Luke 19
by Pastor Mark Hudson
At the end of the gospels, the tension between our Lord Jesus and religious leaders noticeably increases. His teaching is directed to His disciples in a more positive, comforting mode but His teaching toward the religious leaders has a last chance urgency as well as a rebuke for their rejection of the Messiah.
The first story is of Zacchaeus who is an example of genuine repentance and rebirth. In vs 9-10, Jesus is almost laughing with joy over the change of Zacchaeus. Contrast Jesus with the Pharisees (presumably since all Luke says is “they” in v. 7).
In vs. 11-27, we read a parable that corelates with the departure of the Lord and His return preceding His judgment. This is not hard to understand yet pointed judgment to the religious leaders as well as the nation of God’s chosen people.
Next is vs. 28-40 called the Triumphal Entry. The Lord Jesus directs His disciple on how to borrow a colt, what to say, and of course they “found it just as he had told them” in v. 32. Here the crowds, fickle as they are, praise God saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest” v. 38. And of course, who do we find disagreeing with such worship? The Pharisees. They spit out the words, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”
In vs. 41-44, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem. One of three times Jesus cries in the N.T. This is truly a sad moment since we know what is ahead for Him in Jerusalem. We will return to this section. Then in vs. 45-48, Jesus confronts those in the temple and drives “out those who sold, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” In the last two verses, we contrast the people who were hanging on his words, while the chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy Him”
That explains why we see Jesus in v. 41, weeping over the city. Jesus wept in John 11:35. In v. 33, John records Jesus “was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. In Hebrews 5:7, Jesus prayed, “with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.”
The words the author of Hebrews uses is krauge – loud scream or shoot, the loud noise is prominent, and the second word is tears. Jesus is not merely crying because of a violent death that awaits Him. Frankly, others have experienced violent deaths and others died on the cross before Him and after Him. But no one would have to endure the awful wrath of God poured out upon His body. If we merely say that Jesus was crying or wailing as he faced the agony of the cross, He does not appear as brave or praiseworthy. But if He is recoiling from the dammed-up wrath of God for sin that will burst upon His body with laser like accuracy enduring what no human being could ever endure, we can only attempt to understand what He faced.
In John 11:35 dakruo is the word for weeping Luke uses but Jesus is not weeping for the loss of Lazarus, since He knows Lazarus will rise from the dead, but possibly for what sin has done, how sin has assaulted us and what death has inflicted on others as well as the price He must pay.
In Luke 19:41, The word in Luke 19 sounds like the city of Clio – this word connotes “full sobbing or wailing” (BAGD 433). Jesus is saddened by the rejection of His people, and He knows the eternal consequences and the deep and searing loss their rejection occasions. This weeping is not from physical pain. Jesus recognizes how awful it is for God’s chosen to reject His Son. This decision by the Jews is more serious than one can imagine.
Only our Lord knows how tragic the rejection of the Jews really is. God created the world and provided good things for all people. But to bring salvation to His chosen people, He chose one person, Abram out of paganism. Abram was not a believer, nor did he show hope and thus God did not chose him for his obvious good qualities. He chose Abram and made a covenant with him. God was then faithful to Isaac and Jacob. God was forgiving, kind, just, and ruled over them as King asking only for their love and obedience. God deserved all that He expected and demanded. He is worthy of all praise. God always out gives, loves more, and delivers on every promise He utters.
But the Jews history (which is the history of human beings) is that they constantly rejected Him, His prophets, and were idolatrous at every turn. They angered God and He had to remove them from the land he promised them and gave them after hundreds of years of warnings. But their absolute lowest point, the nadir of their sin and rebellion was in their hatred of Jesus Christ. This is not a miscalculation of their thinking or a small picadillo. This was the culmination of all their rebellion. So, our Lord could say that “the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation . . . . Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation” Luke 11:50-51. What chilling words of condemnation from the mouth of our Lord.
Our heavenly Father, we come to you in the name of Your dear Son whom we love and adore. You have changed our wicked hearts to love, honor, and obey You so that You may receive the glory due Your name. We do not live in such a significant time in history as the first century, but we still live in the times You have ordained for us. May You use our church and all the churches who strive to be faithful to Your Word and the gospel to draw others to Christ. Strengthen our weak and stumbling faith for the sake of the growth of Your kingdom. In the name of the crucified One. Amen.