OCTOBER 23 LUKE 19-21

October 23, 2014

Luke 19-21

On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus healed a blind beggar, whose name was Bartimaeus Mark tells us. Matthew, too, reports this healing. But only Luke tells us of the diminutive Jericho tax collector name Zacchaeus, who climbed a sycamore tree to get a better look at Jesus, and who was joyfully surprised by the Lord’s attention. How much poorer our Bibles would be without this account! Zacchaeus’ house is the setting for Jesus parable of the Ten Minas (very much like the parable of the Ten Talents), which contains this punchline: “To everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.” (Luke 19:26) Is this another way of saying: “Use it or lose it?”

Midway through Luke 19, Jesus enters Jerusalem, but not before he pauses to weep over her: “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.” (Luke 19:42) 

Luke then recounts many of the same events as Mark and Matthew during Holy Week: the cleansing of the temple (Luke 19:45-46), the trick questions of the Jewish leaders, and some wonderful posers from Jesus back at them (Luke 20:3, 41-44). But Jesus’ most devastating words come in the form of the parable of the Wicked Tenants. It didn’t take the ruling Jews long to figure out who those wicked tenants represented! Finally, Jesus withdrew from the fray and played one of my favorite games in any busy place: people-watching. He watched them give their temple offerings, but complimented only one: the widow who gave all she had (Luke 21:1-4). 

The rest of Luke 21 contains much of part we have come to know as the Mt. Olivet Discourse from Matthew 23-24; Jesus’ words about the destruction of Jerusalem and the events of the end times. Knowing what was coming may have triggered Jesus’ laments over the city in Luke 13:34-35 and Luke 19:41-44.

If Jesus wept so for faithlessness of lost people and cities, shouldn’t we?

Your fellow pilgrim through the New Testament,

Pastor Gary