Teks -- Luke 19:1-2 (NET)

Jesus and Zacchaeus

19:1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. 19:2 Now a man named Zacchaeus was there; he was a chief tax collector and was rich.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Luk 19:1 - Was passing through

Was passing through ( diērcheto ).

Imperfect middle. Now Jesus was inside the Roman Jericho with the procession.

Robertson: Luk 19:2 - Chief publican

Chief publican ( architelōnēs ).

The word occurs nowhere else apparently but the meaning is clear from the other words with archi - like archiereus (chief priest) archipoimēn (chief shepherd). Jericho was an important trading point for balsam and other things and so Zacchaeus was the head of the tax collections in this region, a sort of commissioner of taxes who probably had other publicans serving under him.

Vincent: Luk 19:1 - Jericho

Jericho

The city was close to the fords of the Jordan, on the frontier of Peraea, and on the richest plain of Palestine, abounding most in the choicest productions, especially balsam; and was, therefore, an appropriate seat for an officer of superior rank to preside over the collection of revenues. See on Mat 9:9; Luk 3:12.

Vincent: Luk 19:1 - Jericho

Jericho

The city was close to the fords of the Jordan, on the frontier of Peraea, and on the richest plain of Palestine, abounding most in the choicest productions, especially balsam; and was, therefore, an appropriate seat for an officer of superior rank to preside over the collection of revenues. See on Mat 9:9; Luk 3:12.

Vincent: Luk 19:2 - Named

Named ( ὀνόματι καλούμενος )

Lit., called by name. Compare Luk 1:61.

Vincent: Luk 19:2 - Zacchaeus

Zacchaeus

Saccai, " the just."

Wesley: Luk 19:1 - He passed through Jericho

So that Zaccheus must have lived near the end of the town: the tree was in the town itself.

Wesley: Luk 19:1 - And he was rich

These words seem to refer to the discourse in the last chapter, Luk 18:24-27, particularly to Luk 18:27. Zaccheus is a proof, that it is possible by the power of God for even a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Wesley: Luk 19:2 - The chief of the publicans

What we would term, commissioner of the customs. A very honourable as well as profitable place.

JFB: Luk 19:2-4 - chief among the publicans

Farming a considerable district, with others under him.

JFB: Luk 19:2-4 - rich

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

Clarke: Luk 19:1 - Entered and passed through

Entered and passed through - Was passing through. Our Lord had not as yet passed through Jericho - he was only passing through it; for the house of Zaccheus, in which he was to lodge, Luk 19:5, was in it.

Clarke: Luk 19:2 - Zaccheus

Zaccheus - It is not unlikely that this person was a Jew by birth, see Luk 19:9; but because he had engaged in a business so infamous, in the eyes of the Jews, he was considered as a mere heathen, Luk 19:7

Clarke: Luk 19:2 - Chief among the publicans

Chief among the publicans - Either a farmer-general of the taxes, who had subordinate collectors under him: or else the most respectable and honorable man among that class at Jericho

Clarke: Luk 19:2 - He was rich

He was rich - And therefore the more unlikely to pay attention to an impoverished Messiah, preaching a doctrine of universal mortification and self-denial.

Calvin: Luk 19:1 - NO PHRASE

This shows how little attention Luke paid to observing the order of dates; for, after having detailed the miracle, he now relates what happened in the city of Jericho He tells us that, while Christ presented himself to the view of all, as he went along the streets, Zaccheus alone was very desirous to see him. For it was an evidence of intense desire that he climbed up a tree; since rich men are, for the most part, haughty, and plume themselves on affected gravity. It is possible, indeed, that others entertained the same wish, but this man was most properly singled out by Luke, both on account of his rank, and on account of his wonderful conversion, which took place suddenly. Now, though faith was not yet formed in Zaccheus, yet this was a sort of preparation for it; for it was not without a heavenly inspiration that he desired so earnestly to get a sight of Christ; I mean, in reference to that design which immediately appeared. Some were led, no doubt, by vain curiosity to run even from distant places, for the purpose of seeing Christ, but the event showed that the mind of Zaccheus contained some seed of piety. In this manner, before revealing himself to men, the Lord frequently communicates to them a secret desire, by which they are led to Him, while he is still concealed and unknown; and, though they have no fixed object in view, He does not disappoint them, but manifests himself in due time.

Defender: Luk 19:2 - chief among the publicans

Zacchaeus was very rich and powerful, and not many such as these are ever saved (Luk 18:24; 1Co 1:26). Yet this man showed his humility and his desire to know Christ (Luk 19:4), and the Lord saw a repentant, believing heart and recognized him, desiring to "sup with him" (Rev 3:20)."

TSK: Luk 19:1 - Jericho

Jericho : Jos 2:1, 6:1-25, Jos 6:26, Jos 6:27; 1Ki 16:34; 2Ki 2:18-22

TSK: Luk 19:2 - the chief // and he

the chief : Αρχιτελωνης [Strong’ s G754], rather, ""a chief publican,""or tax gatherer. Probably Zacchaeus, who appears from his name to have been a Jew, farmed the revenue of the district around Jericho, having others under him, who either rented of him smaller portions, or were employed as servants to collect the taxes.

and he : Luk 18:24-27; 2Ch 17:5, 2Ch 17:6

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Luk 19:1

Luk 19:1-10 Christ visiteth Zacchaeus the publican.

Luk 19:11-27 The parable of a nobleman who left money with his

servants to trade with in his absence.

Luk 19:28-40 Christ rideth in triumph into Jerusalem.

Luk 19:41-44 He weepeth over the city,

Luk 19:45,46 driveth the buyers and sellers out of the temple,

Luk 19:47,48 teacheth daily therein: the rulers seek to destroy him.

Jericho was a very rich city, in the tribe of Benjamin, less than twenty miles distance from Jerusalem, (whither our Saviour was going), and less than eight miles distance from Jordan: See Poole on "Num 22:1" . It was the first place which Joshua sent persons to spy out, before he had conducted the Israelites over Jordan, Jos 2:1-24 ; he took it, Jos 6:1-27 , and cursed the man that should rebuild it, for he burned it, Jos 6:24 . He prophesied, that he who should go about to rebuild it, should lay the foundation of it in his first born, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son; which accordingly fell out in Ahab’ s time, to one Hiel, a Bethelite, 1Ki 16:34 . Through this town, or city, which now had been rebuilt many years, our Saviour passeth in his way to Jerusalem.

Poole: Luk 19:2

We have had frequent occasions to hint, that the publicans were the gatherers of the public revenue for the Romans. Amongst them there was an order of superior and inferior officers: Zacchaeus was the chief of them that were in that commission.

And he was rich; which is not to be wondered at, considering his employment; and is particularly mentioned doubtless to magnify the grace of God towards him, of which we shall by and by hear more; as well as to let us know, that though it be a hard thing for a rich man to be saved, yet with God it is possible, as we heard before, as, that though publicans were most of them rapacious and exceedingly given to extortion, and the love of money commonly increaseth with the increase of men’ s estate, yet Christ can change the heart of such a man, and work it into a contempt of riches, and into a freedom to part with them at the command of Christ, or where they hinder the embraces of him.

Lightfoot: Luk 19:2 - Zacchaeus. // Chief among the publicans

And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.   

[Zacchaeus.] there is mention of one of the same name, Zacchai; a father of a famous family, Ezr 2:9; and about the time wherein our Zacchaeus lived, there was one Zacchai; the father of Rabban Jochanan; than whom there was hardly a more noted Rabban in the whole catalogue. This man brought up his son Jochanan in merchandise, wherein he had employed himself for forty years, before he gave himself either to letters or religion. From whence there might arise some conjecture, as if that Zacchai was this Zacchaeus here mentioned, but that these two things make against it:  

I. Because he was a Rabbin, or preferred to be one of the elders, as the author of Juchasin doth, not without reason, conjecture. Now whereas the very employment of publicans lay under so ill a name universally in that nation, it is hardly credible that that should consist with the degree of Rabbin. To which I may add, that that Zacchai was of a priestly descent: and what a monster would that seem amongst them, a priest and a publican!  

II. We may judge from the character of that Zacchai; whether he did not live and die a Jew as to his religion, in every punctilio of it. "R. Zacchai's disciples asked him" (where note, he bears the title of Rabbi ), "How dost thou attain to old age? He answered them, 'I did never in my whole life make water within four cubits of the place of prayer: I never miscalled my neighbour: I never let slip the consecration of a day. My mother was a very old woman, who once sold her hair-lace, and bought wine with it, for me to consecrate a day with.' There is a tradition. When she died, she bequeathed to him three hundred hogsheads of wine: and when he died, he bequeathed three thousand hogsheads to his sons." The Gloss is: He that is constant in the consecration of a day, by the merit of that obtains wine.  

[Chief among the publicans.] A few things concerning the degree of publicans:  

I. The lexicographer tells us, that they called those the greater publicans who redeemed at a certain fixed price the tax and other revenues of the Romans: these were commonly called the Daciarii.  

II. "These are persons not capable of giving any public testimony, shepherds, exactors, and publicans." Upon which words R. Gaon hath this passage: "The Rabbins do not exclude the publicans upon the account that they exact more than is appointed to them; for then they would be the same with exactors. But when the king lays a tax upon the Jews, to be required of every one according to the proportion of their estates, these publicans, in whose power it is to value every one's estate, will favour some in the mitigation of their tax, and burden others beyond all measure."  

III. There were publicans (to omit those who collected the taxes in every town) who stood at gates and bridges, requiring tribute of all passengers, concerning whom we meet with something in Schabbath. Where there is also mention of the greater and the lesser publican. Concerning whom the Gloss speaks thus; "Sometimes there is a greater publican; to whom it is very grievous to stand at the bridge all the day long: he therefore substitutes an inferior or lesser publican." Let us take this story out of this same tract.  

"R. Judah, R. Joseph, R. Simeon, and R. Judah Ben Garis sitting together, R. Judah began and said, 'O how great are the works of this ( Roman) nation: they build streets and bridges and bagnios.' R. Jose held his tongue, and said nothing: but R. Simeon Ben Jochai answered and said, 'Whatsoever they have built, they have built it for their own advantage. They have built bridges that they might gain a toll by them.' R. Judah Ben Garis went and told this to the Roman empire, who thus decreed: 'Let R. Judah, who hath magnified the empire, be promoted: Jose that held his tongue [which, I imagine, ought to be rendered] let him be banished to Cyprus; and for Simeon that reproached it, let him be killed.' " Simeon hearing these things, betook himself into a cave; and there lay hid with his son for the space of thirteen years.  

Now as to what order or degree amongst the publicans our Zacchaeus held, it is neither easy nor tanti to determine it. The title of chief among the publicans; will hardly bear it, that he was one of those that received toll or custom at bridges; though even amongst those there were some who had the title of the greater publicans. He may rather be esteemed either of the first or the second class of those I have already named. In either of those it was easier for him to raise false accusation against any (which he chargeth himself with) than at the bridge or so.

Haydock: Luk 19:2

What sinner can despair when he sees the Saviour of mankind seeking to save him; when he beholds even a publican and a rich man, at the same time, who, as our Saviour informs us in another place, are so seldom truly converted, brought to the light of faith, and the grace of a true conversion! (St. Ambrose) ---

Zacheus (who as a farmer of the customs, not a collector, as some falsely imagine) immediately hearkened to the interior voice of the Almighty, calling him to repentance; he made no delay, and therefore deserved immediately not only to see, but to eat, drink, and converse with Jesus. (St. Cyril) ---

Behold here the three steps of his conversion: 1. an ardent desire of seeing Jesus; 2. the honourable reception he gave him in his house; 3. the complete restitution of all ill-acquired property.

Gill: Luk 19:1 - And Jesus entered, and passed through Jericho.

And Jesus entered, and passed through Jericho. Though the word "Jesus" is not in the original text it is rightly supplied in our version; as it is also in the Syriac, Persic, Ethiopic versions; for of him the words are manifestly spoken: after he had healed the blind man he met with near to Jericho, he entered into it, but made no stay in it, passed through it at once without stopping, though a very populous city; but here he had no work, either to perform miracles, or to convert sinners; though both, before he entered, and after he passed through it.

Gill: Luk 19:2 - And behold there was a man named Zacchaeus // which was chief among the publicans // And he was rich

And behold there was a man named Zacchaeus,.... Or זכאי, "Zaccai", a name in use among the Jews; see Ezr 2:9. We often read of רבי זכאי, "Rabbi Zaccai", or "Zacchaeus" ^a, and very frequently of R. Jochanan ben Zaccai, a famous doctor that lived in the times of Christ, and even till after the destruction of Jerusalem. The Jews also make mention of one R. Zaccai, a prince of the seed of David the king, in later times ^b. So that this man, as appears by his name, was a Jew, though some have thought him to have been a Gentile ^c, perhaps because of his employment: but it does not follow from thence; for there were Jews that were publicans, as Levi, or Matthew, afterwards one of Christ's disciples; and also in Jewish writings, mention is made, as of מוכס נכרי, "a stranger", or "a Gentile publican" ^d, so likewise of מוכס ישראל, "an Israelite publican" ^e; and such an one was Zacchaeus, as follows:

which was chief among the publicans; the head of them in that place, to whom the rest brought the tax, tribute, or toll; he was the receiver general of the tax: at the toll booths, at bridges, for people's going over the water, there was מוכס גדול, "the greater publican", and מוכס קטון, "the lesser publican" ^f, who was deputy to the other. What sort of tax Zacchaeus was concerned in collecting, is not certain; however, he was a principal man in this employ, and had got great riches by it.

And he was rich; was a person of figure among the publicans, and of substance, which he had gained in his post. And though the instances of rich men being called by grace are few, yet there have been some; and the rather this circumstance is mentioned, because it had been observed in the preceding chapter, how difficult, but not impossible, as this instance proves, it was for rich men to enter into the kingdom of God.