Luke 19

Zacchaeus (was a wee-little man...). We read his story here. Probably you're all at least minimally familiar with this story. But let's look at some things a little deeper. First of all, I can't say for sure, but I've always wondered why Luke takes the time to tell us what kind of tree it was Zaki climbed into: a sycamore-fig tree. It is at least interesting to note that there is a prophet associated with this kind of tree. Any guesses? That's right, it's Amos! Check Amos 7:14. Tending this kind of tree was one of Amos' two occupations before God called him to prophesy against Israel (for their mistreatment of the poor and disenfranchised). Amos' other occupation is also interesting for this passage, so perhaps Luke is trying to draw our attention to something.
(19:5) I must stay at your house today. Must! Wow.
(19:9) Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. Seek and save the lost. This is a clear remez to Ezekiel 34. Read that passage sometime. It talks about how God is mad at the shepherds of Israel because they are abusing the sheep. Because of that, God is going to deal with the shepherds and HIMSELF SHEPHERD HIS PEOPLE and in doing so, seek and save the ones who are lost. So Jesus is at least hinting at His divine nature here as well rebuking the established leadership, pointing out that people like Zaki are lost because they are put on the outside by the bad shepherds. And God's not happy about it!

(19:40) There's a pretty profound remez in this verse. Can you find it? Look closely at your NIV Study Bibles (that little column between the two columns of text). What is Jesus saying?

(19:41-44) During the "Triumphal Entry" we read this powerful excerpt only here in Luke. Jesus weeps bitterly over the city (as opposed to the quiet sobbing He does at Lazarus' funeral turned party--John 11:35). The things that Jesus refers to here happened in AD 70 when the Romans laid seige to and conquered Jerusalem.

Next post: Sunday, Oct. 7