Luke 19
International Children’s Bible
Zacchaeus
19 Jesus was going through the city of Jericho. 2 In Jericho there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a wealthy, very important tax collector. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but he was too short to see above the crowd. 4 He ran ahead to a place where he knew Jesus would come. He climbed a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus. 5 When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and saw Zacchaeus in the tree. He said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today.”
6 Zacchaeus came down quickly. He was pleased to have Jesus in his house. 7 All the people saw this and began to complain, “Look at the kind of man Jesus stays with. Zacchaeus is a sinner!”
8 But Zacchaeus said to the Lord, “I will give half of my money to the poor. If I have cheated anyone, I will pay that person back four times more!”
9 Jesus said, “Salvation has come to this house today. This man truly belongs to the family of Abraham. 10 The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them.”
A Story About Three Servants
11 Jesus traveled closer to Jerusalem. Some of the people thought that God’s kingdom would appear soon. 12 Jesus knew that the people thought this, so he told them this story: “A very important man was preparing to go to a country far away to be made a king. Then he planned to return home and rule his people. 13 So the man called ten of his servants together. He gave a bag of money[a] to each servant. He said, ‘Do business with this money till I get back.’ 14 But the people in the kingdom hated the man. So they sent a group to follow him and say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king!’
15 “But the man became king. When he came home, he said, ‘Call those servants who have my money. I want to know how much they earned with it.’
16 “The first servant came and said, ‘Sir, I earned ten bags of money with the one bag you gave me!’ 17 The king said to the servant, ‘Fine! You are a good servant. I see that I can trust you with small things. So now I will let you rule over ten of my cities.’
18 “The second servant said, ‘Sir, with your one bag of money I earned five bags!’ 19 The king said to this servant, ‘You can rule over five cities.’
20 “Then another servant came in. The servant said to the king, ‘Sir, here is your bag of money. I wrapped it in a piece of cloth and hid it. 21 I was afraid of you because you are a hard man. You even take money that you didn’t earn and gather food that you didn’t plant.’ 22 Then the king said to the servant, ‘You evil servant! I will use your own words to condemn you. You said that I am a hard man. You said that I even take money that I didn’t earn and gather food that I didn’t plant. 23 If that is true, then you should have put my money in the bank. Then, when I came back, my money would have earned some interest.’
24 “Then the king said to the men who were watching, ‘Take the bag of money away from this servant and give it to the servant who earned ten bags of money.’ 25 They said to the king, ‘But sir, that servant already has ten bags of money!’ 26 The king said, ‘The one who uses what he has will get more. But the one who does not use what he has will have everything taken away from him. 27 Now where are my enemies who didn’t want me to be king? Bring them here and kill them before me.’”
Jesus Enters Jerusalem as a King
28 After Jesus said this, he went on toward Jerusalem. 29 Jesus came near Bethphage and Bethany, towns near the hill called the Mount of Olives. Then he sent out two of his followers. 30 He said, “Go into the town you can see there. When you enter it, you will find a colt tied there. No one has ever ridden this colt. Untie it, and bring it here to me. 31 If anyone asks you why you are taking it, say, ‘The Master needs it.’”
32 The two followers went into town. They found the colt just as Jesus told them. 33 The followers untied it, but the owners of the colt came out. They asked the followers, “Why are you untying our colt?”
34 The followers answered, “The Master needs it.” 35 So they brought it to Jesus. They threw their coats on the colt’s back and put Jesus on it. 36 As Jesus rode toward Jerusalem, the followers spread their coats on the road before him.
37 Jesus was coming close to Jerusalem. He was already near the bottom of the Mount of Olives. The whole crowd of followers was very happy. They began shouting praise to God for all the powerful works they had seen. They said,
38 “God bless the king who comes in the name of the Lord!
There is peace in heaven and glory to God!” Psalm 118:26
39 Some of the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell your followers not to say these things!”
40 But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if my followers don’t say these things, then the stones will cry out.”
Jesus Cries for Jerusalem
41 Jesus came near Jerusalem. He saw the city and began to cry for it. 42 Jesus said to Jerusalem, “I wish you knew today what would bring you peace! But you can’t know it, because it is hidden from you. 43 A time is coming when your enemies will build a wall around you and will hold you in on all sides. 44 They will destroy you and all your people. Not one stone of your buildings will be left on another. All this will happen because you did not know the time when God came to save you.”
Jesus Goes to the Temple
45 Jesus went into the Temple. He began to throw out the people who were selling things there. 46 He said, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘My Temple will be a house where people will pray.’[b] But you have changed it into a ‘hideout for robbers’!”[c]
47 Jesus taught in the Temple every day. The leading priests, the teachers of the law, and some of the leaders of the people wanted to kill Jesus. 48 But all the people were listening closely to him and were interested in all the things he said. So the leading priests, the teachers of the law, and the leaders did not know how they could kill him.
Footnotes
- 19:13 bag of money One bag of money was a Greek “mina.” One mina was enough money to pay a person for working three months.
- 19:46 ‘My Temple . . . pray.’ Quotation from Isaiah 56:7.
- 19:46 ‘hideout for robbers’ Quotation from Jeremiah 7:11.
Luke 19
New Matthew Bible
Of Zaccheus, and of the ten servants to whom the minas were delivered. Christ rides to Jerusalem and weeps over it.
19 And he entered in and went through Jericho. 2 And there was a man named Zaccheus, who was a chief publican, and was rich also. 3 And he made efforts to see Jesus, who he was. But due to the press of people, he could not, because he was of a low stature. 4 And so he ran ahead and climbed up into a wild fig tree in order to see him, for he would be coming that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said to him, Zacche, come down at once, for today I must stay at your house. 6 And he came down hastily, and brought him home joyfully. 7 And when the people saw that, they all murmured, saying, He has gone in to stay with a man that is a sinner.
8 And Zacche stood forth and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord: half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have done any man wrong, I will restore him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said to him, This day salvation has come to this house, seeing that he also has become the child of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
11 As the people listened to these things, he added a similitude, because he was nearing Jerusalem, and also because they thought that the kingdom of God would shortly appear. 12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then to return. 13 And he called his ten servants and gave them ten minas, saying to them, Trade with these till I come. 14 But his citizens hated him and sent messengers after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
15 And it came to pass, when the nobleman returned and had received his kingdom, he commanded those servants to whom he had given his money to be called to him, to find out how each had done. 16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, your mina has increased ten minas. 17 And he said to him, Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little thing, you shall have authority over ten cities. 18 And the other came, saying, Lord, your mina has increased five minas. 19 And to him he said, You also shall be over five cities.
20 And the third came and said, Lord, here is your mina, which I have kept in a napkin. 21 For I feared you, because you are a hard man. You take where you did not invest, and reap what you did not sow.
22 And his lord said to him, By your own mouth I judge you, you evil servant. You knew that I am a hard man, taking where I did not invest and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then didn’t you put my money into the bank, so that at my coming I could have claimed what is my own with profit?
24 And he said to those who stood by, Take from him that mina, and give it the one who has ten minas. 25 And they said to him, Lord, he has ten minas!
26 I say to you that to all those who have, it will be given, and from him who has not, even that which he has will be taken from him. 27 Moreover, those my enemies who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me.
28 And when Jesus had thus spoken, he went on ahead, ascending up to Jerusalem. 29 And it so was, when he came near Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 30 saying, Go into the town which is in front of you, in which, as soon as you enter, you will find a colt tied, on which no man ever yet sat. Untie him and bring him here. 31 And if anyone asks you why you are untying him, thus say to him: The Lord has need of him.
32 Those who were sent went their way and found it just as he had said to them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, the owners said to them, Why are you untying the colt? 34 And they said, Because the Lord has need of him.
35 And they brought him to Jesus. And they cast their cloaks on the colt and set Jesus thereon. 36 And as he went, people spread their cloaks in the way. 37 And when he came now to where he was to descend from the Mount of Olives, the whole number of the disciples began to rejoice, and to laud God with a loud voice for all the miracles that they had seen, 38 saying, Blessed be the king that comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!
39 And some of the Pharisees in the company said to him, Teacher, rebuke your disciples. 40 He answered and said to them, I tell you, if these held their peace, the stones would cry out.
41 And when he came near, he beheld the city and wept on it, 42 saying, If only you had known those things that belong to your peace, at this your very time! But now they are hid from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you that your enemies will cast up a siege-mound about you, and compass you around, and hem you in on every side, 44 and lay you level with the ground, with your children who are in you. And they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not acknowledge the time of your visitation.
45 And he went into the temple and began to cast out those who sold therein, and those who bought, 46 saying to them, It is written: My house is the house of prayer. But you have made it a den of thieves.
47 And he taught daily in the temple. The high priests and the scribes and the chief men of the people went about to destroy him, but could not find what to do, 48 because all the people stayed close by him, and listened attentively to him.
Luke 19
New King James Version
Jesus Comes to Zacchaeus’ House
19 Then Jesus entered and passed through (A)Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to (B)see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up [a]and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, [b]make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he [c]made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all [d]complained, saying, (C)“He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”
8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the (D)poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by (E)false accusation, (F)I restore fourfold.”
9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because (G)he also is (H)a son of Abraham; 10 (I)for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
The Parable of the Minas(J)
11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because (K)they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 12 (L)Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten [e]minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ 14 (M)But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’
15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ 17 And he said to him, (N)‘Well done, good servant; because you were (O)faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ 19 Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’
20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. 21 (P)For I feared you, because you are [f]an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 And he said to him, (Q)‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. (R)You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’
24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ 25 (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) 26 ‘For I say to you, (S)that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 27 But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ ”
The Triumphal Entry(T)
28 When He had said this, (U)He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 (V)And it came to pass, when He drew near to [g]Bethphage and (W)Bethany, at the mountain called (X)Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. 31 And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’ ”
32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just (Y)as He had said to them. 33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?”
34 And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” 35 Then they brought him to Jesus. (Z)And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36 And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road.
37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to (AA)rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying:
(AB)“ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’
(AC)Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”
40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, (AD)the stones would immediately cry out.”
Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem
41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and (AE)wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this (AF)your day, the things that (AG)make for your (AH)peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will (AI)build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 (AJ)and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and (AK)they will not leave in you one stone upon another, (AL)because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
Jesus Cleanses the Temple(AM)
45 (AN)Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who [h]bought and sold in it, 46 saying to them, “It is written, (AO)‘My house [i]is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a (AP)‘den of thieves.’ ”
47 And He (AQ)was teaching daily in the temple. But (AR)the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, 48 and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to (AS)hear Him.
Footnotes
- Luke 19:5 NU omits and saw him
- Luke 19:5 hurry
- Luke 19:6 hurried
- Luke 19:7 grumbled
- Luke 19:13 Gr. mna, same as Heb. minah, each worth about three months’ salary
- Luke 19:21 a severe
- Luke 19:29 M Bethsphage
- Luke 19:45 NU were selling, saying
- Luke 19:46 NU shall be
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.