Luke - Chapter 19

Passage

And entering, he walked through Jericho. And behold, there was a man named Zacheus, who was the chief of the tax collectors: and he was rich. And he tried to see who Jesus was: and he could not because of the crowd, because he was short. And running ahead, he climbed up into a sycamore tree, so that he might see him: for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, looking up, he saw him and said to him: Zacheus, hurry and come down: for today I must stay in your house. And he hurried and came down and received him with joy. And when all saw it, they murmured, saying that he had gone to be the guest of a man who was a sinner. But Zacheus, standing, said to the Lord: Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have cheated anyone of anything, I repay him fourfold. Jesus said to him: Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man has come to seek and to save what was lost. As they were hearing these things, he went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and because they thought that the kingdom of God would appear immediately. He said therefore: A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. And calling his ten servants, he gave them ten pounds and said to them: Trade until I come. But his citizens hated him, and they sent messengers after him, saying: We will not have this man to reign over us. And it happened that he returned, having received the kingdom: and he ordered the servants to whom he had given the money to be called, so that he might know how much each one had gained by trading. And the first came, saying: Lord, your pound has gained ten pounds. And he said to him: Well done, good servant; because you have been faithful in a little, you shall have authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying: Lord, your pound has gained five pounds. And he said to him: Be also over five cities. And another came, saying: Lord, behold, here is your pound, which I have kept laid away in a cloth. For I feared you, because you are a severe man: you take up what you did not lay down: and you reap what you did not sow. He said to him: Out of your own mouth I judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was a severe man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow. Why then did you not put my money in the bank, so that at my coming I might have collected it with interest? And he said to those who stood by: Take the pound away from him and give it to him who has ten pounds. And they said to him: Lord, he has ten pounds. But I say to you that to everyone who has shall be given, and he shall have abundance: and from him who has not, even what he has shall be taken from him. But as for those my enemies, who would not have me reign over them, bring them here and kill them before me. And having said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. And it happened, when he had come near to Bethphage and Bethania, to the mount called Olivet, that he sent two of his disciples, Saying: Go into the town which is opposite you, and as you enter it you shall find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat: untie him and bring him here. And if anyone asks you: Why are you untying him? You shall say this to him: Because the Lord has need of him. And those who were sent went their way and found the colt standing, just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them: Why are you untying the colt? But they said: Because the Lord has need of him. And they brought him to Jesus. And throwing their garments on the colt, they set Jesus on it. And as he went, they spread their clothes underneath him on the road. And when he was now coming near the descent of Mount Olivet, the whole crowd of his disciples began with joy to praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, Saying: Blessed be the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory on high! And some of the Pharisees from among the crowd said to him: Master, rebuke your disciples. And he said to them: I say to you that if these keep silent, the stones will cry out. And when he drew near, seeing the city, he wept over it, saying: If you also had known, even in this your day, the things that are for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days shall come upon you when your enemies shall cast up a trench around you and surround you and close you in on every side, And beat you flat to the ground, and your children who are in you. And they shall not leave in you a stone upon a stone: because you have not known the time of your visitation. And entering into the temple, he began to drive out those who sold in it and those who bought, Saying to them: It is written: My house is the house of prayer. But you have made it a den of thieves. And he was teaching daily in the temple. And the chief priests and the scribes and the leaders of the people were seeking to destroy him. And they could not find what to do to him: for all the people were hanging on his words.