4
So Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a fig tree to see Jesus, who was coming that way.
5
When Jesus came to the tree, he looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, come down! I must stay at your house today."
6
Zacchaeus came down and was glad to welcome Jesus into his home.
7
But the people who saw this began to express disapproval. They said, "He went to be the guest of a sinner."
8
[Later, at dinner,] Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Lord, I'll give half of my property to the poor. I'll pay four times as much as I owe to those I have cheated in any way."
9
Then Jesus said to Zacchaeus, "You and your family have been saved today. You've shown that you, too, are one of Abraham's descendants.
10
Indeed, the Son of Man has come to seek and to save people who are lost."
11
Jesus was getting closer to Jerusalem, and the people thought that the kingdom of God would appear suddenly. While Jesus had the people's attention, he used this illustration.
12
He said, "A prince went to a distant country to be appointed king, and then he returned.
13
[Before he left,] he called ten of his servants and gave them ten coins. He said to his servants, 'Invest this money until I come back.'
14
"The citizens of his own country hated him. They sent representatives to follow him and say [to the person who was going to appoint him], 'We don't want this man to be our king.'