1 So, Jesus [finally] entered Jericho and was traveling through it.
2 Just then, there appeared a man named Zacchaeus, who was a wealthy, chief tax collector.
3 He was trying to see which one was Jesus, but could not due to the large crowd and [because] he was so short.
4 So, he ran on ahead [of the crowd] and climbed up a mulberry tree [Note: This was a tree that produced a fig-like fruit] in order to see Jesus, who was supposed to pass that way [soon].
4 B.C. See Matt. 2:22].
5 And when Jesus came to the tree, He said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down [from that tree], for I need to stay at your house today."
6 So, he came down immediately and welcomed Jesus gladly.
7 And when the crowd saw this, they began complaining [i.e., because Zacchaeus was a despised tax collector] and said, "He is going to lodge with a sinful man."
8 Then Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I [plan to] give half of my possessions to poor people. And if I have cheated anyone out of something, [I promise] to repay them four times as much."
9 Then Jesus said to him, "Salvation has come to this house today, since he too [i.e., Zacchaeus] is a descendant of Abraham.
10 For the Son of man came to search for and save those who were lost."
11 And as the crowd listened to these things, Jesus told them another parable, because He was close to Jerusalem and they assumed the kingdom of God was going to appear right away.
12 So, He said, "A certain distinguished gentleman went to a distant country to receive a royal appointment [i.e., as king over a territory] and then return. [Note: This is the only parable of Jesus' that correlates with a known incident; that of Herod's son Archelaus going to Rome to receive from Caesar Augustus an appointment to rule over Judea, Samaria and Idumaea in
13 So, he called ten of his slaves and gave each of them a sum of money [Note: The amount of each sum was equivalent to one hundred days of a farm laborer's pay, or about $7,000 in 1994]. [Then] he said to them, 'Invest this money until I return.'
14 But the citizens [of his newly acquired kingdom] hated him and sent a delegation after him [i.e., to the person who appointed the gentleman king over them], saying, 'We do not want this man to rule over us.'
15 And it happened when the gentleman returned, having received his appointment as king, that he ordered the slaves to whom he had given the [sums of] money, to report to him. He wanted to find out how much [money] they had made on their investments.
16 So, the first one appeared in front of him, and said, 'Master, your sum of money has earned ten times more.'
17 And the gentleman replied, 'Well done, you are a good slave. Because you have proven trustworthy over a [relatively] very small matter, you will [now] have charge over ten towns.'
18 Then the second slave appeared, and said, 'Master, your sum of money has earned five times more.'
20 Then another slave appeared and said, 'Look, master, here is your sum of money. I kept it [safely] wrapped up in a cloth,
21 for I was afraid of you, knowing you are a hard man to deal with and that you pick up [and keep] something you did not lay down [i.e., lose], and you harvest a crop that you did not plant.'
22 The gentleman replied to him, 'I will judge you [based] on what you [yourself] have [just] said, you evil slave. [Since] you knew that I am a hard man to deal with, picking up [and keeping] something I had not laid down, and harvesting a crop I had not planted,
23 then why did you not deposit my money in the bank? [Then] when I returned I could have withdrawn [the original sum of money] plus interest.'
24 Then he said to those who were standing around, 'Take the sum of money away from him and give it to the one who made ten times as much [with the original sum].'
25 But the people said to him, 'Master, he [already] has ten times as much money [as you gave him].'
26 [So the gentleman concluded], 'I tell you, to every person who [already] has something, [more] will be given, but from that person who has [almost] nothing, even [the little] he has will be taken away from him.
27 But bring those enemies of mine here [i.e., the citizens. See verse 14], who did not want me to rule over them, and kill them in front of me.'"
28 And when Jesus had said this, He went on ahead [of His disciples. See Matt. 21:1] up to Jerusalem.
29 And it happened when Jesus got close to Bethphage and Bethany [Note: These were two small towns about two miles east of Jerusalem], at a hill called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples,
30 saying [to them], "Go into the village just ahead of you, and upon entering [it], you will find tied up [there] a colt that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it [here].
31 And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' you should say, 'The Lord needs it.'"
32 So, those who were sent [i.e., Jesus' disciples], went away and found [things] just as Jesus had told them.
33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, 'Why are you untying the colt?'
34 And they replied, 'The Lord needs it.'
35 So, they brought the colt to Jesus and spread their clothing on it, [then] placed Jesus on it [i.e., held the animal still as Jesus mounted it, since it had never been ridden before. See verse 30].
36 And as He rode [along], people spread their clothing on the roadway.
37 Then, as He descended the Mount of Olives and got close to the city [i.e., Jerusalem], the entire crowd of disciples began joyfully praising God in loud voices because of all the powerful miracles they had seen [Him perform].
38 They were saying, 'May the King who comes in the name [i.e., by the authority] of the Lord, be blessed. May there be peace in heaven and praise [to God] in the highest [i.e., may this praise reach to the highest heaven].'
39 But some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, speak sternly to your disciples [i.e., to prevent them from honoring Jesus]."
40 But He answered them, "I tell you, if these people remain quiet [about me], [then] the stones will shout [about it]."
41 And when Jesus got close and saw the city [of Jerusalem], He cried over it,
42 saying, "If [only] you people realized today those things which [could] lead [you] to peace! But now they are [being] hidden from your sight.
43 For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build a dirt wall around you, surrounding you, and hemming you in on every side.
44 They will throw you and your children, [who are] within your walls, to the ground and they will not allow one stone to remain on top of another in your city because you did not recognize that [God was] visiting you." [Note: This "visitation" refers either to the redemption which they had rejected or to the punishment of the siege and destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70].