The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 133

God. but only the way in which the work he proposed to moderate the wild romo.ntio is dn11e, and the position used, which are of enthusiasm of his immediate followers and price in his pure eyes. The hated publican of the Passover crowds by painting for them at the receipt of custom-the servant of a quiet picture of the future of work and Rome. might so live 11,11 to win ~he smile of waiting which lay before them. The po.re.hie God, as well as the priest in the sanctuary, contains three eets of lessons. (I) The varie• or tile r1tbbi in his theological school. He ties of reward apportioned to different de- e.lso is a son of Abraham. Tlmt is to sav, grees of zeal and industry in the Master's a spiritual son-a son in the highest and service. (2) The eternity of loss and shame most real sense. Zacchreus was a faithful which will be the portion of the slothful follower of Abraham, in his life and in his and unfaithful servant. (3) The terrible faith. doom of his enemies. Ver. 10.-For the Son of man is oome to Ver. 12.-He said therefore, A oertam seek and to save that which was lost. A nobleman went into a far oonntry to reoeive qniet rebuke to the Pharisees and priests for himself a kingdom, and to return. There e.nd their followers, who would limit the was a singular fitness in the Master's choice redeemed. Surely the "publicans" and of a framework for his parable, which at first the gree.t tempted mass of mankind needed sight would seem strange and unreal. Two him more than the happy privileged class. nobles, Herod and A.rchelaus, in that age It was for the sake of the.se poor wandering had literally gone from Jericho, where the sheep that he left his home of grandeur and Speaker of the parable-story then was, to a peace. Bnt there was a vein of sad irony far country aoross the sea-to Rome, to re- running through these words of the Master. ceive a kingdom from Cmsar (Josephus, Between the lines we seem to read some such ' Ant.,' xiv. 14; :x:vil. 9). And one of these thoughts e.s these: "You know, 0 priests two nobles, Archelaus, had rebuilt the stately and Pharisees, you do not want me. You royal palace of Jericho, under the very think you are safe already. But these poor shadow of which the Speaker and the despised ones, they want, they welcome me, crowds were perhaps standing. like this Zacchams." This, too, was a lesson Ver. 13.-And he called his ten servants, for e.11 time. This scene probably took and delivered them ten pounds, and said place the evening of the Lord's arrival at unto them, Occupy till I oome. No doubt Ze.cchmus's honse at Jericho, after the even- when our Lord spoke these parables he ing meal, when the room and conrt of the considerably enlarged the details, made honse were filled with guest8 and curious many parts of the framework clearer than spectators. Dean Plnmptre has an interest- the short reports which we possess can ing suggestion that Zacchreus the publican possibly do. The meaning of the great was one and the same with the publican of noble's action here is that he wished to eh. xviii. 10-14, who in the temple "smote test hie servants-to try their various capa- upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to bilities and dispositions, intendi'!lg, when me a sinner I" " Is it too bold a conjecture he should return from his long journey, that he who saw Nathanael nnder the fig having received his kingdom, to appoint tree (John L 48) had seen Zacchrene in the them to high offices in the administration, temple, and the.t the figure in the parable to such positions, in fa.<'-t, as their action iu of eh. xviii 14 was in fact a portrait?" regard to the Bmall deposit now entrnete,l Vers. 11-27.-The parable of the pounds. to them should show themselves capable of Ver. 11.-And as they hee.rd these things, filling. The Greek verb rendered "occupy " he added and spe.ke a parable. The words (1rpa:yµ.a:r,6cra<r8<) oocure here only in the which introduce this parable-story indicate New Testament: a compound form of it is its close connection with the events which rendered (ver. 15) by "gained by trading."· liad just taken place. '' He added, and Ver. 14.-Bnt his citizens hated him, spake (1rpocr8,ls ,h,)." Becansehewas nigh Again history supplies the framework. This to Jerusalem, and becanse they thought that was what the Jews had done in the case of the kingdom of God ehonld immediately A.rchelaus. They had sent a hostile depu- appear. Thus were briefly stated the reasons tation to complain of their future king be- which determined the Master to speak the fore the emperor's court at Rome. In the following parable. First, "he was nigh to parable, in these " citizens who hated him" Jerusalem," only at most a few hours' jour- a thinly veiled picture is given of those ney from the holy city-his last solemn, Jews who utterly rejected the mission of awfnl visit, when the mysterious act of stu- Jesus, and by whose designs the Crucifixion pendous Jove would be accomplished. So he was brought about. determined to give a veiled parabolic picture Ver. 16.-Thy ponnd. At first the small- of hlm,;elf and of his chosen people. Second, ness of the sum given to each of the ser- "they thought that the kingdom of God vants is striking. Was it not a sum unworthy should immediately appear." In his parable ot a. noble about to receive a kingdom? OR, xtx.1-48.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. 137