Zacchaeus
1He entered Jericho and was making his way through it. 2And there was a man called Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he could not because of the crowd, for he was a short man. 4So he ran on ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, since Jesus was about to pass that way. 5When Jesus reached the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry down; today I must stay at your house.” 6He hurried down and welcomed him with joy. 7And everyone who saw it grumbled: “He has gone in to be the guest of a sinner.” 8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I am giving half of what I own to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone of anything, I am paying it back four times over.” 9Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he too is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save what was lost.”
The Parable of the Minas
11While they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and they imagined that the kingdom of God was about to appear at any moment. 12So he said: “A man of noble birth traveled to a distant country to be given a kingdom for himself and then return. 13He called ten of his servants, gave them ten minas and told them, ‘Do business with these until I come.’ 14But his own people hated him, and they sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15When he came back, having received the kingdom, he ordered the servants to whom he had given the money to be called in, so that he might learn what each had gained by trading. 16The first came forward and said, ‘Master, your mina has made ten more.’ 17He said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in the smallest matter, take charge of ten cities.’ 18The second came and said, ‘Master, your mina has made five.’ 19To this one he said, ‘And you, take charge of five cities.’ 20Then another came and said, ‘Master, here is your mina. I have kept it put away in a cloth, 21because I was afraid of you: you are a hard man. You take up what you did not lay down, and you reap what you did not sow.’ 22He said to him, ‘I judge you out of your own mouth, you worthless servant. So you knew that I am a hard man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? 23Then why did you not put my money on deposit? On my return I would have collected it with interest.’ 24And he said to those standing by, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten.’ 25They said to him, ‘Master, he already has ten!’ 26‘I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given; and from the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 27But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them — bring them here and slaughter them in front of me.’”
The Entry into Jerusalem
28After saying this he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29As he came near Bethphage and Bethany, by the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30saying, “Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter it you will find a colt tied there, one that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ answer, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32Those who were sent went off and found it just as he had told them. 33As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks over the colt and set Jesus on it. 36As he rode along, people were spreading their cloaks on the road. 37And as he came near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began to rejoice and praise God at the top of their voices for all the mighty works they had seen, 38saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!” 39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40He answered, “I tell you, if these fall silent, the stones will cry out.”
Tears over the City
41When he came near and saw the city, he wept over it 42and said, “If only you had known, on this day of all days, what makes for peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. 43For days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, surround you and press in on you from every side. 44They will level you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not recognize the time when God came to you.”
In the Temple
45Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling, 46saying to them, “It is written: ‘And my house will be a house of prayer’ — but you have made it a den of robbers.” 47Day after day he was teaching in the temple, while the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men of the people were looking for a way to destroy him, 48and they could not find one, because all the people hung on his words.
