Luke 19:5 Meaning and Explanation
“And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus stops under the tree, calls Zacchaeus by name, and announces that he must stay at his house today.
What Does Luke 19:5 Mean?
The seeker discovers he has been sought. Jesus looks up, knows the name of a man he has never met, and invites himself in, something he does nowhere else in the Gospels. The little word must carries weight: Luke uses it for what God has purposed, as when the boy Jesus must be about the work of his Father.
Zacchaeus climbed to catch a glimpse, and instead he is named, wanted, and visited. Grace does not wait at the bottom of the tree for him to earn an audience. Before he has repented of anything, Christ asks for his table. The order matters: welcome comes first, and the changed life follows close behind.
Luke 19:5 in the Original Language
dei (δεῖ), 'must' -- it is necessary; the word Luke uses for what God has purposed to bring to pass.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 19:5
What does Luke 19:5 mean?
Jesus stops under the tree, calls Zacchaeus by name, and announces that he must stay at his house today.