Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 19:3
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
3. he sought to see Jesus ] Doubtless his riches increased the odium of his position, and being accustomed to contempt and hatred, he wished to see One who was not only a great prophet, but also kind to tax- gatherers and sinners.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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 1Co 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 people. 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.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. And he sought to see Jesus who he was] So the mere principle of curiosity in him led to his conversion and salvation, and to that of his whole family, Lu 19:9.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
All this was but curiosity; he saw a great crowd passing by, and asks what was the matter. The people tell him, that it was Jesus of Nazareth, that famous Prophet, whose fame had filled Judea as well as Galilee. He hath a great curiosity to see him, and runs before to find out a convenient station; but perceiving the crowd was great, and knowing that he was too low of stature to look over all their heads so well as to satisfy himself, he climbeth up upon a sycamore tree, by the way side in which he knew that he must pass.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. who he waswhat sort ofperson. Curiosity then was his only motive, though hisdetermination not to be baulked was overruled for more than hesought.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he sought to see Jesus who he was,…. What sort of a person he was for complexion, stature, and age: having heard much of him, he was very desirous of indulging his curiosity with a sight of him; having, as yet, nothing else that induced him to desire to see him: his desire to see Jesus was not of the same kind with the kings and prophets, Mt 13:16 but rather like that of Herod,
Lu 23:8
and could not for the press; the multitude of people that were flocking to meet Jesus, or who came before him, or were about him; for one part of the multitude went before him, and the other followed after him; so that he was in the crowd, and therefore could not easily be seen;
because he was little of stature. The Syriac and Persic versions read, “because Zacchaeus was little of stature”, lest it should be thought that this is said of Jesus; for the reason why Zacchaeus could not see him for the crowd, was not because Christ was little of stature, and was hid among them, but because Zacchaeus was little of stature, and could not see over their heads.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He sought (). Imperfect active. He was seeking, conative idea.
Jesus who he was ( ). Prolepsis, to see who Jesus was. He had heard so much about him. He wanted to see which one of the crowd was Jesus.
For the crowd ( ). He was short and the crowd was thick and close.
Stature ( ). No doubt of that meaning here and possibly so in 2:52. Elsewhere “age” except Luke 12:25; Matt 6:27 where it is probably “stature” also.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
He sought [] . Imperfect. He was busy seeking as Jesus passed. Who he was. Lit., is. No to see what kind of a person, but which one of the crowd he was.
Stature [] . See on ch. Luk 12:25.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And he sought to see Jesus who he was;” (kai ezeti idein ton lesoun tis estin) “And he sought (searched for a viewing place) to see Jesus, who he was,” among the traveling entourage passing through, as Jesus went up to Jerusalem, to the passover, accompanied by His disciples and many other curious followers.
2) “And could not for the press,” (kai ouk edunato apo tou ochlou) “And he was not able to do it from out of the crowd,” because of the press of the jostling crowd.
3) “Because he was little of stature.” (hoti te helikia mikros en) “Because he was little in stature,” very short. The kindness of Jesus toward sinners, and His known compassion and miracle helps and healing on their behalf, caused Zacchaeus to yearn to see and know Him, even as it did Nicodemus, Joh 3:2.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(3) He sought.Better, was seeking. The verb expresses vividly the oft-repeated attempts of the man, little of stature, to get a glimpse of the Prophet as He passed.
For the press.The word is the same as that elsewhere rendered multitude or crowd. The motive is left to be inferred. It was not mere curiosity, for that would not have met with the Lords warm approval. Had he heard that there was a publican like himself among the chosen disciples of the Teacher whom the people were receiving as the Son of David? Had some one told him of the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican? Had the fame of the miracle wrought on the entrance into Jericho made him eager to see the Worker?
He was little of stature.The individualising feature may be accepted, in connection with what follows, either as a touch of consummate art, or a note of artless truthfulness.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. He sought to see Jesus Greek imperfect tense, he was seeking to see Jesus. He was anxious, and engaged in attaining the object. It is a wonder that when Jesus had been ranging so long in the Jordanic country, and perhaps often in Jericho, preaching Gospel to crowds of his brother publicans, that this chief publican had never seen the great preacher. But he had heard much of him; and a deep feeling was awakened, not of mere curiosity, but of a desire to receive relief for a wounded conscience from this friend of publicans and sinners, of whom, perhaps, it was said that he had
power to forgive sins. Who he was He desired not only to observe the external appearance of this rabbi, but to ascertain who he was. Is he one of the old prophets, or is he the Messiah? He knew that his name was Jesus, that is, Saviour, and in some degree trusted that he could save his people from their sins.
The press The pressure of the crowd.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And he sought to see Jesus who he was, and he could not for the crowd, because he was short in stature.’
Zacchaeus suffered from being short of stature. It is surprising how many short men fight their way to success. It is as if their fight against being short spurs them on to great things. But later in Luk 19:8 this is paralleled by the thought that he was ‘a sinner’. He was not only short on stature, he was short on goodness. He was a public outcast.
Thus when he wanted to see Jesus he discovered that it was not possible, because he could not see over the crowds who surrounded Jesus. And he would certainly not have sough to push his way through the crowds. Many a member of that crowd would be only too pleased to avenge himself for wrongs done to him by this man, and the moment that they saw who it was, alone and unguarded, they would have know what to do.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Luk 19:3-4 . ] i.e. which among those who were passing by is Jesus. “ Fama notum vultu noscere cupiebat,” Grotius.
] Comp. Tob 11:2 ; Plat. Gorg . p. 497 A; Xen. Cyrop . iv. 2. 23.
] The form occurs in Nicander as quoted by Athen. I. p. 51, and , Geop. x. 3. 7; more frequently (Dioscor. i. 184; Aq. Amo 7:14 ; Suidas). The authorities, however, are very much divided between (so now Tischendorf also, following B L D ) and (Lachmann); Galen also has , de comp. med. 5 (in Wetstein on Luk 17:6 ). As, nevertheless, the reading also adds to the support of ., although it is plainly a transcriber’s error, the Recepta is to be maintained. The word itself is = (see Dioscor. i 184): Egyptian fig tree, Luk 17:6 .
] see on Luk 5:9 .
] to pass through, through the city, Luk 19:1 .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
Ver. 3. Because he was little of stature ] : Homer. St Paul was but a little man (say some, and thence had his name) but of a notable spirit. Deus maximus est in minimis, saith one, et saepe compensat defectus corporis ingenii dotibus. God is much seen in small things; and he many times recompenseth defects in the body with gifts of the mind. Hence that of the poet,
” In parvo regnat corpore virtus. “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Luk 19:3 . : imperfect, implying continuous effort, for a while unsuccessful, because of ( ) the crowd, too dense to penetrate, and not to be seen over by him , being short of stature ( as in Mat 6:27 ). . = , to see who Jesus is = de facie cognoscere (Kuinoel); “ fama notum vultu noscere cupiebat” (Grotius).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
sought = was (busy) seeking.
see. App-133.
Jesus. App-98.
who He was. Not what kind of a person, but which one of the crowd he was. not. Greek. ou. App-105.
for. Greek. apo. App-104.
press = crowd. because-seeing that. Not the same word as in verses: Luk 19:11-44.
little = small.
stature. Greek. helikia. See note on Luk 12:25.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Luk 19:3. , he was seeking) Therefore he had known Jesus before by face.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
he sought: Luk 9:7-9, Luk 23:8, Joh 12:21
because: Luk 12:25
Reciprocal: Mat 18:17 – a publican Mar 5:24 – and thronged Act 24:24 – he sent
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3
The press means the crowd, which was so great that Zacchaeus could not see Jesus, he being little of stature, which means he was not very tall.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Luk 19:3. Who he was, or which (among the crowd) was He. Zaccheus had heard of Jesus, but had never seen Him. His curiosity alone is mentioned here; but some better motive, however ill-defined to himself, undoubtedly influenced him.
Could not for the crowd. He had tried, but failed because of the crowd, his stature making it necessary to get very near in order to see.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Zaccheus desired to see Jesus, this is a sight that few rich men desired to see; the sight of Caesar’s face upon their coin is more pleasing to them, than to see the face of Christ in his ordinances: yet it was not faith, but fancy and curiosity that made Zaccheus climb the sycamore, to see Jesus; but the curiosity of the eye gave occasion to the belief of the heart: he that desires to see Jesus is in the way to enjoy him. It is good to be near the place where Christ is, whatever principles bring us there.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Luk 19:3-4. And he sought to see Jesus The great things which he had heard of Jesus made such a powerful impression on his mind, that when he was informed he was coming that way, he diligently sought an opportunity to see what sort of a person he was; and could not for the press Could not compass his design, Jesus being now surrounded by a prodigious multitude of people, and Zaccheus himself being little of stature. The passover being near at hand, the roads to Jerusalem were full of people, many of whom, happening to meet with Jesus, chose to travel in his company, that they might behold his miracles. And he ran before With great earnestness; and climbed up, &c. Notwithstanding his quality; desire conquering honour and shame. Zaccheus, it seems, was in Jericho when Jesus passed through, though his house was farther on the road to Jerusalem. This accounts for his running before the multitude on this occasion. His desire to see Jesus was, no doubt, increased by the account which he had received in Jericho, of the miracle performed on the blind beggars; for the news of so extraordinary a transaction would be quickly spread abroad.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Zaccheus’ curiosity about Jesus was understandable since one of Jesus’ disciples had been a tax collector (Luk 5:27-30). Moreover Jesus had a reputation for associating with people in his profession (Luk 5:29-30; Luk 7:29; Luk 7:34; Luk 15:1). Luke’s reference to his stature prepares the reader for his climbing a tree to see Jesus (Luk 19:4). It is interesting that Zaccheus did some childlike things, namely, running to see Jesus and climbing a tree, unusual activities for an adult government official. Jesus had formerly commended the tax collector in His parable for childlike faith (Luk 18:13). He had also taught the importance of childlike faith (cf. Luk 18:16-17).
"The crowd as physical barrier and Zacchaeus’ strange position up in a tree can serve as spatial symbols of his isolation from his community." [Note: Tannehill, The Narrative . . ., 1:123.]