Luke Chapter 19

Luke Chapter 19

So JC passed through Jericho.  And behold there was a man named Zacchaeus who was the chief among the publicans, he was rich. He wanted to see JC, but he couldn't because the crowds were so thick and Zack was a shortie.    So he climbed a sycamore tree so he could see him.   When JC looked up he saw him up in the tree and told Zack to hurry up and get down because he was planning to stay at his house.   Zack was happy to comply and received him with joy.  Well this scandalized the folks around because he was about to be the guest of a sinner!   Zach stood up and told JC that he had given half of his stuff to the poor, and anything he took form anyone by… false accusation, he restored to him fourfold.   JC told him that the day of salvation had come to his house because he too is a son of Abraham.   The Son of man had come to seek and save that which was lost.  

JC couldn’t resist telling another parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

A certain nobleman went into a country far away to get a Kingdome for himself and come back.   He called his ten servants and gave them ten pounds and told them to “Occupy” until he came home.  But the citizens of the far away country hated him and sent a message saying we won’t have this guy reign over us.   So this guy comes back, and calls the servants who he gave the money, to see how much they had gained by trading.  The first one had gained ten pounds, great, so the guy tells him he’ll be in charge of ten cities.   The second one gained five pounds, and was put in charge of five cities.

 Another one comes over and gives him the original pound that he had kept safe in a napkin.  He told him he was afraid of him because he was severe man who reaps what he doesn’t sow.   The nobleman is pissed.  He tells this guy that he judges him for what he is saying, calling him a wicked servant.  He told him you know I am severe man, reaping what I don’t sow.  You should have given my money to the bank so I could use it with interest.  He told another servant to take the pound, give it to the one with ten pounds.    Everyone was upset, that guy already had ten pounds.   So the severe nobleman tells him that everyone who has will be given even more and those folks who don’t have much even what little they have will be taken from them.  As for those enemies of mine, who didn’t want me to rule them, bring them over and slay them before me.

Wow.  I thought I remembered this from Matthew, this version is even more disturbing.  I have no idea what you are supposed to take out of this parable.   God is kind of severe, so do what he says and make sure you convert more people or he’ll have you killed?

On to Jerusalem! 

When he was near Bethphage and Bethany,  and Mount Olives he sent two of his disciples, to go to the village and get a special colt that no man has ridden.   If anyone asks you what you are doing tell them the Lord needs this colt.  Sure enough when they went to get the colt the owner of said colt asked them what they were up to.  So they told them the lord needed it.  No response written for how the ownere reacted.

So they dressed up the colt in their clothes (possibly so the owner of the colt couldn’t recognize the beast and report them to the authorities) and the put Jesus on the colt.  And theye spread there cloths on the way.  As he drew near the multitude of disciples, began to rejoice and praise the lord in loud voices, for all the mighty works they had seen.   They called out Blessed is the King that comes int eh name of the Lord, peace in heaven and glory in the highest. 

Some of the Pharisees from among the multitude told him to rebuke his disciples, for being so loud but JC told them id they held their piece the stones would cry out!  When he came near the city he wept. Saying if you had known even in this day what things belong to your peace!  But now it’s hidden from your eyes.  Great.  For the days will come upon you, that your enemies will dig a trench around you and trap you on all sides.   You will lay on the ground with your children, and you won’t leave the stone because you don’t know when I will visit.

JC then went into the temple and cast out the folks that bought and sold in the temple.    He told them that it’s written that my house is the house of prayer; you’ve made it a den of thieves.  He taught in the temple every day,  but the chief priest and scribes and chief of the people sought to destroy him.  It was going to be tough because the people really wanted to hear JC.