Luke 19 narrates Zacchaeus's conversion in Jericho, the parable of the ten minas (pounds), Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, his weeping over the city, and the cleansing of the temple. The chapter marks the decisive transition from the travel narrative (9:51-19:27) to Jesus's Jerusalem ministry. Themes of wealth, repentance, judgment, and kingship converge as Jesus enters his final week.
The Zacchaeus story (unique to Luke) is the counterexample to the rich ruler of chapter 18 — another wealthy man who, unlike the ruler, actually surrenders his wealth and receives salvation. The parable of the minas differs from Matthew's parable of the talents (25:14-30) in key details: the nobleman goes to 'receive a kingdom,' and his citizens send a delegation rejecting his rule — likely an allusion to Archelaus's contested succession in 4 BC, an event the original audience would have recognized. Jesus's weeping over Jerusalem (unique to Luke) is one of only two recorded instances of Jesus weeping, the other being at Lazarus's tomb (John 11:35).
The parable of the minas and Matthew's parable of the talents share significant overlap but differ enough to be treated as separate traditions. We render Luke's version on its own terms without harmonizing. The 'cleansing of the temple' is placed differently in John (2:13-22); we follow Luke's chronology. The phrase 'today salvation has come to this house' (v. 9) is rendered without importing later systematic theology about the mechanism of salvation.
Zacchaeus connects to the theme of tax collectors throughout Luke (3:12, 5:27-32, 7:29, 15:1, 18:10-14). The parable of the minas echoes the parable of the talents (Matthew 25) but with distinctive political overtones. The triumphal entry fulfills Zechariah 9:9 (though Luke does not quote it explicitly, unlike Matthew 21:5). Jesus's weeping connects to the prophetic lament tradition (Jeremiah 8:18-9:1). The temple cleansing quotes Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11.
Καὶ εἰσελθὼν διήρχετο τὴν Ἰεριχώ.
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it.
KJV And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνὴρ ὀνόματι καλούμενος Ζακχαῖος, καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν ἀρχιτελώνης καὶ αὐτὸς πλούσιος.
A man was there named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.
KJV And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
καὶ ἐζήτει ἰδεῖν τὸν Ἰησοῦν τίς ἐστιν, καὶ οὐκ ἠδύνατο ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄχλου ὅτι τῇ ἡλικίᾳ μικρὸς ἦν.
He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he could not because of the crowd, since he was short in stature.
KJV And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
καὶ προδραμὼν εἰς τὸ ἔμπροσθεν ἀνέβη ἐπὶ συκομορέαν ἵνα ἴδῃ αὐτόν, ὅτι ἐκείνης ἤμελλεν διέρχεσθαι.
So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore-fig tree to see him, because Jesus was about to pass that way.
KJV And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
καὶ ὡς ἦλθεν ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον, ἀναβλέψας ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν· Ζακχαῖε, σπεύσας κατάβηθι· σήμερον γὰρ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου δεῖ με μεῖναι.
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today."
KJV And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
καὶ σπεύσας κατέβη, καὶ ὑπεδέξατο αὐτὸν χαίρων.
He hurried down and welcomed Jesus joyfully.
KJV And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
καὶ ἰδόντες πάντες διεγόγγυζον λέγοντες ὅτι Παρὰ ἁμαρτωλῷ ἀνδρὶ εἰσῆλθεν καταλῦσαι.
When the people saw this, they all grumbled, "He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner."
KJV And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
σταθεὶς δὲ Ζακχαῖος εἶπεν πρὸς τὸν κύριον· Ἰδοὺ τὰ ἡμίσιά μου τῶν ὑπαρχόντων, κύριε, τοῖς πτωχοῖς δίδωμι, καὶ εἴ τινός τι ἐσυκοφάντησα ἀποδίδωμι τετραπλοῦν.
But Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I am giving half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone of anything, I am paying back four times as much."
KJV And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὅτι Σήμερον σωτηρία τῷ οἴκῳ τούτῳ ἐγένετο, καθότι καὶ αὐτὸς υἱὸς Ἀβραάμ ἐστιν·
Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham.
KJV And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
In Luke's usage, salvation encompasses both spiritual and material dimensions. Zacchaeus's encounter with Jesus transforms his relationship with God and with his wealth simultaneously.
ἦλθεν γὰρ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ζητῆσαι καὶ σῶσαι τὸ ἀπολωλός.
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
KJV For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Ἀκουόντων δὲ αὐτῶν ταῦτα προσθεὶς εἶπεν παραβολὴν διὰ τὸ ἐγγὺς εἶναι Ἰερουσαλὴμ αὐτὸν καὶ δοκεῖν αὐτοὺς ὅτι παραχρῆμα μέλλει ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ ἀναφαίνεσθαι.
While they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and they supposed that the kingdom of God was about to appear immediately.
KJV And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
εἶπεν οὖν· Ἄνθρωπός τις εὐγενὴς ἐπορεύθη εἰς χώραν μακράν, λαβεῖν ἑαυτῷ βασιλείαν καὶ ὑποστρέψαι.
He said, "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself and then return.
KJV He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
καλέσας δὲ δέκα δούλους ἑαυτοῦ ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς δέκα μνᾶς καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· Πραγματεύσασθε ἐν ᾧ ἔρχομαι.
He called ten of his slaves and gave them ten minas, saying, 'Conduct business with this until I come back.'
KJV And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
οἱ δὲ πολῖται αὐτοῦ ἐμίσουν αὐτόν, καὶ ἀπέστειλαν πρεσβείαν ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ λέγοντες· Οὐ θέλομεν τοῦτον βασιλεῦσαι ἐφ' ἡμᾶς.
But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to rule over us.'
KJV But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ἐπανελθεῖν αὐτὸν λαβόντα τὴν βασιλείαν καὶ εἶπεν φωνηθῆναι αὐτῷ τοὺς δούλους τούτους οἷς δεδώκει τὸ ἀργύριον, ἵνα γνοῖ τί διεπραγματεύσαντο.
When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered the slaves to whom he had given the money to be called to him so that he could find out what they had earned by conducting business.
KJV And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
παρεγένετο δὲ ὁ πρῶτος λέγων· Κύριε, ἡ μνᾶ σου δέκα προσηργάσατο μνᾶς.
The first came forward, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned ten minas more.'
KJV Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Εὖγε, ἀγαθὲ δοῦλε, ὅτι ἐν ἐλαχίστῳ πιστὸς ἐγένου, ἴσθι ἐξουσίαν ἔχων ἐπάνω δέκα πόλεων.
He said to him, 'Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you shall have authority over ten cities.'
KJV And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
καὶ ἦλθεν ὁ δεύτερος λέγων· Ἡ μνᾶ σου, κύριε, ἐποίησεν πέντε μνᾶς.
The second came, saying, 'Master, your mina has produced five minas.'
KJV And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
εἶπεν δὲ καὶ τούτῳ· Καὶ σὺ ἐπάνω γίνου πέντε πόλεων.
He said to this one also, 'You shall be over five cities.'
KJV And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
καὶ ὁ ἕτερος ἦλθεν λέγων· Κύριε, ἰδοὺ ἡ μνᾶ σου ἣν εἶχον ἀποκειμένην ἐν σουδαρίῳ·
Then another came, saying, 'Master, here is your mina. I kept it stored away in a cloth.
KJV And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
ἐφοβούμην γάρ σε ὅτι ἄνθρωπος αὐστηρὸς εἶ, αἴρεις ὃ οὐκ ἔθηκας καὶ θερίζεις ὃ οὐκ ἔσπειρας.
For I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man. You take out what you did not put in, and reap what you did not sow.'
KJV For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἐκ τοῦ στόματός σου κρίνω σε, πονηρὲ δοῦλε. ᾔδεις ὅτι ἐγὼ ἄνθρωπος αὐστηρός εἰμι, αἴρων ὃ οὐκ ἔθηκα καὶ θερίζων ὃ οὐκ ἔσπειρα·
He said to him, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew that I am a harsh man, taking out what I did not put in and reaping what I did not sow?
KJV And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
καὶ διὰ τί οὐκ ἔδωκάς μου τὸ ἀργύριον ἐπὶ τράπεζαν; κἀγὼ ἐλθὼν σὺν τόκῳ ἂν αὐτὸ ἔπραξα.
Then why did you not put my money in the bank? At least when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.'
KJV Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
καὶ τοῖς παρεστῶσιν εἶπεν· Ἄρατε ἀπ' αὐτοῦ τὴν μνᾶν καὶ δότε τῷ τὰς δέκα μνᾶς ἔχοντι.
Then he said to those standing by, 'Take the mina from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.'
KJV And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ· Κύριε, ἔχει δέκα μνᾶς.
They said to him, 'Master, he already has ten minas!'
KJV (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι παντὶ τῷ ἔχοντι δοθήσεται, ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ μὴ ἔχοντος καὶ ὃ ἔχει ἀρθήσεται.
'I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
KJV For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
πλὴν τοὺς ἐχθρούς μου τούτους τοὺς μὴ θελήσαντάς με βασιλεῦσαι ἐπ' αὐτοὺς ἀγάγετε ὧδε καὶ κατασφάξατε αὐτοὺς ἔμπροσθέν μου.
But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to rule over them — bring them here and slaughter them in front of me.'"
KJV But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
Καὶ εἰπὼν ταῦτα ἐπορεύετο ἔμπροσθεν ἀναβαίνων εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα.
After saying this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
KJV And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
Καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἤγγισεν εἰς Βηθφαγὴ καὶ Βηθανίαν πρὸς τὸ ὄρος τὸ καλούμενον Ἐλαιῶν, ἀπέστειλεν δύο τῶν μαθητῶν
As he approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples,
KJV And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
λέγων· Ὑπάγετε εἰς τὴν κατέναντι κώμην, ἐν ᾗ εἰσπορευόμενοι εὑρήσετε πῶλον δεδεμένον, ἐφ' ὃν οὐδεὶς πώποτε ἀνθρώπων ἐκάθισεν, καὶ λύσαντες αὐτὸν ἀγάγετε.
Declaring, Go you into the village over opposed to you. In the which at your entering you will find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat — loose him, and bring him hither.
KJV Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.
καὶ ἐάν τις ὑμᾶς ἐρωτᾷ· Διὰ τί λύετε; οὕτως ἐρεῖτε· Ὅτι ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ χρείαν ἔχει.
If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' you are to say, 'The Lord has need of it.'"
KJV And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
ἀπελθόντες δὲ οἱ ἀπεσταλμένοι εὗρον καθὼς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς.
Those who were sent went and found everything just as he had told them.
KJV And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.
λυόντων δὲ αὐτῶν τὸν πῶλον εἶπαν οἱ κύριοι αὐτοῦ πρὸς αὐτούς· Τί λύετε τὸν πῶλον;
As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?"
KJV And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
οἱ δὲ εἶπαν· Ὅτι ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ χρείαν ἔχει.
They said, "The Lord has need of it."
KJV And they said, The Lord hath need of him.
καὶ ἤγαγον αὐτὸν πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν, καὶ ἐπιρίψαντες αὐτῶν τὰ ἱμάτια ἐπὶ τὸν πῶλον ἐπεβίβασαν τὸν Ἰησοῦν.
They brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they put Jesus on it.
KJV And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.
πορευομένου δὲ αὐτοῦ ὑπεστρώννυον τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ.
As he rode along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
KJV And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.
ἐγγίζοντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἤδη πρὸς τῇ καταβάσει τοῦ ὄρους τῶν Ἐλαιῶν ἤρξαντο ἅπαν τὸ πλῆθος τῶν μαθητῶν χαίροντες αἰνεῖν τὸν θεὸν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ περὶ πασῶν ὧν εἶδον δυνάμεων,
As he was now approaching the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,
KJV 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;
λέγοντες· Εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος, ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου· ἐν οὐρανῷ εἰρήνη καὶ δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις.
Declaring, Blessed be the King that comes by the authority of the Lord — peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
KJV Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
καί τινες τῶν Φαρισαίων ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄχλου εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτόν· Διδάσκαλε, ἐπιτίμησον τοῖς μαθηταῖς σου.
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples."
KJV And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν· Λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐὰν οὗτοι σιωπήσουσιν, οἱ λίθοι κράξουσιν.
He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would cry out."
KJV And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
Καὶ ὡς ἤγγισεν, ἰδὼν τὴν πόλιν ἔκλαυσεν ἐπ' αὐτήν,
As he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it,
KJV And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
λέγων ὅτι Εἰ ἔγνως ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ καὶ σὺ τὰ πρὸς εἰρήνην — νῦν δὲ ἐκρύβη ἀπὸ ὀφθαλμῶν σου.
Declaring, If you hadst known, even you, at least in this your day, the things which belong to your peace! but now they are hid from your eyes.
KJV Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
ὅτι ἥξουσιν ἡμέραι ἐπὶ σὲ καὶ παρεμβαλοῦσιν οἱ ἐχθροί σου χάρακά σοι καὶ περικυκλώσουσίν σε καὶ συνέξουσίν σε πάντοθεν,
For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and surround you and hem you in on every side.
KJV For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
καὶ ἐδαφιοῦσίν σε καὶ τὰ τέκνα σου ἐν σοί, καὶ οὐκ ἀφήσουσιν λίθον ἐπὶ λίθον ἐν σοί, ἀνθ' ὧν οὐκ ἔγνως τὸν καιρὸν τῆς ἐπισκοπῆς σου.
They will dash you to the ground — you and your children within you. They will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."
KJV And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
In the Septuagint, episkopē refers to God's coming to his people — either in mercy or in judgment. Here it encompasses both: God visits in mercy through Jesus, but Jerusalem's failure to recognize the visit transforms mercy into judgment.
Καὶ εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν ἤρξατο ἐκβάλλειν τοὺς πωλοῦντας,
Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling,
KJV And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought,
λέγων αὐτοῖς· Γέγραπται· Καὶ ἔσται ὁ οἶκός μου οἶκος προσευχῆς, ὑμεῖς δὲ αὐτὸν ἐποιήσατε σπήλαιον λῃστῶν.
Declaring to them, It is written, My home is the home of petition — but you have made it a den of thieves.
KJV Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Καὶ ἦν διδάσκων τὸ καθ' ἡμέραν ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ· οἱ δὲ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ γραμματεῖς ἐζήτουν αὐτὸν ἀπολέσαι καὶ οἱ πρῶτοι τοῦ λαοῦ,
He was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leading men of the people were seeking to destroy him,
KJV And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,
καὶ οὐχ εὕρισκον τὸ τί ποιήσωσιν, ὁ λαὸς γὰρ ἅπας ἐξεκρέμετο αὐτοῦ ἀκούων.
Could not find what they might do — for all the people were very eager to listen to him.
KJV And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.