Luk 19:3-10 | JFB | STEP | The name is Jewish. 2-4. chief among the publicans-- farming a considerable district, with others under him. rich-- Ill-gotten riches some of it certainly was. (See on .)

‏ Luke 19:3-10

CHAPTER 19 Lu 19:1-10. Zaccheus the Publican.

The name is Jewish.

2-4. chief among the publicans--farming a considerable district, with others under him.

rich--Ill-gotten riches some of it certainly was. (See on Lu 19:8.)

5-6. looked up,--in the full knowledge of who was in the tree, and preparatory to addressing him.

Zaccheus--whom he had never seen in the flesh, nor probably heard of. "He calleth His own sheep by name and leadeth them out" (Joh 10:3).

make haste, and come down--to which he literally responded--"he made haste and came down."

for to-day, &c.--Our Lord invites Himself, and in "royal" style, which waits not for invitations, but as the honor is done to the subject, not the sovereign, announces the purpose of royalty to partake of the subject's hospitalities. Manifestly our Lord speaks as knowing how the privilege would be appreciated.

to-day ... abide--(Compare Joh 1:39), probably over night.

7. to be guest--or lodge: something more than "eating with" such (Lu 15:2).

a sinner--that was one but a minute ago, but now is not. This mighty change, however, was all unknown to them. But they shall know it presently. "Sinner" would refer both to his office, vile in the eyes of a Jew, and to his character, which it is evident was not good.

8-10. stood--before all.

said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord--Mark how frequently Luke uses this title, and always where lordly authority, dignity, or power is intended.

if I have--that is, "so far as I have," for evidently the "if" is so used (as in Php 4:8).

taken by false accusation--defrauded, overcharged (Lu 3:12, 13).

fourfold--The Roman law required this; the Jewish law, but the principal and a fifth more (Nu 5:7). There was no demand made for either; but, as if to revenge himself on his hitherto reigning sin (see on Joh 20:28), and to testify the change he had experienced, besides surrendering the half of his fair gains to the poor, he voluntarily determines to give up all that was ill-gotten, quadrupled. He gratefully addressed this to the "Lord," to whom he owed the wonderful change.