Luke 19 5

Luke 19:5 kjv

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

Luke 19:5 nkjv

And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house."

Luke 19:5 niv

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."

Luke 19:5 esv

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today."

Luke 19:5 nlt

When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. "Zacchaeus!" he said. "Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today."

Luke 19 verses

Luke 19 5 Meaning

Luke 19:5 describes the pivotal moment in Zacchaeus's encounter with Jesus. As Jesus arrived at the sycamore tree where Zacchaeus was, He looked up, specifically identifying and calling Zacchaeus by name. Jesus then commanded him to descend quickly, declaring His intention to stay at Zacchaeus's house that very day. This verse encapsulates Jesus' divine initiative in seeking and saving the lost, demonstrating personal outreach, sovereign authority, and an immediate, purposeful decision to fellowship with a social outcast. It marks a moment of divine grace breaking through societal and religious barriers.

Luke 19 5 Context

Luke Chapter 19 begins with Jesus entering Jericho, a wealthy city on a major trade route, signifying a significant point in His journey towards Jerusalem. Zacchaeus, identified as a chief tax collector (a role often associated with greed, collaboration with Rome, and dishonesty, making him highly unpopular and despised by his Jewish countrymen) and a rich man, sought to see Jesus. Being short of stature, he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to overcome the crowd and get a better view. This act of climbing a tree highlights Zacchaeus's desperation and unusual humility for a man of his status, indicating a genuine desire, even if initially just curious, to see Jesus. Verse 5 is the precise moment Jesus spots him, interrupts Zacchaeus's passive observation, and directly initiates a personal relationship, demonstrating divine grace reaching out to an outcast.

Luke 19 5 Word analysis

• And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him
  • "came to the place" (ἐλθόντος ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον - elthontos epi ton topon): Signifies a precise, divinely orchestrated arrival. Jesus intentionally comes to this spot where Zacchaeus is. It's not a chance encounter but a deliberate trajectory toward Zacchaeus.
  • "looked up" (ἀναβλέψας - anablepsas): From anablepō, meaning "to look up," often implying a focused, deliberate, or even intense gaze. This was not a casual glance but an active, seeking look, originating from Jesus.
  • "saw him" (εἶδεν αὐτόν - eiden auton): From eidon, simply "to see." Combined with "looked up," it denotes an act of divine recognition. Jesus discerned him among the crowd, seeing beyond his physical stature or social standing, into his seeking heart.
• and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down
  • "said unto him" (εἶπεν αὐτῷ - eipen autō): Direct address. Jesus doesn't speak to the crowd, but personally and directly to Zacchaeus, indicating a relationship already forming.
  • "Zacchaeus" (Ζακχαῖε - Zakchaie): The vocative form of his name. From the Hebrew "Zakkay" (זַכַּי), meaning "pure" or "innocent." The irony of a notoriously impure chief tax collector having such a name is profound. Jesus calling him by this name might suggest a recognition of his potential for, or longing for, inner purity and righteousness. Being called by name indicates personal knowledge, recognition, and invitation, setting Zacchaeus apart from the anonymous crowd.
  • "make haste" (σπεύσας - speusas): A participle from speudō, meaning "to hurry, hasten, be eager." It conveys an urgency not just for physical speed but also for readiness and prompt, willing obedience. It implies the kairos moment—an opportune and immediate call to action.
  • "come down" (κατάβηθι - katabēthi): An imperative from katabainō, meaning "to descend." Literally, it's about his physical position in the tree. Symbolically, it can imply a descent from his self-elevated position (whether by wealth, pride, or isolated seeking), an act of humility, or coming down to meet Jesus on His level.
• for to day I must abide at thy house.
  • "to day" (σήμερον - sēmeron): An adverb emphasizing immediate, present-day action. This is not a future plan but an immediate, decisive divine encounter. It underscores the urgency of God's invitation.
  • "I must abide" (δεῖ με μεῖναι - dei me meinai):
    • "I must" (δεῖ - dei): From dei, meaning "it is necessary," often used for divine compulsion or preordained necessity. This is not merely a request or a casual wish but a divinely determined purpose. Jesus must stay at Zacchaeus's house as part of His mission.
    • "abide" (μεῖναι - meinai): Infinitive of menō, meaning "to remain, stay, dwell, lodge." It implies a significant visit, not just passing by. It signifies deep fellowship and intention. Jesus seeks to enter into Zacchaeus's personal space and life.
  • "at thy house" (ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου - en tō oikō sou): A public declaration of intent to enter a ritually unclean and socially despised household. This was profoundly shocking and scandalous to the onlookers. It was an offer of intimate fellowship and acceptance where none was expected, publicly demonstrating Jesus' rejection of social prejudice and religious exclusion.

Luke 19 5 Bonus section

• Jericho's Significance: Jericho was a city known for its wealth, often symbolic of earthly prosperity and power. Jesus's visit and specific engagement with Zacchaeus in this context highlights that the Messiah's message and salvation extend even to those deeply entangled in worldly systems and regarded as moral failures within such affluent settings.
• Sycamore Tree: The sycamore (specifically Ficus sycomorus) was a common tree in the Middle East, known for its low, widespread branches, making it easy to climb. Zacchaeus’s choice of this tree emphasizes his immediate and unconventional action to see Jesus, revealing a certain level of desperation and willingness to shed dignity for a glimpse of the Messiah. It provides a platform for Jesus's visible and public recognition of Zacchaeus.
• Jesus's Divine Discernment: Before Zacchaeus spoke a word or made any direct appeal, Jesus knew him—not just physically present, but knew his name, his position, and the deep, though perhaps unspoken, yearning within him. This demonstrates Jesus’ omniscience and profound understanding of individual hearts, regardless of their public persona.

Luke 19 5 Commentary

Luke 19:5 captures the heart of Jesus's mission: actively seeking and engaging with the lost and despised. Jesus's actions here are revolutionary. He transcends the usual social boundaries by stopping, looking up, and personally calling a chief tax collector—a symbol of greed and betrayal—by name. This highlights divine initiative and grace that breaks through human expectations. The command to "make haste, and come down" signifies the immediate, necessary response required when confronted with Christ. Furthermore, Jesus' declaration, "to day I must abide at thy house," is a radical act of self-invitation, expressing His divine purpose (dei) to bring salvation and fellowship into the very household deemed "unclean" by society. It’s an inversion of expectations: Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, but Jesus came to stay with him, initiating a transformative encounter that brought salvation to his home. This act challenged prevailing religious purity laws and demonstrated God's preferential option for the marginalized and despised.