Following the blind beggar's healing by Jesus outside Jericho (Luke 18:35-43), a very different sort of person was also eager to see the Lord as He entered the city. Zacchaeus was physically fit and very wealthy. His role as a chief tax collector enabled him to get rich by defrauding tax-payers, and probably taking a percentage of the fraudulent takings of his employees. Nevertheless, he wanted to see Jesus.
Zacchaeus was corrupt (Luke 19:1-7). Everybody knew that his wealth came from dishonest accounting. He was a government tax collector who claimed far more than his salary and expenses. As the chief of the other local tax collectors, he probably took a percentage of their fraudulent incomes as well. No one in the crowd wanted him around when Jesus came to Jericho. But, to everybody's surprise, Jesus did want him! At the Lord's command the little man led the Master to his house, and those who watched saw a real conversion as the cheat repented.
This verse sums up Jesus Christ, His life and death, ministry and mission. He called Himself the 'Son of Man' for two reasons: firstly, because He was fully human as well as being fully God; secondly, 'Son of Man' was a Messianic title. Daniel 7:13-14 says, ‘In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshipped him.
Jesus was still at Zacchaeus' house (Luke 19:1-10) when He told this parable about a noble man travelling to a distant colony to establish it as part of his kingdom. Taking ten servants, he commissioned them to run his business for him, giving them enough capital to trade on his behalf so he would have a profit; increased assets to greet his return.
Jesus was telling a parable to correct the popular idea that the Messiah’s role was to liberate Israel from Roman rule. It also sets the scene for Jesus’ second coming (Luke 19:11-27). In this story, Jesus is the King and His servants represent those who were entrusted with the gospel (1 Thessalonians 2:4). They were commissioned to look after His kingdom on earth when He returned to heaven.
This passage comes in the middle of a parable (Luke 19:11-27). Jesus is telling a story about Himself - as a king who entrusted his servants with money to do business on his account, while he was away. The king returned (as Jesus will one day) and called his servants to account.
Most people assume that the processes of life will continue more or less predictably (2 Peter 3:3-4); and that there is no final end point at which everything will be disclosed, assessed, rewarded or punished. Even some followers of Jesus know He will return but get on with their lives as though that fact does not matter (2 Peter 3:11-13). So Jesus teaches in this parable (Luke 19:11-27) about the dangers of unproductive faith and of being an enemy of Christ.
Apart from the really adventurous, most people usually like to know what is happening ahead of time. They like to know the 'why' as well as the 'what' about instructions they are ordered to carry out. In other words they like to see the end from the beginning. But that knowledge is in God’s hands alone. However He does reveal what He is going to do, so that when it happens we know it is all part of His plan (Isaiah 46:10), but He does not tell us when He will act. He wants us to trust Him instead of trying to control our own future.
Two of the disciples searched for the donkey Jesus had described (Luke 19:30); they really had no idea what they were getting into. All they were doing was obeying Jesus. As they untied the animal, the owners came up and asked them what they were doing. They said exactly what Jesus had told them to say, which the owners accepted as their authority to take the donkey away. And so they brought it to Jesus just as He had commanded them.
The sight of Jesus riding a donkey was a Messianic prophecy fulfilled. Zechariah 9:9 says, "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey ..." The crowd understood that prophecy was being fulfilled in front of their eyes and they shouted their praise.
