Luke 19:8-27

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 19:9

Forfeiture and recovery. Our Lord's words refer in the first instance to— I. THE LOSS AND RECOVERY BY ZACCHAEUS of his place in the commonwealth of Israel. 1 . He had forfeited this. It was by no means inalienable. Only they were the true children of Abraham who did the deeds, who lived the life, who were possessed with the spirit, of Abraham. So our Lord taught himself (see John 8:39 ). This was Paul's doctrine also ( Romans 2:28 , Romans 2:29 ; Romans 9:7 ; ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 19:10

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost . A quiet rebuke to the Pharisees and priests and their followers, who would limit the redeemed. Surely the "publicans" and the great tempted mass of mankind needed him more than the happy privileged class. It was for the sake of these poor wandering sheep that he left his home of grandeur and peace. But there was a vein of sad irony running through these words of the Master. Between the lines we seem to read some such... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 19:10

The great purpose of Christ. Mankind had lost its way utterly, its way from the home of God, from the fields of truth, from the path of holiness, from the fountains of joy; was wandering, blind and miserable, in forbidden ways; was stumbling on the dark mountains of error and sin. And the Son of man came to seek this erring and lost race, to lead it back again, to restore it to its heritage in wisdom, in righteousness, in God. This great and most beneficent purpose is enough of itself to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 19:10

Saving the lost. It has been questioned whether there can be mentioned one word which is more pathetic than any other. It might be well maintained that this word would be found in our text. What truly and profoundly pathetic pictures are called up before us by the sound of the word, "lost"! It speaks to us of the vessel far out of its track and drifting toward the rocks where it will find its ruin; it speaks of the traveller lost among the mountains, moving toward the precipice over... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 19:11

And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable. The words which introduce this parable-story indicate its close connection with the events which had just taken place. "He added, and spake ( προσθεὶς εἶπε )." Because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. Thus were briefly stated the reasons which determined the Master to speak the following parable. First, "he was nigh to Jerusalem," only at most a few... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 19:11-27

The parable of the pounds. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 19:11-27

The parable of the pounds. This parable closely resembles that reported in Matthew 25:14-30 . The two are undoubtedly different, but they have much in common. We cannot rightly understand each without balancing it by the other. Certainly we realize the full effect of their application when, to borrow an expressive figure, we look on them "as twin parables, resembling one of those trees whose main trunk separates just above the earth into two equal towering stems." Thus connecting them,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 19:11-27

The law of capital in Christ's kingdom. Zacchaeus's conversion and all the stir on leaving Jericho led many in the crowd to imagine that Christ was immediately to assume a visible kingdom. To remove misapprehension, therefore, he proceeds to tell them a parable which would at once rouse them to the necessity of working instead of indulging in lackadaisical waiting. Comparing himself to a nobleman who is going into a far country to receive a kingdom and to return, he compares his disciples... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 19:12

He said therefore, A certain noblemen went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return . There was a singular fitness in the Master's choice of a framework for his parable, which at first sight would seem strange and unreal. Two nobles, Herod and Archelaus, in that age had literally gone from Jericho, where the Speaker of the parable-story then was, to a far country across the sea—to Rome, to receive a kingdom from Caesar (Josephus, 'Ant.,' 14.14; 17.9). And one of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 19:12-24

Life a sacred opportunity. We may bring out the main thought of our Master in this parable if we consider the four points of— I. GOD 'S SOVEREIGNTY OF OUR LIFE . He is the Divine Lord of our life. It came from him; it is continued by him; it is enriched perpetually and liberally from his bountiful stores; and it is subject to his sway. He has a sovereign right to determine what it shall be—what shall be its aim and its issue. He is the "nobleman;" we are "his servants." if... read more

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