Albert Barnes Commentary Luke 19

And Jesus entered... See Barnes "Matthew 20:29".

This means, perhaps, he was passing through Jericho when Zacchaeus saw him. His house was in Jericho.

A man named Zaccheus. The name Zaccheus is Hebrew, and shows that this man was a Jew. The Hebrew name properly means pure, and is the same as Zacchai in Ezra 2:9; Nehemiah 7:14. The publicans, therefore, were not all foreigners.

Chief among the publicans. One who presided over other tax-gatherers, or who received their collections and transmitted them to the Roman government.

He was rich. Though this class of men was despised and often infamous, it seems that they were sometimes wealthy. They bore, however, the general reputation of sinners, because they were particularly odious in the eyes of the Jews. (See the note on Luke 19:7.)

The evangelist considered it worth recording that he was rich, perhaps because it was so unlikely that a rich man should follow so poor and despised a person as Jesus of Nazareth, and because it was such an unusual thing during His personal ministry. Not many rich were called, but God chiefly chose the poor of this world. Compare 1 Corinthians 1:26–29.

Who he was. Rather, what sort of person he was, or how he appeared. He had that curiosity which is natural to people to see one of whom they have heard much. It would seem, also, that in this case mere curiosity led to his conversion and that of his family. (Compare to 1 Corinthians 14:23–25). God makes use of every principle—of curiosity, or sympathy, or affection, or hope, or fear—to lead people in the way of salvation, and to impress truth on the minds of sinners.

The press. The crowd; the multitude that surrounded Jesus. Earthly princes are often borne in splendid equipages, or even carried, as in Eastern nations, in palanquins on the shoulders of men. Jesus mingled with the multitude, not seeking distinctions of that sort, and perhaps, in appearance, not distinguished from thousands that followed him.

Little of stature. Short. Not a tall man.

A sycamore-tree. See Barnes Luke 17:6.

Abide at your house. Remain there, or stay with him. This was an honour which Zacchaeus did not expect. The utmost, it seems, which he aimed at was to see Jesus; but, instead of that, Jesus proposed to remain with him and give him the benefit of his personal instruction.

It is but one among a thousand instances where the Saviour, in bestowing mercies, goes far beyond their desert, their desire, or their expectation; and it is proper to learn from this example that an earnest desire to see the Saviour will not pass unnoticed by him, but will meet with his warm approval and be connected with his blessing.

Jesus was willing to encourage efforts to come to him, and his benevolence prompted him to gratify the desires of the man who was eager to see him.

He does not disdain the mansions of the rich any more than he does the dwelling-places of the poor, provided there is a humble heart; and he did not suppose there was less need of his presence to save in the house of the rich man than among the poor.

He set an example to all his ministers and was not afraid or ashamed to proclaim his gospel amid wealth. He was not awed by external splendour or grandeur.