Luke 19 1

Luke 19:1 kjv

And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

Luke 19:1 nkjv

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

Luke 19:1 niv

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.

Luke 19:1 esv

He entered Jericho and was passing through.

Luke 19:1 nlt

Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town.

Luke 19 verses

Luke 19 1 Meaning

Luke 19:1 concisely sets the stage for the pivotal encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus in Jericho. It informs the reader that Jesus had entered this prominent city and was in the process of moving through it. This simple verse establishes the geographical location of the ensuing events, emphasizing Jesus' active journey and deliberate movement through various regions as He drew closer to Jerusalem. His "passing through" highlights His continuous mission to seek and save the lost along His path, demonstrating that His ministry was not static but dynamic and reached individuals even in their daily activities within the city.

Luke 19 1 Context

Luke 19:1 is placed within Jesus' final journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, a narrative block that spans from Luke 9:51 to 19:27. This travel narrative emphasizes Jesus' unwavering commitment to His mission, culminating in His passion. Immediately preceding this verse, Jesus has just healed a blind beggar outside Jericho (Luke 18:35-43), which caused great joy and praise to God, setting a tone of divine power and mercy. Before this, themes of wealth, humility, and salvation were explored through the parable of the rich young ruler and the tax collector. Jericho, known as "the City of Palms," was a prosperous and strategically important city in the Jordan Valley, about 15 miles northeast of Jerusalem. It served as a major trade hub, bustling with merchants, pilgrims, and, notably, tax collectors. Its wealth often made it a center of Roman administration and Jewish life, yet also associated with perceived corruption due to the activities of tax gatherers like Zacchaeus, who were widely despised by their fellow Jews. Jesus' entry and passage through this particular city highlights His deliberate movement toward Jerusalem, but also His engagement with all facets of society, including those considered outcasts.

Luke 19 1 Word analysis

• He: The implied subject from the preceding narrative (Luke 18:43) is Jesus. This emphasizes the divine actor initiating the scene. Jesus is central, not passively entering, but purposefully directing His journey.
• entered (Greek: εἰσελθών, eiselthōn): This is an aorist participle, denoting a completed action – "having entered." It signifies Jesus' arrival within the city limits. This is a definitive action, marking His presence in a specific, notable location. His entry sets the stage for the dramatic encounter to follow.
• and (Greek: καὶ, kai): A simple conjunction connecting the two actions of entering and passing through. It implies a sequence or a simultaneous progression of actions.
• was passing through (Greek: διήρχετο, diērxeto): This is an imperfect indicative verb. It signifies a continuous, ongoing action: "He kept on passing through," or "He continued to go through." This verb choice is highly significant. It implies Jesus was not planning to settle or stay for an extended period in Jericho but was on His way to another destination (Jerusalem). This constant movement is characteristic of His itinerant ministry, where He meets people "on the way," emphasizing the dynamic and unceasing nature of His mission to reach all, regardless of where they were located or what their occupation was. The active pursuit of the lost is embedded in this ongoing motion.
• Jericho (Greek: Ἱεριχώ, Hierichō): A specific, historically and economically significant city. Its mention grounds the narrative geographically. It was known for its wealth from date palms and balsam production, making it a lucrative center for Roman tax collection. Spiritually, it carried weight from Old Testament narratives (Joshua, Elijah, Elisha), creating an expectation that a major figure might draw attention here. The presence of wealthy tax collectors in such a hub of commerce further illuminates why Jesus would encounter someone like Zacchaeus.

Luke 19 1 Bonus section

• The deliberate contrast between the aorist "entered" (a point in time) and the imperfect "was passing through" (an ongoing process) paints a vivid picture of Jesus' presence and purpose. He establishes His location, but His true purpose is motion and progression.
• This verse contributes to the understanding of Jesus' human and divine nature – as fully human, He physically traveled, but His journey was divinely purposed.
• The fact that Jericho was also a major pilgrimage route to Jerusalem meant many people, including Pharisees and Sadducees, would have been present, increasing the public nature of Jesus' actions there. This heightened public visibility underscores the boldness and significance of His subsequent actions involving Zacchaeus.

Luke 19 1 Commentary

Luke 19:1 provides the crucial geographical and directional context for the impactful account of Zacchaeus. Jesus' entry into Jericho, followed by His passing through, signifies a ministry that actively engages with society's centers of activity and human experience, not just religious or isolated locales. The imperfect tense of "was passing through" is critical, indicating Jesus' deliberate, sustained movement towards Jerusalem and His ultimate redemptive mission. He wasn't simply sightseeing; He was purposefully traversing, making Himself available to those along the route. This very movement led Him to the particular part of Jericho where Zacchaeus was, demonstrating that divine encounters often happen in the midst of everyday life and in unexpected places for unexpected people. It underscores that salvation is offered not just to those who seek it in grand temples but also to those encountered along life's paths, even those like tax collectors who were despised and ostracized. This brief verse sets a precedent for Jesus' inclusive love, reaching beyond societal boundaries and into places deemed undesirable.