Bible Commentaries

Zacchaeus was the last convert but one in the ministry of Jesus. Our Lord's method with him is very revealing. He asked for his hospitality, and after receiving it held an unrecorded conversation with him which resulted in the complete revolution of the man's outlook and his activity. It was in this connection that our Lord uttered that supreme word of His ministry, "The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

In close connection He uttered the parable of the pounds. This, by the way, must not be confused with the parable of the talents. In the latter the gifts varied in amount. In this the value was identical. Not all had the same number of talents. All have the pound for trading. The people following Him to Jerusalem "supposed that the Kingdom of God was immediately to appear." In the parable He gave them the program of events. He was going to a far country to receive His Kingdom. During His absence His servants were to trade with His capital for His profit. At His return He would deal with those who had thus been responsible.

Going to Jerusalem, He entered the Temple. As He approached it, all the disciples broke into song. The song is remarkable as an answer to the song of the angels which had announced the birth of Jesus. They then sang, "Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth." These now significantly sang, "Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest." Surely it was an inspired song, with a fuller meaning than perhaps the singers understood. He was going to the death by which He would make a peace in heaven which would issue in peace on earth. Peace with God must precede peace among men.

Jerusalem had failed to learn the things belonging to peace, and this called forth Jesus' tears.