Question 1

Who was Zacchaeus and why is his story important in this passage?

Accepted Answer

Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector in Jericho, and he was rich. People would have seen him as a cheat and a traitor. Yet he wanted to see who Jesus was so badly that he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree. Jesus called him by name, stayed at his house, and Zacchaeus gladly welcomed him. His promise to give half his goods to the poor and repay wrongs four times over shows a real change of heart. His story shows that Jesus truly came to seek and save those who are lost, even the most disliked.

Question 2

What does it mean when Jesus says, "Today is salvation come to this house"?

Accepted Answer

When Jesus says, “Today is salvation come to this house,” he is saying that Zacchaeus and his household have really received God’s saving grace. Zacchaeus is called a “son of Abraham,” not because of his job or money, but because he now shares Abraham’s faith. His generous giving and fourfold restitution are not payment for salvation, but proof that his heart has been changed. Salvation here is both personal and present: it happens that very day as Zacchaeus receives Jesus with joy and turns from his old ways.

Question 3

What is the meaning of the parable of the nobleman and the ten pounds?

Accepted Answer

The parable tells of a nobleman who goes to a far country to receive a kingdom and then return. Before leaving, he gives ten servants a pound each and tells them to do business until he comes back. Some are faithful and gain more, and they are rewarded with authority over cities. One hides the money out of fear and is rebuked and stripped of his pound. The citizens who reject the nobleman are destroyed. This points to Jesus going away and returning as King, expecting his followers to use what he gives them, while warning those who refuse his rule.

Question 4

Why did one servant hide his pound in a napkin, and what lesson does that give?

Accepted Answer

The servant who hid his pound says he feared his master, calling him harsh and accusing him of taking what he did not lay down. The master judges him by his own words and calls him a wicked servant. He had done nothing with what he was given, not even placing it with bankers. This teaches that a false view of the Lord and lazy fear are no excuse for doing nothing. God expects us to use the gifts, time, and opportunities he gives for his honor. Those who do so are rewarded, while those who waste them lose even what they have.

Question 5

Why did Jesus ride a colt into Jerusalem and accept praise as King?

Accepted Answer

Jesus sends two disciples to fetch a colt that has never been ridden, saying, “The Lord has need of him.” He then rides into Jerusalem while people spread their clothes on the road and praise God, calling him King who comes in the Lord’s name. This shows that Jesus is the promised King, but his kingdom is not like earthly ones. He comes in humility, not on a war horse. When some Pharisees ask him to rebuke the disciples, he answers that if they were silent, the stones would cry out, showing that this honor is right and cannot be stopped.

Question 6

Why did Jesus weep over Jerusalem and speak of its destruction?

Accepted Answer

As Jesus nears Jerusalem, he sees the city and weeps over it. He says that if only they had known the things that bring peace in that day, but now they are hidden from their eyes. He then warns that enemies will surround the city, level it, and not leave one stone on another, because they did not recognize the time when God visited them. His tears show that he is not pleased with judgment, even on the wicked. The words about destruction point to the heavy cost of rejecting God’s mercy when it is offered.

Question 7

What does Jesus mean by calling the temple "a house of prayer" and "a den of thieves"?

Accepted Answer

When Jesus enters the temple, he drives out those who are buying and selling. He says, “It is written, My house is the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” By “house of prayer,” he shows that the temple’s true purpose is to be a place where people seek God. By calling it a “den of thieves,” he exposes how trading and cheating there have turned it into a hiding place for greedy people. This act shows his authority to cleanse worship and his desire that God’s house be holy, not used for selfish gain.

Question 8

How does this passage show that Jesus came to seek and save the lost?

Accepted Answer

The whole passage centers on Jesus going toward people others would avoid. He chooses to stay with Zacchaeus, a man labeled a sinner, and announces salvation in his house. He explains his own mission with the words, “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” In the parable, he pictures himself as the nobleman who will return and call people to account. In Jerusalem, he weeps over a city that rejects him and still warns them. His mercy, his warnings, and his call all show his heart to rescue the lost.

Question 9

What does this passage teach about how believers should live while waiting for Jesus to return?

Accepted Answer

In the parable, the nobleman tells his servants, “Occupy till I come,” meaning they should stay busy and faithful with what he has given. Some servants work hard and see growth, and they are trusted with more. One does nothing and is called wicked. This shows that while Jesus is away, his followers are not to be idle. They are to use their gifts, positions, and resources in a way that honors him. The story also reminds us that his return will bring both reward and loss, so our present faithfulness really matters.

Question 10

Why were the religious leaders upset with Jesus at the end of this chapter?

Accepted Answer

After entering Jerusalem, Jesus goes into the temple, drives out those who bought and sold, and calls the temple a house of prayer instead of a den of thieves. Then he teaches there every day, and the people listen closely. The chief priests, scribes, and other leaders want to destroy him, but they cannot find a way because the people are so attentive. They are upset because his actions and words expose their failures and threaten their power. His cleansing of the temple and his teaching challenge their control over the religious life of the nation.

Luke 19:1

And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

Jesus and Zacchaeus

The Parable of the Ten Minas

The Triumphal Entry

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Jesus and Zacchaeus

Cross References

Luke 19:1

And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

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Jesus and Zacchaeus

The Parable of the Ten Minas

The Triumphal Entry

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Jesus and Zacchaeus

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