of his motives, and the artlessness of his

actions. In such mirth there could be no guile. Ask now, Why do not all

men thus receive Jesus Christ joyfully? How is it that some men receive

him with such exuberant joy? In what ways do those show their joy who

have thus received the Master?

I. Why Is It That All Men Do Not Receive Christ Joyfully?

This is our first question. They need him, all of them. There is no

difference in this respect. Whether Jews or Gentiles, they are all sold

under sin. God has concluded the whole race of man in unbelief. He has

shut them all up in condemnation. There is no escape from the universal

doom except by the way of the cross. Jesus Christ comes to save; comes

with pardon in his hands, with messages of love, with tokens of favour;

yet most men bar the doors of their hearts against him. There is no cry

heard in their souls, "Lift up your heads, O ye gates! and be ye lifted up,

ye everlasting doors, that the King of Glory may come in!" Instead

thereof, there is a sullen cry, "Come prejudice; come unbelief; come

hardness of heart; come love of sin; bar ye the doors and barricade the

gates lest, perhaps, the King of Glory should force an entrance!" Men

treat the Saviour as they would treat an invader who attacked their

country. They seek to drive him away; they would fain be rid of him.

They cannot endure his presence. Nay, they can scarce endure, some of

them, to hear about him in the street. Why is this? The chief reason lies

in the depravity of man's nature. You never know how bad man is till he

comes in contact with the Cross.

Although the crimes of savage, uncivilized men may appear to you far

more heinous than any that are committed in our favoured country,

where just laws are for the most part enacted, and opportunities of

education generally enjoyed, yet the propensity to do that which is evil in

the teeth of a knowledge of that which is good, the subtlety of perverting

truth in the clear light of divine revelation, the perfidiousness of that foul

ingratitude which can betray the tenderest friendship, are never so

painfully illustrated as in view of the Crucified. To despise the grace of

Jesus, to reject the love of God, to conspire against the Ambassador of

peace, to take the inhuman, devilish counsel--"This is the heir; let us kill

him!"--this was the last offence of the wicked husbandmen in the

parable. Nor does the parable exaggerate the treachery. For this is the

greatest offence of human nature, when it says, in effect, "This is the

Incarnate God, let us reject him; this is the Word made flesh, let us

traduce him; this is the Father's beloved Son--let us betray him!" Oh!

Human Nature, how blind must be thy heart, how seared thy conscience,

not to see the beauties of Christ! How base must thou be to despise the

love and tenderness of such a Saviour!

Were we to select secondary causes, however, which spring out of this

deep-seated depravity, and discriminate between the various classes of

offenders, we should say that many men reject Christ instead of receiving

him joyfully out of sheer ignorance. For this ignorance there is not much

valid excuse. There are thousands of persons, even in this highly-

favoured greatly- enlightened country, who really do not know what the

gospel means. The knowledge of salvation is within their reach, but they

have no desire to acquaint themselves with this best of all the sciences.

We are all sinners, they say; but they do not know what they mean. In

the jargon of general confession they lose sight of their own personal

transgressions. The plan of salvation by a Substitute, which is the gist of

the whole matter, never dawned on their understanding. They do not

know the great truth that Jesus took our sins and suffered for us in our

room, and in our stead, that justice might be satisfied, that mercy might

be magnified, and that we sinners might be liberated. Hence it comes to

pass that whosoever trusteth in Christ is saved. Being ignorant of this,

they are still depending upon their own works, merits, and professions,

or they are relying upon their baptism, their confirmation, or their

identification with some ecclesiastical system by means of some outward

ceremony, instead of understanding that salvation is by faith, a thing of

the heart in the spirit, and not in the letter. This ignorance of the blessed

Saviour prevents many from receiving him joyfully. So was it with the

woman of Samaria; hence the Saviour said to her, "If thou hadst known

the gift of God, and who it is that speaks to thee, thou wouldst have

asked, and he would have given thee living water." Lest ye perish

through lack of knowledge, brethren, do entreat the Lord so to guide you

in the reading of Scripture, and in listening to the exposition of Scripture

that you may get a clear understanding of the way of the Lord. "That the

soul should be without knowledge is not good," for ignorance is the

parent of many infatuations.

To refuse attention, to resist evidence, to rebut exhortation, in the

instance of full many exhibits a spirit of gross unbelief. They will not

believe in Jesus; they will not acknowledge him to be the Son of God;

they will scarcely believe that the man ever lived who had a right to the

homage which his few disciples offered him. The Atonement they look

upon as an old wives' fable, and they account the resurrection from the

dead as an idle dream. I will say but little of their excuse. They are not

open to conviction. They live in darkness because they have barred every

window of their soul against the light. The precious doctrine of Christ

bears on its face the genuine stamp. Its authenticity is graven upon its

very forefront. Their stolid disputations cannot diminish its value or its

virtue. They wrong themselves when they denounce or disparage the

truth as it is in Christ.

Others are actuated by a positive aversion to the Saviour. They have no

sinister reflections to cast on the story of his life, the purity of his

manners, the holiness of his character, or the benevolence of his mission,

but they do not desire to be saved from their sins; they rather enjoy

revelling, unrebuked and undisturbed, in the gratification of their own

sensual propensities. They do not want to be saved from drunkenness;

they would rather go on with the drink. They do not want to be saved

from the lusts of the flesh; they would sooner pamper its gross appetites.

They do not want to be saved from pride or self-confidence; they would

rather indulge their towering ambition. They do not want, in fact, to

have a divorce proclaimed between them and their sins; they would

sooner discard the high obligations of the divine law, and act upon the

expedience of the life that now is, than forego a pursuit or a pleasure in

hope of eternal life. Hence they cannot bear the name of Jesus! they

recoil from it, unable to conceal their antipathy. Religion is not merely

insipid; it is positively nauseous to them. The singing of a hymn in the

house would put them out of temper. Did their wife or their child

mention the Cross of Christ, or faith in his precious blood, they would

either sneer and ridicule with unseemly jest, or else their temper would

boil over with malice and wrath. The Lord pluck that black heart out of

thee, man! The Lord give thee a new heart and a right spirit. Thou wilt

have to bend or else to break. If thou wilt not turn, thou must burn. If

thou dost not repent of this hatred of Christ now, thou wilt feel remorse

enough for it hereafter. In the day when he cometh in the clouds of

heaven to judge the quick and the dead, thou wilt seek in vain to elude

his eye, or escape from his wrath.

You will find that the reason for not receiving Christ in many others is

the fact that they are worldly, and eaten up with too many cares. A pitiful

apology and very perilous! Such paltry forgets will bring poignant

regrets. The hour of death can do little to rectify the years of life

misspent. Not then can you seek God, if you have never sought him

before. Oh! you are taken up with the farm and the merchandise, with

your daily labours and diversions, your losses, and your gains, heaping

up, not knowing who shall inherit. These canker-worms eat up your

souls. Would that men were not such fools as to be always providing for

this poor tenement of the body, while they neglect the precious jewel it

encloses--their immortal soul; occupied with trivial personalities, while

reckless of their real estate. They are crying, "Buy, buy," in Vanity Fair,

while the Lord of life and glory passeth by. Yet they heed not. Talk of

the main chance, but they miss the wise choice. They sell gold for dross;

they lose their souls and get perdition.

Still more inexcusable, methinks, are those who reject Christ, because

they are taken up with the world's frivolities. Some people live in a whirl

of fashion, where repentance would be accounted vulgar. Not in sportive

gaieties, but in pensive solitudes do penitence and contrition find room

for exercise. Ridiculous as it may sound, some people are far too genteel,

to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is fit company, in their esteem, for

publicans and sinners, but into their drawing-rooms were he to enter he

would soon be expelled. They want him not in the upper circle of the

haut ton; neither would he be kindly received in the lower circles, among

the frequenters of music-halls and dancing saloons. Ah! no; as of old, so

now: "There is no room for him in the inn." The world is ready enough

to welcome actor, singer, dancer, punster, anyone who can amuse them;

but as for Christ, who stands with bleeding hands, and cries, "Come unto

me and I will give you rest," they despise him. They miss the soul of

beauty for meretricious charms; they turn from the source of joy to

indulge in giggling laughter; they spurn the real, and leap after the

shadow; they forsake the overflowing fountain, and fly to the broken

cisterns that can hold no water.

Ah! brethren, this is a miserable spectacle. It is a dreary sight to see a

sinner despising mercy, a drowning man rejecting the life-belt, a sick

man declining the physician, a man entering the gates of death refusing

life and immortality. Oh! sin, how thou hast befooled men! How thou

hast made them hate themselves, and act cruelly to their own souls!

What suicides they commit! What a sacrifice of their noblest nature!

They go down to hell with a verdict of felo de se. O Israel, thou hast

destroyed thyself! Thou hast destroyed thyself! They reject him

shamefully whom they should have received joyfully. They carry out

their own will, and they perish in their wilfulness. And now we ask in

the next place:

II. Why Do Some Men Receive Him Joyfully?

The answer simply is because grace has made them to differ. Grace has

subdued their stubborn will, illuminated their darkened understanding,

changed their depraved affections, and made their whole mind to judge

of things after a different fashion. Do not suppose that we who have

received Christ were naturally any better disposed to him than others.

Oh! no. If, when the seed was sown, we were like the honest and good

ground in which it took root, there had been a previous tillage upon our

hearts to make them ready, we should not have been found willing had it

not been the day of God's power. I think we all unite in saying:--

"Twas the same love that spread the feast

That sweetly forced us in;

Else we had still refused to taste,

And perished in our sin."

As for the reasons and inducements which prompted us to receive Christ

joyfully, I may speak very plainly for myself. I received Christ because I

could not help it. I was at my wits' end. Methinks no man ever flees to

Christ for refuge, or seeks shelter in the port of gospel peace, until he is

quite certain that every other harbour is shut up. We make Christ our last

resource. We try everything else--grand resolutions to do good works, or

to attend gorgeous ceremonies, trivial formalities, or paltry superstitions;

anything, the silliest conceit or the emptiest quackery. We go the round

of folly before we discover the path of wisdom. At length I must go to

Christ, or else woe is unto me if I win him not. Helpless and hopeless, in

sheer distress we cry out, "Give me Christ, or else I die." Henceforth he

is not merely our choice, but a positive necessity to us to have him as our

hourly, daily, and eternal portion. Oh! the strait unto which I was

brought when I received Christ. It was Christ or death; salvation by

Christ, or damnation without him. I received him because I could not

help it. I had no alternative. How many of you are in the like dilemma?

How many of you will fly to him in similar destitution? Driven before the

tempest, catching a glimpse of the lighthouse, you cry out:--

"Jesus, lover of my soul,

Let me to thy bosom fly."

Well may we receive Christ joyfully since he works such wonderful

changes in us, and so beneficent. He cheers the grievous past. It was all

black and threatening with the memory of our provocations. He sprinkles

his blood upon it, and now it becomes bright and beaming with

mementoes of the loving-kindnesses and tender mercies of the Lord. He

illuminates the present. There was nought but gloom and blank despair

till he shone as the light of life in our dwelling. Then life and salvation

dawn upon us like the dayspring from on high. He disperses the clouds

that hung over the future. The outlook was dark and threatening till

Jesus came, bright and glorious, and discovered a hereafter. Beyond the

black river of death we now discern the gleaming of the spirit-land, and

the place of meeting where we shall see his face. Thus, when Jesus

comes into the heart, the three realms of the past, the present, and the

future, all glow with light. When the sun rises, the hills, and valleys, and

rivers, above and beneath, are all sown with orient pearl.

Right joyfully do we receive Christ because he comes into our hearts

with such gracious offices. He came as a priest to put away sin; who

could but be glad? He came as a king; who would not receive such a

monarch with sound of trumpets and flaunting of banners? He came to

us as a shepherd; shall not the flock of his pasture be glad of the sight of

him? He came as a dear and tender friend; does not his sweet sympathy

excite any joy? Think, too, of the yet more endearing relationship in

which he came. He came as a husband, and our souls are married unto

him. Blessed bridegroom! Thou adorable Saviour! Thou hast engrossed

our heart and won our love. Does not the bride rejoice when the husband

comes home? Is there not gladness in her heart when the nuptial day

approaches? Oh! well, well might we welcome Christ when he comes,

dressed in such robes and wearing such offices as these! When he came,

he came with such wondrous blessings--pardon and peace, justification

and acceptance, sanctification and honour, wisdom and righteousness--

all these; and now he proclaims himself to be our protector; his paths

drop fatness; he maketh rich and addeth no sorrow; such as find him

find in him such wealth of goodness--deep, mysterious, unknown--as far

exceeds all earthly pleasure, all worldly fortune. Surely on the lowest

ground we might afford him the loftiest welcome. Even churlish Laban

received Eliezer with courtesy when he saw the presents he brought--the

bracelets, and the earrings, and the jewels, and should not we receive

Jesus when we mark those costly gifts in his hand, the purchase of his

own blood, which he freely gives to those who receive him?

And shall we not receive him joyfully because he comes in such a blessed

spirit? He upbraideth not. He was all gentleness, meekness, grace, when

here below; though of divine pedigree, the Only-begotten of the Father

full of grace and truth. Should we not then receive him with sound of the

trumpet, with the psalter and harp, yea, and with joy of heart

unspeakable? Let me add that the better we know him the more joyfully

we should receive him for his own sake. Oh! I could stand here and weep

to think that I do not speak better of my Lord and Master. Truly I know

more of his grace and goodness than I should ever be able to tell. I trust

you can say the same. It is one thing to know the sweetness of his savour,

and quite another thing to have to tell that savour to others. There is no

exaggeration in the language of the spouse when she says, "Yea, he is

altogether lovely." Such as receive him with their hearts will find that

the most rapturous expressions that saints have ever used do not exceed,

but fall infinitely short of the delight, the heavenly joys, which he brings

into the soul. If one might choose a heaven upon earth, it would be to

rest for ever in quiet meditation upon the beauties of his person, the

perfection of his character, the power of his blood, the prevalence of his

plea, the glory of his resurrection, the majesty of his Second Advent.

Everything about Christ is delightful. There is not a truth he ever teaches

but is fragrant with choice perfume. There is not a word he utters but

smelleth of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces from

which he came. If you have not received Christ, my dear hearer, you

have missed the brightest feature of divine revelation. For a foreigner to

visit England and never see the Metropolis of London; for a man to have

lived in the world without ever seeing the sun; for one to have beheld

tables spread with the most sumptuous provisions, but never to have

tasted any of them--in any such case there would be little cause for

congratulation. So you do not know what life is; you are dead to all its

charms; you do not know what light is; you have only dwelt in the shade,

or in the twilight at the best, if you have not beheld the Saviour,

entertained him, and tasted that he is gracious. You have missed the

cream. You have been stopping outside in the farmyard feeding with the

swine. You do not know what the fatted calf is, upon which the children

feed at the Father's table. You have been a dog, satisfied with the bones,

not knowing the fatness and the marrow of true life. But the Christian,

dear friends, finds Christ to be so inconceivably precious, such a fountain

of delight, such a river of mercy, that when he receives him, he receives

him joyfully, and the longer he knows him the more joyful he is to think

that he ever received him at all. And now, such being the reasons why

some receive Christ joyfully, let us ask:--

III. How Do They Show It? In What Ways and by What Means Do They Express

Their Joy?

I have known some who have taken very strange ways of showing their

joy. They have been inclined to stand up and shout in the very place

where they found the Saviour, while others could only sit still and water

the floor with their tears, feeling as if for the next week or two they did

not want to look anybody in the face, but just in solemn silence of the

mind to revel in the company of their adorable Lord. We do not wonder

that some people show a little strange enthusiasm when they first come

to know Christ. It is no marvel. When a man has been in prison for

months he may well be a little demonstrative in his joy on obtaining his

liberty; so when a soul has been under the burden of sin, and bound with

its galling chain, he may well leap, as Bunyan tells us his pilgrim did,

when the burden was loosed off him and rolled away.

Yet there are other and better ways of expressing satisfaction and

pleasure than these which have much of the flesh, much of the natural

disposition about them. Though not to be condemned, still they are not to

be commended. A better way of showing that you have received Christ

joyfully is by turning out his enemies. When you receive Christ in at the

front door, you must not keep the devil in the back parlour. Every traitor

sin must be ejected when the Great King takes up his residence in your

heart. The thorough cleansing of your house from every defilement is the

smallest tribute we can expect you to pay in deference to your royal

guest. The soul that receives Christ joyfully sighs and groans because it

cannot make, as it would, a clean sweep of its sin. I know you do not

love Christ if you cling to your sins; if you love Christ heartily, you will

put away your iniquities:--

"The dearest idol I have known,

Whate'er that idol be;

Help me to tear it from its throne,

And worship only thee."

And when you do receive Christ joyfully, you will be eager to obey his

instructions. Like Zaccheus, you will ask, "Lord, what wouldst thou have

me to do?" Christ was going to Zaccheus's house; and you know what

people say when they have a guest they are anxious to please. They

entreat him thus, "Now just do as you like; consider yourself at home;

whatever you want, ask for; only tell us what we can do to make you

happy, and we shall be glad to do it." This is how every cheerful holy

soul dealeth with Christ. He says, "Lord, tell us what thou wouldest have

me to do; only let me know thy will; tell me by thy Word, by thy

minister, by thy Holy Spirit; work in my own heart personally; teach me

thy way, and oh! my God, my heart shall be glad to conform to thy

wishes." Have you all done this? Have you been obedient to all the

Saviour's commands, or have you sought to observe them? If you have,

this should be an evidence of your receiving him joyfully.

Another proof of our joy in receiving Christ is receiving his people. This,

in more ways than one, he has made the test of attachment to himself.

"Love one another." "Feed my lambs." "If ye have done it unto one of the

least of my brethren, ye have done it unto me". Just as Laban said when

he took in Eliezer, "There is room for thee, and room for the camels," so

let there be room in our hearts for Jesus. There will be room for some of

these poor troubled ones, these burdened saints. They may not always be

pleasant company, but we shall be willing to receive them, and to join

with them, because of their Master. Now, dear friend, if you are a

Christian, and have received Christ, unite yourselves with his people;

make a profession of your faith; come out and join the people of God,

and do not be ashamed with them to suffer the reproach of Christ.

And if you have received Christ joyfully, you will love his cross. I mean

not only the cross which he had to carry, but the cross which you now

have to carry for him. You will count it a great privilege to suffer

reproach for his sake. You will love the cross. "No cross no crown," is an

ancient motto; but it is just as true today as it was a thousand years ago.

The faith that Moses illustrated you will follow, counting the reproach of

Christ to be greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. If you receive the

Master in good part, you will say, "Come in, my Master; come in, and

bring thy cross, too, and I will bear it cheerfully, for thy sake."

Moreover, you will prove the grateful welcome you give him by wishing

that other people may receive him joyfully too. I cannot believe thou

knowest my Master if thou doest not wish to make him known. Were you

cured of some sad disease, and met with a sufferer as bad as you once

were, your tongue would be quick to tell him of the medicine that can

cure him. And surely, if you have been saved from the damning power of

sin by Christ, you will want to be telling it to the sons of men that there

is balm in Gilead, and that there is a physician there. Perhaps you cannot

preach. Possibly not half a dozen people might be edified were you to try.

But you can talk to a neighbour. You can speak with your children. I was

pleased today, in reading the life of John Wesley's mother, to notice how

she set apart Monday to speak to one of her daughters; Tuesday to speak

to another; Wednesday to speak, as she says, "to Jack," meaning John

Wesley; and Thursday to speak to Charles; so that they each had a day,

and there was an hour each day given to speak to each child about the

affairs of the soul. That is the way to win the children for God. Depend

upon it, reader, the blessing of God, the Holy Spirit, if we experimentally

know the joy of religion ourselves, will be the means of much good to

others, if we make it a point to "tell to sinners round what a dear Saviour

we have found."

May the Lord, in his mercy, call you as he called Zaccheus. May many of

you receive him joyfully as Zaccheus did. Seek him, and he shall be

found of you. Trust him; he will not deceive you. Cast your soul upon

him; he will be as good as his Word. Mark his promise, "Him that

cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." Faithful is he that gives you

this grateful encouragement. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ now, and

through countless ages you will look back upon this fleeting hour with

joy unspeakable, perennial--with gratitude that eternity cannot exhaust.

Amen.

Kelly Commentary on Books of the Bible

The last chapter gave in the judgment of present things, another world and eternal things in good and evil, the Lord's instruction for the disciples after the dealings of grace in Luke 15:1-32, and this as the only true power of estimating the present world (that is to say, by the standard of the future the eternal future of God. In order to complete that picture, our Lord gave a sight not only of one blessed man who had lived in what is eternal, while experiencing the bitterness of this evil age, but of another who lived only for the present, despising God's message about eternity.

In Luke 17:1-37 there follow further lessons communicated still to the disciples; and first of all, a solemn warning as to stumbling-blocks. It is possible that offences will come; but woe to him through whom they come! Next, while there is a strong exhortation against stumbling others, there is an equally urgent call to forgive others. We are to be firm against ourselves; we are to be firm for our brethren, even where they touch ourselves. Therefore the apostles, feeling the great difficulty, as indeed it is impossible to nature so to walk, ask of the Lord to increase their faith. The Lord intimates in reply that faith grows, and even in the presence of difficulty. It seeks what belongs not to nature, but to God. On the other hand, in the midst of any answers that God may vouchsafe, and of all service rendered to Him, the admonitory word is added that when we have done all things not when we have failed we are unprofitable servants. Such is the true language and feeling for a disciple's heart. This closes the direct teaching here addressed to His followers (Verses Luke 17:1-10.)

Our Lord is next (ver. Luke 17:11-19) presented in a very characteristic way, showing that faith does not necessarily wait for a change of dispensation. He had been laying, down the duty of faith in many various forms in the early verses of this chapter. It is here shown that faith always finds its place of blessing with God and proves Him superior to forms; but God is only found in Jesus.

In the ten lepers this blessed principle is brought out clearly. The healing of the Lord was equally manifest in all; but there is a power superior to that which cleanses the body, even were it desperately leprous. The power that belongs to and comes out from God is but a small thing, in comparison with the knowledge of God Himself. This alone brings to God in spirit (as it did really by the cross of Christ). Observe, that he who exemplifies this action of divine grace was one that knew not traditional religion as the others did, that had no great privileges to boast of in comparison with the rest. It was the Samaritan in whom the Lord illustrated the power of faith. He had told the ten equally to go and show themselves to the priest; and as they went they were cleansed. One only, seeing he was cleansed, turns back, and with a loud voice glorified God. But the way in which he glorified God was not by merely ascribing the blessing to God. "He fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan."

Apparently this was disobedience; and the others could well reproach their Samaritan fellow that he was unfaithful to Jesus. But faith is always right, whatever appearances may say: I speak not now of a fancy, of course, not of any eccentric humour or delusion too often covered over with the name of faith. Real faith which God gives is never so far wrong: and he who, instead of going on to the priest, recognizes in Jesus the power and goodness of God upon earth, (the instincts of that very faith that was of God working in his heart and carrying him back to the source of the blessing,) he, I say, was the only one of the ten who was in the spirit, not only of the blessing but of Him who gave the blessing. And so our Lord Jesus vindicates him. "Were there not ten cleansed?" said the Saviour; "but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger."

Faith invariably discovers the way to give glory to God. It matters not whether it be in Abraham or in a Samaritan leper, its path is entirely outside the ken of nature, yet faith does not fail to discern it; the Lord assuredly puts His seal upon it, and grace supplies all needed strength to follow.

But this was in its principle the judgment of the Jewish system. It was the power of faith leaving Judaism to itself, mounting in Jesus to the source of both law and grace, but not putting the legal system down. This was for other hands. Faith does not destroy; it has no such commission: angels will have that province another day. But faith finds its own deliverance now, leaving those who are under the law and love not grace, to the law which condemns. For itself it discovers the blessedness of freedom from the law, yet is not lawless to God, but, on the contrary, legitimately bound ( ἔννομος ) to Christ, really and duly subject to Him, and so much the more because not under law. In the present case, the cleansed Samaritan in going to Jesus was very simply under grace, in the spirit that animated his heart and formed his path, as Luke the evangelist here records.

How admirably this tale is adapted to the whole tone and character of the Gospel, I need not delay to prove. It must be plain enough, I think, even to a superficial reader, that as Luke alone gives the account, so to Luke it is most especially adapted for the purpose that the Holy Ghost had in hand in this Gospel, and also in this particular context.

We have further, in our Lord's answer to the Pharisees, who demanded when the kingdom of God should come, a striking revelation, and most suitable to Luke's purpose. "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation." It is not a question of signs, wonders, or outward show. It is not that God did not accompany His message with signs. But the kingdom of God, revealed in the person of Christ, went deeper appeals to faith (not sight), and demands the Holy Ghost's action in the soul to give the sinner to see and enter it. Here it is not a question exactly of entering or seeing, as inJohn 3:1-36; John 3:1-36, but rather the moral character of the entrance of God's kingdom among men. It does not address itself to the senses or the mere mind of man; it carries its own evidence with it to the conscience and the heart. As being the kingdom of God, it is impossible that His kingdom should come, without adequate testimony in love to man, who is sought for it. At the same time man, having a bad conscience and a depraved heart, slights God's word as well as kingdom, and looks for that which would please himself by gratifying his feelings, mind, or even lower nature. Our Lord, however, first of all lays down this great principle: it is no question of a "lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." The kingdom was actually there; for He, God's King was there. Then, after settling this moral truth which was fundamental for the soul, He turns to His disciples, and tells them that the days would come when they should desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and should not see it; for the kingdom will be displayed by and by. "When they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under. heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation." This is the necessary moral order of God. Jesus must first suffer; so "the sufferings of Christ," as Peter said afterwards, "and the glories that should follow." Such is the invariable method of God in dealing with a sinful world, where He brings in, not a test of man, but the effectual work of His own grace. But this presentation to faith now, as we have seen does not hinder the Lord from speaking of another day, when the kingdom of God would be manifest. Before that day of His appearing there might be a premature "Lo here! or, lo there!" The godly must not follow men's cries, but count on the Lord. He compares it to the days of Noe (that is, to the day of God's past judgment of man and his ways); then to the days of Lot.

First of all, then, we have, for the disciples, God's ways in grace, in the Son of man that first suffers, and finally will appear in power and glory. As for the world, careless indifference and enjoyment of present things will characterise the future as the past; but they will be surprised by the Lord in the midst of heedless folly. To this the Lord appends a peculiar, but not less solemn though brief word: "Remember Lot's wife! "Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it." Apparently the wife of Lot was rescued by angelic power; she was certainly brought out of the doomed city; but it was only the more strikingly to be the monument of God's all-searching judgment. There she stands alone. The others perished; but she abode a pillar of salt, when Moses wrote the (morally speaking) imperishable memorial of God's hatred of a false heart, which, spite of outward deliverance, gave its affections still to a scene devoted to destruction. And so our Lord adds here what touched, not merely the Jewish system, but the condition and doom of the world at large. He lets us know that in that night two should be in one bed; one taken, and the other left. So two women at the mill; for here we have not to do with human judgments. God will then judge the quick; and so, no matter what the association, the employment, or the sex, whether within doors or without, there can be no shelter or exemption. Two might be ever so closely knit together, but God would discriminate according to the nicety of His own discernment of their state: one should be taken, and the other left. "And they answered, and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body. is, thither will the eagles be gathered together." Wherever there is that which is dead, and consequently offensive morally unto God, there unquestionably will His judgments fall.

But along with this we have also prayer (Luke 18:1-43), not merely as suitable to a soul's need, and in connection with the word of God received from Jesus, which we have seen in Luke 11:1-54. Here it is prayer out of the midst of circumstances of desolation and deep trial prayer with evil near at hand, as well as divine judgment. Consequently its ultimate bearing is in connection with the tribulation of the last days. But, at the same time, Luke never confines his view to outward facts. Hence, it is said, "He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray." It is the more striking, because the circumstances are evidently limited; while that which He draws from them is universal. The Lord is exhorting to prayer, in view of the final trial; nevertheless, He prefaces it with a plain moral precept on the value. of prayer at all times "that men ought always to pray, and not to faint." Certainly God will not be heedless to the continual cry of His own seemingly desolate elect in their fiery trial, where all the might of man is against them; but still the duty always remains true.

Now, it is Luke alone who thus treats the matter; the great moral value attached to prayer, at the same time connected, it may be, with general circumstances of sorrow, but bearing on the circumstances of the last day. The parable is intended to give or increase confidence in the heed God pays to the prayer of distress. Spite of indifference, an unjust judge yields to the importunity of a poor widow. If a bad man so acted, not because of his hatred of the wrong done to her that was oppressed, but to get rid of being always troubled by her cries for justice if it be so even with the unjust, would not God take up the cause of His own elect, that cried unto Him day and night? It could not but be. He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth? (Verses Luke 18:1-8.)

Then follows another parable of a very different character. It is not the value of persistent prayer, and the certainty of God appearing even for the weakest, no matter how apparently deserted (indeed, so much the more, because of it in His own). We have, further, the moral condition of man illustrated in two ways a broken spirit with little light but a real sense of sin, and another soul satisfied with itself in the presence of God. "And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous) and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican." Not that the Pharisee represents a man who denies God, or who is not a religious man. He is religious, but such religion is the most damning thing about him. The evil is not merely his sins, but his religion: nothing more blinding to himself and other men, nothing more dishonouring to God. On the other hand, the poor publican has neither clear light nor peace, but at least he realises the commencement of all true light he has learned enough of God to condemn himself. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." He alone of the two judged things according to his little light. He judged himself truly, and, therefore, was in a moral condition to see other things aright, as God should bring them before him. There was as yet no such privilege known as a purged worshipper having no more conscience of sins. Therefore, the convicted publican is found outside, beating his breast, and standing at a distance, not so much as looking up. It was suitable that it should be so; for Christ's work was not yet wrought, still less applied to his soul. It would have been not faith, but presumption, I do not doubt, at such a time, and under such circumstances, for him to have come nigh. All was in its season. But if God invites a believer now to draw near into the holiest of all, is it not equal presumption for that soul to quarrel with the grace of God displayed in Christ's work of redemption, and to raise questions about its effects for itself? God may, and does, bear with the wound to His own grace; and He has His way of correcting such wrong; but there is no ground in the parable to warrant what is too often founded upon it. We owe it to Christ to resent every misinterpretation which goes to undo what He has done on the cross. The publican before us was not meant to give us a full view of the Christian state, or of the blessings of the gospel, but of a man taught of God to feel his own nothingness as a sinner before Him; and God's estimate of him, in comparison with the man who was satisfied with his state. It is humility founded upon the sense of unworthiness, which is always right as far as it goes. (VersesLuke 18:9-14; Luke 18:9-14.)

Next is set forth humility, founded on our littleness (ver. Luke 18:15-17). Many a man is consciously unworthy, because he feels himself a sinner who has no just sense of his littleness in the presence of God. Our Lord here gives this further lesson to the disciples, and uses a child as the text. We shall find how much it was needed if we look into the Gospel of Luke.

Then we have the ruler, to whom our Lord shows that all was wrong where a soul is not brought to know that there is none good but God. Had he really known how good God is he would have soon seen God in Jesus. He saw nothing of the sort. He knew neither God nor good. He looked upon the Lord merely as good after a human fashion. If He was but a man there was no goodness in Him; it is only in God: God alone is good. If Jesus were not God, He was not good. The young ruler had no right, no just title to say, "Good Master", unless that master were God. This he saw not; and therefore, the Lord proves him, and searches the ground of his heart, and demonstrates that after all he valued the world more than God and eternal life. This he had never suspected in himself before. He loved his natural position; he loved to be a ruler, though a young one; he loved his possessions; he loved what he had of present advantages in the world. He really clave to all these things without knowing it himself. The Lord, therefore calls upon him to give them up, and follow Him. He thought there was no demand of goodness but what he was able to meet; but the trial was too much for him. Man was not good God only. Jesus, who was God, had given up beyond all comparison more, yea, infinitely.

What had He not given up, and for whom? He was God, and proved it not least in a self-abnegation truly divine. (Verses Luke 18:18-25.)

Then we have the hearers and disciples disclosing their thoughts. They began to claim something of credit for what they had given up. The Lord admits that there is no abandonment of faith but what will meet with a most adequate remembrance from the Lord another day.

But, at the same time (verses Luke 18:31-34), He takes unto Him the twelve and says, "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished." This is what He was looking for, whatever they were. "For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on; and they shall scourge Him, and put him to death; and the third day he shall rise again; and they understood none of these things. And this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken." It is an important lesson, and not the first time we find it in Luke, and, indeed, in other Gospels also. Nor can it be too often repeated, that lack of intelligence in Scripture does not depend upon the obscurity of the language, but because the will does not like the truth that is taught. This is the reason why difficulties are felt and abound. When a man is made willing to receive the truth, his eye is single and his whole body full of light. The will is the real hindrance. The mind will be clear, if the conscience and the heart be set right. Where, on the contrary, God breaks down the believer, and sets him free in the liberty wherewith the Son makes free, the conscience is purged, and the heart turned towards Himself. All then becomes right: he is brought into the light of God; he sees light in God's light. Was this the condition of the disciples as yet? Were they not still cleaving to their own cherished expectations of Messiah, and an earthly kingdom? They could not understand Him, no matter how plain the words employed. The hardness of His saying lay not in any lack of perspicuity. Never man spake as this man, His enemies themselves being judges; neither was it from any defect in their natural understanding that the disciples were thus slow. The state of the heart, as ever, was in question; the will was at fault, even though they were regenerate. It was their reluctance to receive what Jesus taught that made the difficulty; and it is the same thing still with believers, as with others.

In verse 35 we enter on the closing section of all the historical Gospels, as is well known, that is to say, the entrance into Jerusalem from Jericho. Only there is a difficulty here to some that Luke appears to contradict what we have in the other accounts of this part of Christ's progress. "It came to pass, that as he came nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside begging." From the other Gospels we know it was when He went out of Jericho, not when He came in. The truth is, that our English version, excellent as it is, goes a little beyond the word of Luke; for our evangelist does not say "When he was come nigh unto Jericho," but "when he was nigh." It is not necessarily a question of coming near, but simply of being in the neighbourhood. The utmost which can or ought to be allowed is, that if the context so required, it might bear the translation (a paraphrase rather) of coming nigh; but this case demands the very reverse. It is evident, whether you go into a place or whether you come out of it, you are equally nigh on one side of the town or on the other. The truth is, that Luke merely states the fact of vicinity here. Further, we know that just as Matthew, for his design, so he displaces facts historically for the purpose of giving a more forcible moral picture of the truth in hand. I have little doubt that in this case the reason for putting the blind man here rather than in leaving, the town was, that for Jericho He reserved the wonderful call of Zaccheus, with the object of bringing that tale of grace, characteristic of His first-advent, into juxtaposition with the question and parable of the kingdom, which illustrated His second advent; for immediately afterwards we have His correction of the disciples, thoughts, that the kingdom of God was immediately going to appear; because He was going up to Jerusalem. They expected that He was going to take the throne of David at once. Accordingly, Luke puts together those two features the grace that illustrates His first coming, and the real nature of the second coming of Christ, as far as regards the appearing of God's kingdom. Now, had the story of the blind man healed at Jericho been left for its historical place, it would have cut the thread of these two circumstances. There is, therefore, in this, as it appears to me, an ample and divine reason why the Spirit of God led the writer to present the cure of the blind man as we find it. But then he does not say what the English version makes him say, "As he was come nigh," but simply, "When he was nigh to Jericho," leaving it open to other Scriptures to define the time with more precision. He only states that it was while the Lord was in the neighbourhood. The other Gospels positively tell us it was as He went out. Clearly, therefore, we must interpret the general language of Luke by the exacter marks of the time and place of those who declare it was as He was going out. Nothing can be simpler. The healing of the blind man was a kind of final testimony that Messiah was there. He was coming in the way, not of the power that once overthrew Jericho, but of grace that showed and could meet the real condition of Israel. They were blind. Had they possessed the faith only to cry to Messiah about their blindness, He was therewith power and willingness to heal them. There was none but a blind man or two to own real need, but our Lord at least healed all who cried. (Verses Luke 18:35-43.)

Then, as He entered Jericho, Zaccheus, the chief of the tax-gatherers, was mightily stirred with the desire to see this wondrous man, the Son of man. Hence he lets nothing stand in the way. Neither personal deficiency, nor the crowd that was there, is allowed to hinder his intense purpose of heart to see the Lord Jesus. He therefore climbs up a sycamore tree by the way; and Jesus knowing well the desire of Zaccheus, and the faith that was at work there however feebly, at once, to his joy and astonishment, invites Himself to his house. "Zaccheus, make haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully." All fell to murmuring. It was the same tale at the end as at the beginning. "And Zaccheus 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." He had been really a conscientious man. He was a man thus characterised; for it is no promise of what he is going to do, but he mentions that which was no doubt a fact about himself at that very moment. He was what men call a just and good man, yet a chief tax-gatherer and a wealthy one, though they be hard things to put together. Here was a tax-gatherer who, if through in cautiousness or any defect guilty of wrong to another, needed no pressure to restore fourfold. Such was his habit. Our Lord, however, cuts it all short. As a matter of human righteousness it was well; it was the proof that Zaccheus exercised himself as a man to have a conscience void offence in his own way. Nor is this out of keeping with the tenor of Luke's Gospel, as, indeed, it is only here that we have the story at all. Our Lord, however, shows that it was not the time to think or speak of such matters. "This day is salvation come to this house, inasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." How infinite the blessing! Was it a fitting time for speaking of himself? It was not a question of man's walking righteously, or of talking about it. In truth, man was lost; but the Son of man was there to bear his burden. This great and glorious fact superseded all others. Whatever there had been working in him at any time all was now swallowed up in the presence of the Son of man seeking and saving the lost. What can give us amore vivid, true, and blessed representation of the Lord Jesus Christ in His first coming with the grace of God that brings salvation? (Luke 19:1-10.)

Immediately after (and, if I mistake not, expressly put in close conjunction with this) is the parable of the nobleman who goes into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. They were all wrong therefore, in looking for the kingdom of God immediately to appear. Not so. Christ was going away to heaven to receive the kingdom from God there not about to take it from man now and in this world. It is evidently, therefore, a picture of the Lord's return at the second advent, after having received a kingdom. It was not a question of human willingness or power, but of receiving from God. But then, further, He shows that meanwhile His servants are called to occupy themselves till he come. He called His ten servants, and delivered to them ten pounds; and said unto them, "Occupy till I come." Then we find another picture His citizens hating Him; for nothing can be more elaborate than this parable. The Lord's relation to the kingdom at the second advent is contrasted with the grace that flows out in the former part of the chapter. This is the main subject with which the parable opens. Next, we have the place of the servants responsible to use what the Lord gives. Such is another great point shown out here. It is not, as in the Gospel of Matthew, the Lord giving different gifts to different servants, which is equally true; but here it is the moral test of the servants carried out by each having the same sum. This proves yet more than in the other case how far they laboured. They started with similar advantages. What was the result? Meanwhile hatred became apparent in the citizens, who represent the unbelieving Jews settled down in the earth. "When he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded those 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. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy mina hath gained ten minas;" and so with the other; and then we hear of the one who says, "Lord, behold, here is thy mina, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: for I feared thee." There was no confidence in His grace. The consequence is, that, treating the Lord as a froward man, he finds Him froward. Unbelief finds its own response as truly as faith does. As "it is unto thee according to thy faith," so alas! the converse proves true. It is to man according to his unbelief.

Further, we have a remarkable difference in the rewards here. It is not, "Enter into the joy of thy Lord;" but one receives ten cities, another five, and so on. He that was fearful and unbelieving, on the contrary, has his mina taken from him. Again, then enemies are brought forward. The unfaithful servant is not called an enemy, though, no doubt, he was no friend of the Son, and dealt with righteously. But the open adversaries are called into the scene; and as the Lord here pronounces those men His enemies which would not :that He should reign over them, He says, "Bring them hither, and slay them before me." Thus the parable is a very complete sketch of the general results of the Lord's second advent for the citizens of the world, as well as of the occupation and reward of the servants who serve Him faithfully meanwhile. (Verses Luke 19:11-27.)

Next, we have the entrance into Jerusalem. We need not dwell on the scene of the riding in on the colt; but that which is peculiar to Luke claims our attention for a moment. "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: saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest."(Ver. 37, 38.) Thus the Spirit of God works to give them a step, and a great step, in divine intelligence beyond the song of the angels at the beginning. What they justly sang at the birth of Jesus was, "Peace on earth: good will that is, God's good will in men," ushered in by glory to God in the highest. Here we have a signal change or converse. "Glory in the highest" is the result, not the introduction; and instead of "peace on earth," (which will, no doubt, be the fruit by and by, as it is according to God's mind, the anticipation from the beginning,) the disciples meanwhile and most appropriately, sing, "Peace in heaven." It was not a question of peace on earth now. The reason was manifest: the earth was unready, was about to judge unjustly, and to be judged. Jesus was on the very point of being cast out and cut off. He was really in heart thoroughly rejected already; but He was shortly to enter on other sufferings, even to the death of the cross. The effect, then, of that which was imminent was not peace for the earth yet, but peace in heaven most assuredly; and therefore we can comprehend how the Lord guided by His Spirit the song of the disciples at the close just as much as at the beginning; that of the angels expressed the general idea of God's purposes the moral effects to spring from the death of the incarnate Son.

After this we hear the murmuring Pharisees rebuked, who would have had the disciples rebuked for their song: if they had not sung it, the stones must have cried out; and the Lord vindicates the blameless (Ver. Luke 19:39-40.)

Then follows that most touching scene, peculiar to and characteristic of Luke Jesus weeping over Jerusalem. It was not at the grave of the one He loved, though about to call from the grave. The weeping in John is in the presence of death, which had touched Lazarus. It is therefore infinitely more personal, though it be also the wondrous sight of One who, coming, with the consciousness of divine power to banish death and bring life into the scene, yet in grace nevertheless did not one whit the less, but the more, feel the power of death as no mere man ever felt, yet as none but a real man could feel. There never was any one that had such a sense of death before as Jesus, just because He was life, the energy of which, combined with perfect; love, made the power of death to be so sensible. Death does not feel death, but life did. Therefore He that was (and not merely had) life, as no one else, weeps in the presence of death, groaning, in spirit at the grave. His having power to banish death weakened His sense of it in no respect. If poor dying man felt it somewhat, the Lord made flesh, the God-man, entered into it in spirit the more because He was God, though man. But here we have another scene, His weeping over that very city that was about to cast Him out and crucify Him. Oh it is a truth for us to treasure in our hearts His weeping in divine grace over guilty Jerusalem, forsaking its own mercies, rejecting its own Saviour the Lord God. Its desolation He predicts, and destruction, because the time of its visitation was unknown. (Verses Luke 19:41-44.) His visit to the temple and its cleansing are mentioned summarily; as also His teaching there daily the chiefs of priest and people, With their desire to destroy Him but hardly knowing how, for all the people hung on Him to hear. In Luke 20:1-47 we have the various classes of religionists and worldly men trooping one after another, hoping somehow to ensnare or accuse the Lord of glory. Each of them falls into the trap which they had made for Him. Accordingly they do but discover and condemn themselves. We have the priests with their question of authority (ver. Luke 20:1-8), then the people hearing the history of God's dealings with them, and their moral condition fully brought out. (Verses Luke 20:9-19.) We have further the crafty spies, hired by the chief priests and scribes, that feigned themselves just, and thought to take hold of His words, and embroil Him with the earthly powers. (Verses Luke 20:20-26.)

We have, after these, the Sadducees denying the resurrection. (Verses Luke 20:27-38.) But here we may pause for a moment; for there are special and profoundly instructive touches peculiar to Luke. More particularly remark this that he alone, of all the evangelists, here characterizes men, in the activities of this life, as "the children of this world," or age. They are persons who live merely for the present. "The children of this world [age] marry, and are given in marriage; but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world [age], and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage, neither can they die any more; for they are equal unto the angels." In the resurrection state there will be no such relations. The difficulty existed for, or rather was made by, unbelief only. Indeed, what else can incredulity ever pretend to? It imagines difficulties, and nowhere so much as in the most certain truth of God. The resurrection is the great truth to which all things turn which the Lord has shown in its final form, too, in His own person now raised from the dead, then just about to follow. This truth was combated and refused by the most active sect among the Jews at that time, the most intellectual and the best informed naturally. These were the persons who most of all set themselves against it.

But our Lord brings in another remarkable point here. Not only is God not the God of the dead, but of the living; but "all live unto him." (Ver. Luke 20:38; Luke 20:38.) Two great truths are here present living unto God after death, and future resurrection, when Jesus comes and brings in the new age. This was especially of value for Gentiles, because it was one of the great problems for the heathen mind, whether the soul existed after death, not to speak of the resurrection of the body. Naturally the Jews, save the unbelieving portion of them, looked for resurrection; but for the Gentiles the Spirit of God gives us our Lord's answer to the Sadducees, both proving the resurrection which is common to all the Gospels, and bringing in the living, of dead men in the separate state. It peculiarly fell within the domain of Luke.

This truth is not confined to the present portion of our Gospel. We have similar teaching elsewhere. Does not the account of the rich man and Lazarus intimate the same thing? Yea, more; not only the existence of the soul separate from the body, after death, of course) but also blessedness and misery at once. They are not absolutely dependent on the resurrection. Besides, there is the final publicly adjudicated portion of misery for body and soul before the great white throne. But, inLuke 16:1-31; Luke 16:1-31, blessedness and misery at once are felt by the soul in the dissolution of the link with the body. The figures, no doubt, are taken, as they must be, from the body. Thus we find the desire for cooling of the tongue, which men of speculative mind use to prove that it was the time of being clothed with a real body. Nothing of the sort. The Spirit of God speaks to be understood, and (if He is to be understood by men) He must deign to use language adapted to our comprehension. He cannot give us the understanding of a state which we have never experienced, unless it be by figures taken from the present state. A similar truth appears also later on in the case of the converted thief. The point there is just the same immediate blessedness, and not merely when the body is raised from the dead by and by. That is what he looked for when he sought to be remembered, when Jesus comes in His kingdom. But the Lord adds more immediate blessedness now: "This day shalt thou be with me in paradise." Depend upon it, we cannot be too stringent in maintaining, the importance both of the resurrection, and of the immediate blessedness or misery of the soul separate from the body before the resurrection. To give up the reality of the soul's existence in either misery or blessedness at once is only a stepping-stone to materialism; and materialism is but a prelude to giving up both the truth and the grace of God, and all the awful reality of man's sin and Satan's power. Materialism always is essentially infidel, though far from being, the only form of infidelity.

Towards the end of the chapter (ver. Luke 20:39-44; Luke 20:39-44) our Lord puts the great question of His own person and the position He was just going to take not on the throne of David but on the throne of God. Was not He Himself, David's Son owned as his Lord by David? On the person and position of Christ depends the whole of Christianity. Judaism, lowering the person, sees not or denies the position. Christianity is based not on the work only but on the glory of the person and place of Him who is glorified in God. He takes that place as man. He who humbled Himself as man in suffering is exalted as man to the glory of God on high.

Then follows the judgment but very briefly on the scribes; and in contrast With their selfish hypocrisy, ("which devour widows' houses and for a show make long prayers") the Lord's estimate of real devotedness is the widow's mites. (Luke 21:1-4.) Mark notices it as the service of faith and so brings it into his Gospel of service. Luke shows it as a question of the heart's state and trust in God. It fell therefore, within the domain of these two.

We have after this the hearts of the disciples proved to be still earthly and Jewish; but the Lord brings before them not the glory and beauty yet in store for Jerusalem but it is judgment specially on the temple. (Verses Luke 21:5-36.) At the same time we have particulars which demonstrate the weighty difference between this description of the judgment of the Jews and Jerusalem, and mark it off from the accounts of either Matthew or Mark. Observe more especially this, that here the Lord Jesus brings before us a very direct and immediate picture of the destruction of Jerusalem that was then imminent. Matthew passes by the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, and fixes attention upon that which will take place in the end of the age. Luke gives us this last also closes, at any rate, with the future crisis; but the main point is the central portion of Luke is to point out the destruction then actually at hand as a distinct state of things and time from the circumstances of the Son of man's day. This is made perfectly plain to any one who considers it patiently. He says, "When ye shall sec Jerusalem, not "the abomination of desolation" (not a word about it here for it belongs to the last days exclusively; but "when ye shall see Jerusalem) compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains." Not a word about the great tribulation such as never was since time was; it is simply "days of vengeance." "These be the days of vengeance that all things which are written may be fulfilled." There is retributive severity, but not a sign appears of its being anything unparalleled. "There shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people." So there was. "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations." This is a matter of fact description of what was really fulfilled to the letter in the capture of Jerusalem by the Romans under Titus. Thus there is no exaggerated description. The pretence of commentators, who rush to hyperbole as a cover for their misapplication, is cut off. Not that I allow it any more in Matthew. The only reason why men have so spoken of that evangelist is because they turn aside his prophecy of the end of the age to that which has been already accomplished. When the last days come, be assured they will learn too late that there is no hyperbole with God or His word.

And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." Not only is there the sack of the city, the slaughter and captivity of the people, but continual occupation by their enemies till the termination of the period God allows the nations to have the supremacy over Israel. These times are going on now. Jerusalem has been trodden down of the Gentiles for many centuries as every one knows, throughout mediaeval and modern history. It seems particularly thus expressed in order not to continue the phrase to the Romans or previous imperial powers from Babylon downwards. Thus at the present time the Turks are the actual holders of it. The fact is notorious, that Jerusalem has been in the hands of many masters who have dealt hardly with the Jews. So He closes this matter.

Next, He introduces the last days. And there shall be signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars. There was not a word of all this when He spoke of the siege and capture of the city under Titus. After the Gentile domination is over (which clearly it is not yet), there shall be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and distress of nations; men's hearts failing them forfear; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken and then shall they see not when the Romans of old took the city but, in the future crisis, when these astonishing tokens, heavenly and earthly, are given by God then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

He gives then a parable but not of the fig tree only: this would not be suitable to the largeness of Luke's scope. "Behold the fig-tree and all the trees." The difference between Luke and the others is this not that you have not the Jewish portion in his Gospel but that, moreover all the Gentiles are brought in. How perfect it all is! If it be but a parabolic description, the evangelist for the Gentiles not only gives the fig tree which is in Matthew, but the Gentile trees which are heard of nowhere else. That one tree notoriously applies to the Jews as a nation; the other figure ("all the trees") adds the rest, so as to be universal.

Then the Lord adds some moral considerations for the heart: "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth." Need it be remarked here that this again falls in with our evangelist beyond all others? So too the brief picture of His daily occupation in the temple and of His nights apart at Olivet which in no way precluded the people from coming to hear early in the morning. What unwearied travail of love!

In Luke 22:1-71 we see our Lord with the disciples not now as a prophet, but about to become a sacrifice meanwhile giving them the sweetest pledge of His love. On the other hand, there is the hatred of man, the weakness of the disciples, the falsehood of Peter, the treachery of Judas, the subtlety and terrors of the enemy who had the power of death. The day of unleavened bread comes on, and the passover must be killed; and Peter and John go to prepare it. According to the Lord's word, the place was given. "And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: for I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God." (Luke 22:14-16.) It was the last act of communion of Christ with them. He eats with them: He will not drink. Another cup was before Him. As for this cup, they were to take it, and divide it among themselves. It was not the Lord's Supper, but the paschal cup. He was about to drink of a far different cup, which His Father would give Him the anti-type of the passover, and the basis of the Lord's Supper. But as to the cup before them, He says, "I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come." It was about to come morally; for Luke holds to that great principle the kingdom of God was about to be established in what you may call the Christian system. The phrase in Luke does not import some future dispensation or state of things about to be above or below, in visible power, but an imminent coming of God's kingdom, really and truly here. The other Gospels connect it with the future; Luke speaks of what was to be made good shortly "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."

Meanwhile, He gives them also a new thing. (Luke 22:19-20.) He took bread with thanksgiving, brake it, and gave to them, saving, "This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant* of my blood, which is shed for you." It was not the point with Luke to say "for many," while this was most appropriate in the Gospel of Matthew, because it intimates the extending of the efficacy of Christ's blood beyond the Jew. The old covenant which condemned was limited. The new covenant (or, rather, the blood of the rejected Christ, the Son of man, on which it was based) refused such narrow barriers. In Luke the same thing, occurs here, as we said applied to His account of the sermon on the mount. It is more personal, and hence deals more closely with the heart and conscience. How many a man acknowledges justification by faith in a general sense, who, the moment you make it personal, would shrink from taking the place of a justified man, as if this would be too much for God to give him! But, in truth it is impossible to go on with God aright, until the personal question is settled by divine grace. So the Lord here settles it for them personally. "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you."

* "Testament" is wrong here, and, indeed, everywhere else in the New Testament, save in the parenthesis ofHebrews 9:16-17; Hebrews 9:16-17.

"And truly the Son of man goeth,......... but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!" An awful moral contrast rises before the spirit of the Saviour. Thus He felt it: as it is said elsewhere, "He was troubled." There is much vagueness in minds as to this merging all in the atonement, to the great detriment of their distinctness even in holding the atonement itself. To me it is a grievous thing, this denial practically of a large part of the sufferings of Christ. Pushed out, it rests on a want of faith in the real humanity of the Lord. I take for granted now that there is a firm hold of His bearing God's wrath on the cross. But even where that is maintained in a general way, at least, it is an awful thing to deny any part of His moral glory; and what is it but denying, this, to shut out those real sufferings which prove the extent and character of His humiliation, exalt and endear Himself in our eyes, and issue in the richest streams of comfort for His saints, who can afford to lose none of His sympathy?

Now, the Lord Jesus did feel the traitor's heartless ways (and we may learn it yet more from Psalms 109:1-31.) Surely also we ought to feel it, instead of merely treating it as a thing, that must be, and which Scripture prepares us for, or which God's goodness turns to gracious ends. All true enough; but are these the platitudes that content us before His troubled spirit? Or is not the sense of His sorrow to fill the heart in presence of this ineffable love, which endured all things for the elect's sake? Yea, it was from all: our Lord has to meet shame in those He loved best. "They began to enquire among themselves which of them it was that should do this thing." (Ver. Luke 22:23; Luke 22:23.) There was honesty in these hearts; but what ignorance! what unbrokenness of self! "There was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted greatest." Other evangelists, as well as Luke, mention that, when He was in the midst of His miracles and teaching, they were full of their unseemly rivalry; Luke mentions it where it was beyond comparison most painful and humiliating in presence of the communion of His body and His blood, and when they had just heard of the presence of the traitor in their midst, who was offering to sell their Master for thirty pieces of silver! "And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth." What grace! what a pattern! But forget not the warning. The patronizing, of the lordly benefactor has no place in Christ's mind for His followers. To serve was the Lord's place: may we prize it! (Verses Luke 22:24-27.)

Another touching, and beautiful trait in our Lord's dealing is here worthy of remark. He tells the disciples that it was they who had continued with Him in His temptations. In Matthew and Mark, and even in John, their forsaking of Christ is very conspicuous a little later. Luke alone tells how graciously He noticed their perseverance with Himself in His temptations. Both, of course, were perfectly true. In Luke it was the reckoning of grace. It was really the Lord who had deigned to continue with them, and had sustained their faltering steps; but He could say, "Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." It is always thus in grace. Matthew and Mark tell us the sad truth that, when He needed the disciples most, they all forsook Him and fled. His rejection was complete; and Old Testament Scripture was amply fulfilled. But, in view of the Gentile calling, New Testament grace has here a happier task.

Again, it is a scene peculiar to Luke, that, in the presence of the Saviour's death, Satan sifts one of the chief followers that belonged to the Saviour. But the Lord turns the sifting, and even the downfall of the saint to ultimate and great blessing not for that soul only but for others. How mighty, and wise, and good the ways of grace! not only its reckoning, but its experiences and its end! It was Simon that furnished the material. "Simon, Simon," says the Lord, "Satan hath desired [demanded] to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Simon, sadly ignorant of himself, is full of bold promises to go to prison or to death; but, says the Lord, "Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me." All the evangelists record the fall; Luke alone records Christ's gracious prayer for, and purpose in, his restoration.

Then comes in another communication of our Saviour not more interesting than full of instruction. It is the contrast of the condition of the disciples during His ministry, and that which must be now that He was going to die. It was indeed concurrent with a change of vast import for Himself not awaiting His death, but in many respects beginning before it. The sense of His rejection and His approaching death not only pressed on the Saviour's spirit, but more or less also affects the disciples, who were under the pressure especially of what was done by men. "When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing. Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors [or], [rather, lawlessness ἀνόμων ]: for the things concerning me have an end. And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough." It is not surprising that the disciples at that time failed to seize His meaning. Though all the rest of His teaching might have taught them better, they took His words in a material sense, and conceived that He urged them to take a literal sword. It is evident He took up the figure of a sword and purse to show, that instead of counting any more on miraculous resources, they must in future use, according to the measure of their personal faith, whatever God furnished them with; that is, they must employ natural things for the Lord, instead of being, as hitherto, shielded by supernatural power in the midst of their foes. We find them afterwards using miracles; but it was for others. In their earlier mission it was never needed. No blow fell upon them. No prison closed its doors upon one of the twelve, or of the seventy. They traversed the length and breadth of the land, everywhere bearing their plain, solemn testimony, ever guarded by God's power: just like their Master Himself. We see how truly miraculous this power was apart from any exertion of it on their own behalf. But now all was to change; and the disciple must be as his Master. Jesus was going to suffer. They must make up their minds to the same thing. Of course, they are not excluded from but exhorted to, the looking up to God, and using faithfully whatever means the Lord gave them.

This, I apprehend, is the clear meaning of His altered language here. The Messiah was about to be openly cut off. The arm that had upheld them, and the shield that had been over them, are removed. So it was with Him. He was now about to face death; first in spirit, then in fact. Such was ever His way. Everything was in that order. He was surprised by nothing. He was not like a mere man who waited till he could not help following, and then went in steel through the trouble. This may be the way of men, to avoid what they can, and think as little as possible of what is painful and disagreeable. It may even be according to men's ideas of a hero, but it is not the truth of Christ. On the contrary, though the true God, He was a true man, and a holy sufferer, having a heart that felt every thing: this is the truth of Christ as man. Therefore He takes all from God, and feels all, as it really was for His glory.

Accordingly our Saviour, at the mount of Olives, (ver. Luke 22:39-46; Luke 22:39-46) shows how true what I have just asserted is; for there it is that He is found first of all telling them to pray, lest they should enter into temptation. Temptation may come and test the heart; but our entering into it is quite another thing. "Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." Still farther to show its character, and His unimpeachable relation to God, as well as how really He was a suffering man, "there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." So difficult is the path of faith for men in one direction or another, that (in earlier days when, in the midst of adversaries and full of superstition, men yet clung to the stainless honour of the Son of God)the timid orthodox ventured on the bold step of expunging verses Luke 22:44-45; for what, after all, is so adventurous as this Uzzah-like anxiety for the ark of God? They thought it impossible that the Lord Jesus could suffer thus. Little did they estimate the depth unfathomable of the cross, when God hid His face from Him. Had they discerned this better, and been simple in the faith of His real manhood, and held to the written word about His sufferings on and before the cross, they had not been so easily stumbled. But they were not simple, understood in the Scriptures, and accordingly dared, some to stigmatize these verses, others to strike them out. In modern days they manage things both more prudently and more effectually. They may not obelize or obliterate; but they do not believe them. Men pass them over as if there was nothing for the soul in them, as if the Saviour Son of God condescended to a show, a pantomime, instead of enduring the severest conflict and anguish that ever had been the portion of a human heart on this earth. Never was any thing but reality in Jesus; but if in the days of His flesh there was one passage more affecting than another, any thing which more than another presents to us His sorrows clearly, graphically and with solemn instruction for us, anything for God Himself above all glorifying (the cross alone excepted) it was this very scene where Jesus avoids and wards off no suffering, but bends to every stroke, (and what was He spared?) seeing God's hand in all.

Now their hour was come, and the power of darkness. Before this they could not lay hands upon Him; but now, the active work done, and Himself definitively refused, Jesus accepts all humiliation, shame, and suffering. But he does not see man merely. He does not look at the devil, or Jews, or Gentiles. He feels all man did and said, and owns His Father. He knew full well that His Father could have hindered every pang had He been so pleased could have turned Israel's heart could have broken the nations. But now the Jew is left to abhor Him, the Gentile to despise and crucify Him. Against the holy servant Jesus whom God had anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathering together; but was it not to do whatsoever God's hand and God's counsel determined before to be done? He saw God His Father above and behind all the secondary instruments, and bowed and blessed, even while He prayed with blood-sweat. He would erect no barricade of miracles to shelter Himself. To weigh before God such circumstances as then surrounded Jesus, to anticipate in His presence what was coming, did not lessen, but rather increased the depth of all; and so we find Him praying earnestly to His Father that, if it were possible, the cup should pass away from Him. But it was not possible; and so He adds, "Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." Both were perfect. It would have been hardness, not love, had the cup been treated as a light thing: but this could never be with Jesus. It was part of the very perfection of Jesus that he felt and deprecated the awful cup. For what was in that cup? The wrath of God. How could He wish for the wrath of God? It was right to deprecate it: it was like Jesus, notwithstanding, to say, "Thy will be done." Both the deprecation and the acceptance were thoroughly perfect both equally in their due place and season. Who fails to see it, or would harbour a doubt, that knows who Jesus was, and what the glory of His person? It is not a question, however, of His merely being God; and you destroy the value of the suffering if you do not give full place to His humanity. Not that His Godhead ever made His suffering less; else the result would have been some nondescript estate which was neither Godhead nor manhood, but somewhat made up of both. It was an early error to suppose an impassible Christ. There is no worse invention against the truth, unless it be the lie which denies Him to be God the Son. An unsuffering impassible Christ is of Satan, not the true God and eternal life. It is a false chimera of the enemy. Be assured, that if the suffering be so real and precious to God, it is a dangerous thing to pare down, fritter away, or deny any part of it. For us it is the question of what God tells us in His word of the sufferings of Christ not whether we understand all He says about them. Be assured that we know but in part, and have much to learn, especially of that which does not touch our own immediate necessities; but there is one thing we are always responsible for and that is, to submit to God, to believe Him, even though we enter very little into the depths of all that He has written for us of Jesus.

Only this I would add. It does not become such as say they do not understand this or that, to take the place of being judges. It is intelligible that those who know should judge; not so, as it appears to me, that people should take the place of judging who confessedly do not know. It were wise, not to say becoming humility, to wait and learn.

Next we see Judas, who approaches and kisses Christ: the Lord of glory is betrayed by the apostle. The final scene comes on apace; and not more surely, according to the word of Christ, the murderous malice of the priests, than the energy of Peter, so fatal, to himself, who could not face the difficulty into which his self-confidence carried him. He that could not pray with his Master, but slept in the garden, breaks down without his Master before a servant girl. The rest fled. John tells the tale of his own shame, with Peter's. The scene is complete. There is not a witness for Jesus now. He is alone. Man has it apparently all his own way, in mockery, blows, and blasphemy; but yet he is only accomplishing the will, the purpose, and the grace of God. (Ver. Luke 22:63-65.) The chapter closes with Jesus before the council of elders, chief priests, and scribes. "Art thou the Christ?" was too late now: they had proved that they would not believe. From henceforth [not] ["hereafter,'' as in the A.V.] shall the Son of man be sitting on the right hand of the power of God. It is the well-known transition, we see everywhere, on the rejection of the Messiah. "Art thou then the Son of God?" said they all. He owns to the truth; and they need no more to condemn Him.

In Luke 23:1-56 Jesus is found not before Pilate only, but Herod; and the two men who heretofore hated each other are here reconciled, now that it is a question of rejecting Jesus. It is only Luke who gives us this touch. What a league of peace over the rejection of the Saviour! At any rate the scorning of Jesus proceeds; and Pilate, carried away against his conscience by the will of the people, gave sentence that it should be as they required. Jesus is led away to the cross, and Simon is compelled to bear it after Jesus; for now man shows his needless cruelty in every form

The women that were there lament with the crowd after Jesus: there was much of human feeling in this, though not faith or real love. Why not lament for themselves; for in truth there were days of sorrow coming, when they should say, "Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare; and the paps that never gave suck." "Then they shall begin to say to the mountains fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?" Jesus was the green tree; and if Jesus was so treated, what should be their fate, as set forth fully by that dry tree, which was Israel? Undoubtedly Israel ought to have been the green tree of promise; but it was only a dry tree waiting, for judgment. But Jesus, the green tree(where there was all the vigour of holy ways and obedience), was far from honour, and now on His way to the cross. Such was man, to whom He had been delivered! What would be God's judgment of man? (VersesLuke 23:27-31; Luke 23:27-31.)

And they crucified Jesus between two malefactors the one on the right hand, and the other on the left and Jesus says, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." They part His raiment, and cast lots for it. The people behold, the rulers deride, and the soldiers mock; but a superscription was written over Him in Greek, and Roman, and Hebrew letters This is the King of the Jews. (VersesLuke 23:32-38; Luke 23:32-38.)

Jesus works the great work of salvation in the heart of one of the malefactors. It was a real work within: it was not merely a work ever so perfectly done outside. Most assuredly there never was a soul saved but the work was done for him done alone by Jesus He alone suffering, the sinner saved. But where the heart knows the work done for the soul, there is a work done in that very soul. So it was here: and it is of great importance that those who maintain the work for, should equally maintain the work in. Even in this case, where the effect was produced rapidly, the Spirit of God has given us the great moral traits of it. First of all appears a hatred of sin in the fear of God; then the repentant heart rebukes the shameless evil of his fellow, who feels that it is, least of all, a time thus to sin boldly in the presence of death, and of God's judgment. "We indeed justly; but this man hath done nothing amiss." Evidently there was more than righteousness here. There was a sense of grace, as well as of sin, and sensitiveness about God's will. There was delight in "this man," Jesus, whose holiness made such an impression, that the poor felon, now a believer, could challenge all the world, and feel no more doubt of the Lord's blameless life than if he had witnessed it all through. How great is the simplicity and assurance of faith! Who was he that could correct the judgment of priests or governor? "This man hath done nothing amiss." It was a crucified robber! He forgot Himself in Christ the Lord thus vindicated. Then he turns to Jesus, and says, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." Yes! and Jesus will remember could not put Him aside. He never cast out either a soul that came to Him, or a prayer that was founded on His glory, and desired association with Him. It could not be. He came down to associate with the poorest and feeblest on earth. He is now gone on high to associate with Himself there those who were once, possibly, the worst on the earth, now with Himself above, cleansed of course (need we say it?) cleansed by water and blood. And so with this soul whom grace had now touched. "Lord, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom." What more convincing proof that the man had not an anxiety about his sins? for if he had, he would, of course, have put it forward. He would have said, "Lord, do not remember my sins." Nothing of the sort was uttered, but "Lord, remember me." What would Christ's kingdom be to him, if his sins were not blotted out? He so counted on His grace, that no doubt or question remained, and he asks to be remembered by Jesus at His advent, ascribing the kingdom to Him who was hanging on the cross. He was right; and Jesus replies with ineffable grace, and according to that style so worthy of God (compare Psalms 132:1-18), which not only answers the prayer of faith, but invariably surpasses it. God must be God in His recognition of faith, as everywhere else. We saw on the mount of transfiguration that there is a blessedness beyond that of the kingdom, where government is not in question. This is not the theme predicted by prophets, but a glory which the person of Jesus alone can account for, and His grace alone introduce to. So here Jesus says to the converted robber, "This day shalt thou be with me in paradise" at once, by virtue of His blood, the companion of Christ in the garden of divine joy and delight. (Verses Luke 23:39-43.)

Then the Spirit of God notices the darkness which reigned, and not merely in the lower air around the earth; for the sun was darkened, the splendid orb of natural light, which rules the day. The veil of the temple, too, which characterized the whole system of the Jewish religion, was rent from top to bottom. This was not the effect of an earthquake, nor of other physical causes. The natural light disappeared, and Judaism vanished, that a new and true light might shine, making him who saw it free of the holiest of all. Luke groups the external facts together, and leaves the Lord's death more alone with its moral adjuncts.

"And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost." Here there is no cry to God in the sense of being forsaken, when His soul was made an offering for sin. This was given appropriately by Matthew and Mark. Nor is it as the consciously divine person, the Son, pronouncing the work finished for which He had come. It is the ever perfect man, Christ Jesus, with unwavering confidence committing His spirit into His Father's keeping. (Compare Psalms 16:1-11; Psalms 31:1-24) It was the atoning One. On the cross, and nowhere else, was expiation effected; there was His blood shed; there His death, who thought it not robbery to be equal with God, yet knew what it was to have the face of God hid from Him in judgment of sin our sin. But the words here are no expression of His suffering, as thus abandoned and atoning, but of the peaceful departure of His spirit, as man, into the hands of God the Father. He is drinking the cup in Matthew and Mark; He, the true, but rejected Messiah, the faithful servant, now suffering for sin, who had laboured in grace here below. But here the Saviour is viewed in His absolute dependence and trust in Him, whom He had set before Him, as in life always, so with equal affiance of heart in death. It was the province of John to show Him even then above all circumstances in personal glory. It is beyond all controversy, that here the human side of Christ's death is more vividly portrayed than in any of the Gospels perfect, but human; just as in John it is the divine side, though care is taken to prove particularly there its reality, as well as the witness of its efficacy for sinful man. The consistency of this with all we have seen in Luke, from first to last, is unquestionable: Son of God of the Highest, as of David also; but He is emphatically, and in every detail, the Son of man.

Remark here the absence of a crowd of circumstances of the deepest interest to the Jew, when grace makes him meek, and obedient in heart of solemn warning to him, whatever the unbelief which shuts up his heart and seals his ears, to the truth Here is no dream and message from Pilate's wife; here no awful episode of Judas . In remorse and despair, casting the price of innocent blood into the very sanctuary, and going away to hang himself; here no imprecation of His blood on them and on their children; here no detail of the guilty people's unconscious accomplishment of the living oracles of God in the Psalms and Prophets; nor here any allusion to the earthquake, and the rent rocks, and opened graves, or the subsequent appearing of risen saints to many in the holy city. All this has its due place in the Gospel for the circumcision. Luke tells us what had the largest bearing on the Gentiles, on the heart, its wants, and its affections. We see the people beholding, the rulers also with them sneering, the soldiers mocking with vulgar brutality, but Jesus dealing in ineffable grace with a justly crucified malefactor. No doubt there was the deepest of suffering for Himself. Certainly, too, His suffering, though not confined to the cross, there culminated, as there alone was sin judged; there God's necessary intolerance of it was proved, when only, but most really, imputed to Christ. Thus, the only perfect man, the last Adam, who was there rejected of the Jews, and despised of men, with a loud voice, which denied the exhaustion of nature in His death, commended His spirit, as man, to His Father. It is not here, therefore, One speaking in the sense of God's abandonment (as we saw in Matthew and Mark), though this cup He had, indeed, drank to the dregs. But in this Gospel the last words are of One who, whatever the forsaking of God for sin, was perfectly tranquil, and peacefully committed Himself to His Father. It is the act and language of Him whose confidence was unlimited in the One He was going to. He had come to do His will, and had done it in the face of growing scorn and rejection; and God had not guarded Him from the murderous hate of man, but contrariwise, delivered Him into their hands, greater things being in counsel and accomplishment than if He had been received. The truth is the sum of what all tell us. Those who believe God, instead of being fettered to the traditions of a school, good or bad, must open their mouth wide for Him to fill with His good things old and new. He who on the cross tasted, for expiation, the unutterable woe of which Matthew and Mark speak, is the same Jesus who, Luke tells us, never wavered for a moment, not merely in His obedience, but in unreserved confidence in God; and the expression of this, not of atonement, I read in the precious words, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." (VersesLuke 23:44-46; Luke 23:44-46.)

Accordingly, the centurion is mentioned here as owning Jesus to be "a righteous man," whatever man might have judged or done. The people seem conscious that it was all over with them stricken in heart over a deed they could not but feel to be dreadful, though hardly defined. God does not leave man without witness. But, as usual, with men without the revealed light of God, though conscious when sin is done that there is something utterly wrong it is soon forgotten; so here, though not without the sense that the case was desperate, they go not only as sheep without a shepherd, but stumble in the dark night. All His acquaintances and the women are seen in their sorrow not vain surely not; but still they stood far off: (VersesLuke 23:46-49; Luke 23:46-49.)

Yet was this the moment when, spite of a traitorous disciple, spite of another too confident that denied Him with oaths, spite of all who ought to have been faithful forsaking and fleeing, spite of the distant and saddened lookers on who had once followed Him devotedly, God emboldens a man of high station, who might have been then the least expected by us (and, as we are told elsewhere, Nicodemus). Joseph of Arimathea was a man that had waited for the kingdom of God for some time, a good man and just, and a real believer, though he had shrunk from open confession of the Lord Jesus; but now, when fear might naturally have more than ever operated to keep him back, grace made him bold. This, at least, was quite right, and like the God of all grace. If the death of our Lord does not unlock a man's heart and tongue, I do not know what will. So this timid Joseph waxes valiant in fight. The honourable counsellor renounced the expediency and prudence of the past, horrified, no doubt, at their counsel and deed to which he had not assented. But now he does more: he add to his faith virtue. He goes boldly to Pilate, and begs the body of Jesus, Which, being obtained, is worthily laid in the rock-hewn sepulchre, wherein never had man beenlaid. (Verse Luke 23:53.)

"And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.'' (Ver. Luke 23:54-56.) It was affection, but with little intelligence. Their love lingered. over the scene of His death and burial, without for the present in the least realizing, that life which was to be put forth soon so gloriously. Had they not heard His words? Would He, would God, not make them good?

On the morrow of the sabbath, very early indeed in the morning, these Galilean women were there, and some others with them. (Luke 24:1) And they found the stone rolled away, but not the body of Jesus. They were not alone; angels appeared. Two men in shining array stood by these perplexed saints. "And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, [what a rebuke to their unbelief!] Why seek ye the living (One) among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you while he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words." (Ver. Luke 24:5-8; Luke 24:5-8.) This last is ever a great point with Luke the emphatic value always of any part of God's word, but especially of the words of Jesus.

Accordingly, after this was duly reported to the apostles and the rest, one like another incredulous, we have the visit of Peter (accompanied, as John lets us know, by himself), who sees confirmation enough, and departed, wondering, in himself at that which was come to pass. (Verses Luke 24:9-12.)

Luke then ushers in another scene, still more precious, peculiar in its details at least to himself the journey to Emmaus, where Jesus joins Himself to the two downcast disciples, who discoursed, as they went, on the irreparable loss they had sustained. Jesus hears this tale of sorrow from their lips, brings out the state of their hearts, and then opens the Scriptures, instead of merely appealing to the facts in the way of evidence. This employment of the Scriptures by our Lord is very significant. It is the word of God which is the truest, deepest, weightiest testimony, even though the risen Jesus Himself were there, and its living, demonstration in person. But it is the written word which, as the apostle himself shows, is the sole adequate safeguard for the perilous times of the last days. Here, too, the loved companion of Paul proves, in the history of the resurrection, the value of the Scriptures. The word of God here the Old Testament interpreted by Jesus is the most valuable means for ascertaining the mind of God. Every Scripture is inspired of God, and is profitable yea, able to make us "wise unto salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus." Hence our Lord expounds to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. What a sample that day was of the walk of faith! Henceforth it was not a question of a living, Messiah on the earth, but of Him that was dead and risen, now seen by faith in the word of God. On the face of the account, this was the great living lesson that our Lord was teaching, us through the two disciples. (Verses Luke 24:13-29.)

But there was more. How is He to be known? There is but one way that can be trusted in which we can know Jesus. There are those in Christendom that descant upon Jesus as ignorant of His glory as a Jew or a Mahometan. Our own day has seen how men can speak and write eloquently of Jesus as a man here below, all the while serving Satan denying His name, His person, His work, when they flatter themselves they are honouring Him, like the weeping women (Luke 23:27), without a grain of faith in His glory or His grace. Hence was it of all importance that we should learn wherein He is to be known. Thus Jesus sets forth the Only way in which He can be rightly known, or that can be confided in. On this alone God can put His seal. The seal of the Holy Ghost is unknown until there is the submission of faith to the death of Jesus. And so our Lord breaks bread with the disciples. It was not the Lord's Supper; but Jesus made use of that act of breaking the bread significantly, which the Lord's Supper brings before us continually. In it, as we know, bread is broken the sign of His death. Thus Jesus was pleased, Himself with them, that the truth of His death should flash upon the two souls at Emmaus. He was made known unto them in the breaking of bread in that most simple but striking action which symbolises His death. He had blessed, broken, and was giving the bread to them, when their eyes were opened, and they recognised their risen Lord. (VerseLuke 24:30; Luke 24:30.)

There is a third supplemental point, which I only touch on His instant disappearance after He was made known to them in the sign of His death. This is also characteristic of Christians. We walk by faith, not by sight. (VerseLuke 24:31; Luke 24:31.)

Thus the great evangelist, who exhibits what is most real for man's heart now, and what most of all maintains the glory of God in Christ, binds these things together for our instruction. Though Scripture was perfectly expounded by Jesus, and though hearts burned as they heard of these wondrous things, still it must be shown in concentrated form that the knowledge which alone can be commended by God or trusted by man is this Jesus known in that which brings His death before the soul. The death of Jesus is the sole foundation of safety for a sinful man. This is the true way of knowing Jesus for a Christian. Anything short of this, anything other than this, whatever supplants it as fundamental truth, is false. Jesus is dead and risen, and so must be known, if He is to be known aright. "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more."

And so, that same hour, we see the disciples returning to Jerusalem, and finding the eleven there, who say, "The Lord hath risen, and appeared unto Simon." (Verses Luke 24:32-34.) Here we have nothing about Galilee. In Matthew, Galilee is the quarter especially noticed. A rejected Messiah, fitly and according to prophecy, finds Himself in Galilee, the despised place. It was so during His life and public ministry (and hence it figures in Mark so prominently). He takes the same place now after His death and resurrection, there resuming relations with His disciples. The godly remnant of the Jews must know the rejected Messiah there. His resurrection did not terminate their path of rejection. The Church knows Him yet more blessedly as ascended, and itself one with Him on high; and its rejection is even more decided. However, in Matthew, Galilee is the sign for a converted Jewish remnant till He come to reign in power and glory. The remnant of the last days will know what it is to be cast outside Jerusalem also, and it is as outcasts that they will find real deepening of faith and due preparation of heart for receiving the Lord when he appears in the clouds of heaven. This Galilean resort Luke does not give here. Substantially Mark gives Galilee for the active life of the Saviour like Matthew, because, as has been said, there His ministry was chiefly exercised, and only occasionally in Jerusalem or elsewhere. Therefore the evangelist of the ministry of Jesus draws attention to the place in which He had ministered most Galilee; but even he does not speak of it exclusively. Luke, on the contrary, says nothing of Galilee at this point. The reason seems to me manifest. His theme is the moral state of the disciples, the way of Christ's grace, the Christian path of faith, the place of the word of God, and the person of Christ, only known safely, according to God, in that which sets forth His death. This at least must he the basis.

There is another truth necessary to be known and proved, His real resurrection, who stood in the midst of them with a "Peace to you;" not without His death, but founded on it, and thus declared. So, in the next scene at Jerusalem, this finds its full display; for the Lord Jesus comes into their midst, and partakes of food before their eyes. There was His body; it was risen. Who could longer doubt that it was really the same Jesus who died, and will yet come in glory? "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself!" As we know, the Lord deigns to go yet farther in John; but there it was to convict Thomas's unbelief, as well as with a mysterious typical meaning behind. He would correct the previously absent and still doubting disciple; it is the sight that is the point there. This is not the question here, but rather the reality of the resurrection, and the identity of Jesus risen with Him they had known as their Master, and withal as still man, not a spirit, but having flesh and bones, and capable of eating with them. (VersesLuke 24:36-43; Luke 24:36-43.)

After this our Lord speaks once more of what was written in Moses and prophets and psalms concerning Him. (Ver. Luke 24:44.) It is the word of God again brought out; not merely to two of them, but its unspeakable value for them all.

Further, He opens their understanding to understand the Scriptures, and gives them their great commission, but bids them remain in Jerusalem till endued with power from on high, when He sends them the promise of the Father. (Ver. Luke 24:45-49.) Here the Lord does not say, "Make disciples of all the Gentiles, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." This most fitly has its place in Matthew, spite (yea, because of) His rejection. The suffering but now risen Son of man takes the universal field of the world, and sends His disciples among all the nations to make disciples, and baptize them into the name of the Trinity. It is not, therefore, the old limits of Israel and the lost sheep, but He extends the knowledge of His name and mission outside. Instead of bringing Gentiles to see the glory of Jehovah shining on Zion, they are to be baptized into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, as now revealed fully; and (instead of what Moses commanded) "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."

In Luke we have not the charge of the work committed to the workmen, as in Mark, with signatures of God's gracious power accompanying; but here it is the message of a Saviour dead and risen, the Second Man, according to Scripture, and the moral need of man and the grace of God, who proclaims in His name repentance and remission to all the nations or Gentiles. Therefore, just as we have seen the resurrection of our Lord in connection with Jerusalem, where He had been crucified, so He would have the preaching begun there, not going away, as it were, from the guilty city alas! the holy city, and only the more guilty, because such was its name and privilege. But here, on the contrary, by virtue of Christ's death who put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, all disappears in the presence of the infinite grace of God all blessing secured, if there be but the acceptance of Christ and His work. Hence He says, "Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer." No doubt man was guilty beyond measure and without excuse. There were mighty purposes of God to be accomplished; and not only must He rise on the third day, but He enjoins that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name repentance necessarily showing the great moral work in man, remission of sins being God's great provision of grace through redemption to clear the conscience. Both were to be preached in His name. Who that believes and understands the cross could dream longer of man's worthiness? Repentance, so far from allowing it, is the perception and confession that there is no good in man, in me; it is wrought by grace, and is inseparable from faith. It is man giving up himself as altogether bad, man resting upon God as altogether good to the bad, and both proved in the remission of sins by Jesus, whom man, Jew and Gentile, crucified and slew. Remission of sins therefore, with repentance, was to be preached in His name. This was the sole warrant and ground. They were to be preached to all the nations, beginning with Jerusalem.

In Matthew the point appears to be the rejection of Jerusalem, the rejecter, because of its Messiah, the discipular remnant starting from the mountain in Galilee; and the presence of the Lord being guaranteed till the end of the age, when other changes come. In Luke all disappears, except grace, in presence of sin and misery. Absolute grace begins, therefore, with the spot which needed it most, and Jerusalem is expressly named.

We have seen how this chapter settles, if I may so express it, the Christian system on its proper basis, bringing out its chief peculiarities with striking force and beauty. More remains of similar character, especially the very distinct privileges of the understanding opened to understand, and the power of the Holy Ghost; the one given then, the other not till Pentecost. "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day....... And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." Thus the Holy Ghost was not given yet as an indwelling person, but rather a reiteration of the Father's promise. Remaining in Jerusalem they should be clothed with power an essential thing for Christianity, and quite distinct from spiritual intelligence already conferred, as is apparent also in Peter's word and way in Acts 1:1-26. In the Gospel of John where the person of Jesus shines so conspicuously, the Holy Ghost is set forth personally, with equal distinctness at least, in Luke 14:1-35; Luke 16:1-31. But here this is not the point, but His power, although He be, of course, a person. It is rather the promise of the Spirit's power to act in man that is brought before us. They, like Christ, must be "anointed with the Holy Ghost, and with power;" they must wait for "power from on high" from the risen and ascended Man.

But even so, the Lord Himself would not terminate the Gospel thus. "And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them." It was a spot that used to be most precious to Him, and, observe it well, was not less precious to Him after He rose from the dead. There is no greater mistake than to suppose, that an object of affection to Him before He died ceases to be such to Him when risen. Hence it would seem to give an open contradiction to those that deny the reality of the resurrection body, and of its proper affections. He was indeed a real man, albeit the Lord of glory. He led them out, then, as far as Bethany, the retreat of the Saviour, to which His heart turned in the days of His flesh. "And he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." He that filled with blessing the hearts devoted to Him in His life, was still blessing them when He was separated from them for heaven. "And they worshipped him." Such was the fruit of His blessing, and of His great grace. "And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God." It was meet it should be so. He that blesses us not only communicates a blessing, but gives the power that returns to God a blessing the power of real worship communicated to human hearts on the earth, by the Lord Jesus now risen from the dead. They "were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God;" but they were associated in life and love with One whose glory was far above them or any conceivable precincts of the earth, and were soon to be made one with Him, and to be the vessels of His power by the energy of the Holy Ghost, who would make this evident in due time.

May the Lord be pleased to bless His own word, and to grant that those who love Him and it may approach the scripture with still more confidence! If aught which has been said here tends to remove somewhat of mist from any eyes, encourages, simplifies, or otherwise helps in reading God's word, surely my little labour will not have been in vain, either now or for eternity. The Lord alone can make His own word sanctifying. But it is much to believe it to be what it really is, not (as unbelief thinks) a field of darkness and uncertainty, requiring light upon it, but a light itself, which communicates light to the dark, through the power of the Holy Ghost revealing Christ. May we prove that it is indeed like Christ, of whom it speaks, needed, real, and unerring light to our souls; that it is also the sole, adequate, and irrefragable witness of divine wisdom and grace, but this only as revealed in and by Christ! I take it to be a token of great good that, as in early days, the person of Christ was not only the fiercest battleground and prime object of the final struggle of the apostles on the earth, but was the means whereby the Spirit of God wrought to give a deeper and deepening enjoyment of the truth and grace of God more profoundly searching, no doubt, but at the same time more invigorating for the saints), so no otherwise, unless I be greatly mistaken, is it now. I remember the time, though unable to boast of any very lengthened scene to look back on as a Christian, when at least almost all for I will not say all were more engaged in attacking ecclesiastical error, and spreading much of kindred and other truth (and, in its place and time, important truth). But it was truth that did not so directly build up the soul, nor did it so immediately concern the Lord Himself. And although not a few, who then seemed strong and courageous enough, are gone to the winds (and a similar sifting still goes on, and will to the end), yet sure am I that in the midst of all these troubles and humiliations God has been elevating the standard of Christ for those who are firm and faithful. God has shown that His name is, as ever, a stumbling-stone for unbelief; but for the simple and spiritual a sure foundation, and most precious. The Lord grant that even these our studies of the Gospels, which have been necessarily curt and cursory, may nevertheless give an impulse not only to younger saints, but to those who may be ever so old; for assuredly there is no one, whatever may be his maturity, who will not be all the better for a fuller acquaintance with Him who is from the beginning.