19Luke 19

Zacchaeus

1Jesus was going through Jericho,Select Luke 19:1

2where a man named Zacchaeus lived. He was in charge of collecting taxes and was very rich.Select Luke 19:2

4Jesus was heading his way, and Zacchaeus wanted to see what he was like. But Zacchaeus was a short man and could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree.Select Luke 19:4

5When Jesus got there, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down! I want to stay with you today.”Select Luke 19:5

6Zacchaeus hurried down and gladly welcomed Jesus.Select Luke 19:6

7Everyone who saw this started grumbling, “This man Zacchaeus is a sinner! And Jesus is going home to eat with him.”Select Luke 19:7

8Later that day Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “I will give half of my property to the poor. And I will now pay back four times as much to everyone I have ever cheated.”Select Luke 19:8

9Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today you and your family have been saved, because you are a true son of Abraham.Select Luke 19:9

10The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost.”Select Luke 19:10

A Story about Ten Servants

11The crowd was still listening to Jesus as he was getting close to Jerusalem. Many of them thought that God's kingdom would soon appear,Select Luke 19:11

12and Jesus told them this story: A prince once went to a foreign country to be crowned king and then to return.Select Luke 19:12

13But before leaving, he called in ten servants and gave each of them some money. He told them, “Use this to earn more money until I get back.”Select Luke 19:13

14But the people of his country hated him, and they sent messengers to the foreign country to say, “We don't want this man to be our king.”Select Luke 19:14

15After the prince had been made king, he returned and called in his servants. He asked them how much they had earned with the money they had been given.Select Luke 19:15

16The first servant came and said, “Sir, with the money you gave me I have earned ten times as much.”Select Luke 19:16

17“That's fine, my good servant!” the king said. “Since you have shown that you can be trusted with a small amount, you will be given ten cities to rule.”Select Luke 19:17

18The second one came and said, “Sir, with the money you gave me, I have earned five times as much.”Select Luke 19:18

19The king said, “You will be given five cities.”Select Luke 19:19

20Another servant came and said, “Sir, here is your money. I kept it safe in a handkerchief.Select Luke 19:20

21You are a hard man, and I was afraid of you. You take what isn't yours, and you harvest crops you didn't plant.”Select Luke 19:21

22“You worthless servant!” the king told him. “You have condemned yourself by what you have just said. You knew I am a hard man, taking what isn't mine and harvesting what I've not planted.Select Luke 19:22

23Why didn't you put my money in the bank? On my return, I could have had the money together with interest.”Select Luke 19:23

24Then he said to some other servants standing there, “Take the money away from him and give it to the servant who earned ten times as much.”Select Luke 19:24

25But they said, “Sir, he already has ten times as much!”Select Luke 19:25

26The king replied, “Those who have something will be given more. But everything will be taken away from those who don't have anything.Select Luke 19:26

27Now bring me the enemies who didn't want me to be their king. Kill them while I watch!”Select Luke 19:27

Jesus Enters Jerusalem

28When Jesus had finished saying all this, he went on toward Jerusalem.Select Luke 19:28

29As he was getting near Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples on ahead.Select Luke 19:29

30He told them, “Go into the next village, where you will find a young donkey that has never been ridden. Untie the donkey and bring it here.Select Luke 19:30

31If anyone asks why you are doing this, just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”Select Luke 19:31

32They went off and found everything just as Jesus had said.Select Luke 19:32

33While they were untying the donkey, its owners asked, “Why are you doing that?”Select Luke 19:33

34They answered, “The Lord needs it.”Select Luke 19:34

35Then they led the donkey to Jesus. They put some of their clothes on its back and helped Jesus get on.Select Luke 19:35

36And as he rode along, the people spread clothes on the road in front of him.Select Luke 19:36

37When Jesus started down the Mount of Olives, his large crowd of disciples were happy and praised God because of all the miracles they had seen.Select Luke 19:37

38They shouted, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory to God.”Select Luke 19:38

39Some Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, make your disciples stop shouting!”Select Luke 19:39

40But Jesus answered, “If they keep quiet, these stones will start shouting.”Select Luke 19:40

41When Jesus came closer and could see Jerusalem, he criedSelect Luke 19:41

42and said: It is too bad that today your people don't know what will bring them peace! Now it is hidden from them.Select Luke 19:42

43Jerusalem, the time will come when your enemies will build walls around you to attack you. Armies will surround you and close in on you from every side.Select Luke 19:43

44They will level you to the ground and kill your people. Not one stone in your buildings will be left on top of another. This will happen because you did not see that God had come to save you.Select Luke 19:44

Jesus in the Temple

45When Jesus entered the temple, he started chasing out the people who were selling things.Select Luke 19:45

46He told them, “The Scriptures say, ‘My house should be a place of worship.’ But you have made it a place where robbers hide!”Select Luke 19:46

47Each day, Jesus kept on teaching in the temple. So the chief priests, the teachers of the Law of Moses, and some other important people tried to have him killed.Select Luke 19:47

48But they could not find a way to do it, because everyone else was eager to listen to him.Select Luke 19:48