19:2 chief among the publicans. Zacchaeus was very rich and powerful, and not many such as these are ever saved (Luke 18:24; I Corinthians 1:26). Yet this man showed his humility and his desire to know Christ (Luke 19:4), and the Lord saw a repentant, believing heart and recognized him, desiring to “sup with him” (Revelation 3:20).
19:10 to save. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (I Timothy 1:15). “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God” (John 1:12), and Zacchaeus had “received Him joyfully” (Luke 19:6)!
19:12 to return. The “parable of the pounds” obviously speaks of the return of Christ to heaven (“the far country”) until the time of His second coming.
19:13 pounds. A “pound” (the Roman mina) was about one-hundredth of a “talent” (see note on Matthew 25:15).
19:13 Occupy. The servants of Christ are instructed herein to continue working at their vocations, without hesitation when they see (or think they might see) the day approaching. The Greek for “occupy” is the word from which we derive our English word “pragmatic,” and occurs elsewhere in the New Testament only in II Timothy 2:4 (i.e., “affairs”).

