Notes on Luke 18:35-19:10

Luke 18:35-43

Though physically blind, a man has enough spiritual sight to see that Jesus is the promised Christ. He trusted Jesus for healing and followed as his disciple.

Luke 18:35

blind man. Mark tells us that his name was Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46). begging. The man lived by the generous support of others.

Luke 18:38

Son of David. Luke previously emphasized Jesus's connection to David (1:27, 32; 2:4). But this is the first time someone addressed Jesus by the title. The man was acknowledging Jesus as the promised Christ. mercy. When he knows Jesus is there, he doesn't beg for money (v. 35). Instead, he calls out to the Christ, asking for mercy (see v. 13).

Luke 18:39

rebuked. The crowd urged him to be quiet, without mercy or compassion. cried out all the more. The blind man was persistent because of his desperation. It was a sign of his faith in Jesus (vv. 1-8; 8:15).

Luke 18:40

Unlike like the crowds (v. 39), Jesus responded with compassion.

Luke 18:41

The blind man had such confidence in the power of Christ that the impossible was a simple request (17:6). His request for healing revealed the depth of this man's faith. And this is why Jesus grants the request (v. 42).

Luke 18:42

faith. The conduit through which he received the healing. It wasn't a work or something that he did to earn God's blessing. healed. This man's recovery of sight points to his forgiveness of sins (v. 43). Jesus is just as powerful to deal physical healing as he is spiritual healing.

Luke 18:43

followed him. The blind man wanted more than healing. He revealed the fullness of his faith by becoming a disciple of Jesus (v. 42). people . . . gave praise to God. The man not only praised God, but encouraged others to do the same (see 1 Pet. 2:9-10).

Luke 19:1-10

Zacchaeus was an unlikely candidate to become a disciple of Jesus. He was rich (18:25) and despised by the people for his work as a tax collector (v. 2). Yet, nothing is impossible for the God who seeks and saves the lost (v. 10; 18:27).

Jesus' Commitment to Save the Lost - Luke 18:31–19:10

Jesus tried to prepare his disciples for his impending death in Jerusalem. This would be the culmination of God's plan to save a people for himself (see Rom. 3:21-26).

Luke 19:1

Jesus was still making his way toward Jerusalem (see note on 9:51).

Luke 19:2

Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus means "clean, pure or innocent." chief tax collector. Tax collectors were local Jewish men who were despised in ancient Israel for working with Rome (see note on 3:12). As a chief tax collector, Zacchaeus would have either worked with a group of collectors or oversaw collection or tolls between Judea and Perea. Given his prominence, he would been considered especially sinful by the community. rich. Typical for a tax collector. Luke highlighted this fact as he previously recorded Jesus's teaching on the difficulty of the rich being saved (18:24-25). Yet, in Zacchaeus, we see that nothing is impossible for God (v. 9; 18:26-27).

Luke 19:3

Zacchaeus wanted to know Jesus, but was hindered by his small stature and uncaring crowd (see note on v. 2).

Luke 19:4

ran . . . climbed. Unusual actions for a man in ancient Israel. Zacchaeus abandoned dignity and decorum in order to know who Jesus was. He was driven by more than curiosity (v. 9). sycamore tree. Similar to an oak tree, it had a short trunk and wide branches. This made it easy to climb.

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