Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 19:5

"And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house." — Luke 19:5 (ASV)

The implication of Jesus’ question is clear: Jesus refuses to give more light to those who refuse to accept the light they have (v.8) and make a decision concerning it (vv.5–7). They choose to stay on a worldly level of thinking. The word “heaven” (GK 4041) is a surrogate for God in vv.3, 5.

Not only did he want to see Zacchaeus, Jesus had to stay with him (“must” in v.5); this type of divine necessity is stressed in Luke . The reciprocity of the divine, sovereign call and the human response is striking (v.6; cf. v.10).