Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Luke Ch.19 / 24 Ch.s
LU:19
* The conversion of Zaccheus. (1-10) The parable of the nobleman
and his servants. (11-27) Christ enters Jerusalem. (28-40)
Christ laments over Jerusalem. (41-48)
#1-10 Those who sincerely desire a sight of Christ, like
Zaccheus, will break through opposition, and take pains to see
him. Christ invited himself to Zaccheus' house. Wherever Christ
comes he opens the heart, and inclines it to receive him. He
that has a mind to know Christ, shall be known of him. Those
whom Christ calls, must humble themselves, and come down. We may
well receive him joyfully, who brings all good with him.
Zaccheus gave proofs publicly that he was become a true convert.
He does not look to be justified by his works, as the Pharisee;
but by his good works he will, through the grace of God, show
the sincerity of his faith and repentance. Zaccheus is declared
to be a happy man, now he is turned from sin to God. Now that he
is 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 with
him. He came into this lost world to seek and to save it. His
design was to save, when there was no salvation in any other. He
seeks those that sought him not, and asked not for him.
#11-27 This parable is like that of the talents, #Mt 25|. Those
that are called to Christ, he furnishes with gifts needful for
their business; and from those to whom he gives power, he
expects service. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to
every man to profit withal, #1Co 12:7|. And as every one has
received the gift, so let him minister the same, #1Pe 4:10|. The
account required, resembles that in the parable of the talents;
and the punishment of the avowed enemies of Christ, as well as
of false professors, is shown. The principal difference is, that
the pound given to each seems to point out the gift of the
gospel, which is the same to all who hear it; but the talents,
distributed more or less, seem to mean that God gives different
capacities and advantages to men, by which this one gift of the
gospel may be differently improved.
#28-40 Christ has dominion over all creatures, and may use them
as he pleases. He has all men's hearts both under his eye and in
his hand. Christ's triumphs, and his disciples' joyful praises,
vex proud Pharisees, who are enemies to him and to his kingdom.
But Christ, as he despises the contempt of the proud, so he
accepts the praises of the humble. Pharisees would silence the
praises of Christ, but they cannot; for as God can out of stones
raise up children unto Abraham, and turn the stony heart to
himself, so he can bring praise out of the mouths of children.
And what will be the feelings of men when the Lord returns in
glory to judge the world!
#41-48 Who can behold the holy Jesus, looking forward to the
miseries that awaited his murderers, weeping over the city where
his precious blood was about to be shed, without seeing that the
likeness of God in the believer, consists much in good-will and
compassion? Surely those cannot be right who take up any
doctrines of truth, so as to be hardened towards their
fellow-sinners. But let every one remember, that though Jesus
wept over Jerusalem, he executed awful vengeance upon it. Though
he delights not in the death of a sinner, yet he will surely
bring to pass his awful threatenings on those who neglect his
salvation. The Son of God did not weep vain and causeless tears,
nor for a light matter, nor for himself. He knows the value of
souls, the weight of guilt, and how low it will press and sink
mankind. May he then come and cleanse our hearts by his Spirit,
from all that defiles. May sinners, on every side, become
attentive to the words of truth and salvation.