Luke 19

Source Text: All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” (Luke 19:7)

Chapter Summary: The book of Luke is historically identified as the first account of Christian history. Scholars believe Luke’s foundational ministry is to demonstrate God’s intentions in birthing a church that includes both the Gentiles and the Jews. (NRSV, pg. 1760) We are able to see Luke’s intention in offering this perspective in the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19. Jesus is seen by the townspeople requesting to stay at the house of a tax collector, which by Jewish Laws were seen as antithetical and scandalous. This gesture by Jesus is looked upon begrudgingly by the townspeople, and the onlookers said, “ Jesus is going to be a guest with a sinner.”

Zacchaeus was thrilled by the invitation, and Jesus offered him a blessing. Jesus began to tell a parable to the townspeople about the noblemen and their actions towards the nobleman’s request. Scholars suggest this story was shared to correct the misunderstanding about the present reality and the future appearance of the kingdom of God (NRSVB, pg. 1761). It was a parable that articulates the unconsciousness of the townspeople as it relates to who Jesus was and his purpose. It also speaks to his departure and exaltation, which are to come in the next couple of passages. Jesus enters Jerusalem and is celebrated by the townspeople as he arrives on a donkey. As he enters the city, Jesus begins to weep over the city due to a prophecy or allusion of destruction as to what is to come of Jerusalem (NRSVB pg. 1762). In the conclusion of the chapter, Jesus enters the temple and rebukes the house of prayer because of what the church had become. 

There are so many fascinating areas in this chapter, and I would like to focus on the townspeople’s reaction to Zacchaeus. This text is being Queered in every way bell hooks has defined Queerdom to be. hooks defined queer as being about the self that is at odds with everything around it and has to invent and create and find a place to speak and to thrive and to live (bell hooks, 2014). This moment that Zacchaeus is having with Jesus puts them both at odds with those around them. In my southern hometown, Jesus’ invitation would have been described as southern hospitality, and yet the people were not satisfied with Jesus’ gesture. 

As a black queer woman, I understand this feeling of the townspeople grumbling at an invitation to follow Jesus. How can one confess that she is both queer and Christian? How could she be a follower of the way? She is a sinner and a heretic! I think this text is so fascinating because Jesus continues to demonstrate his love for all people, especially the sinner. In the gospels, Jesus goes on his way to provide care for those whom his Jewish faith had considered unclean. 

He does it with the woman at the well (John 4:1-42). He extends himself to the woman with the issue of blood (Luke 8:43-48). He extended himself to the woman who requested healing for her child, but she was a gentile woman (Matthew 15:21-28). He told the woman her faith has made her well. This is the good news! What I have realized is that the church folks will grumble at the sight of good news. Jesus said to Zacchaeus that salvation has come to your house. You would think the people would be satisfied with a tax collector receiving Jesus. However, they were not satisfied. Jesus looked at Zacchaeus and saw salvation, and the church people/townspeople saw Zacchaeus and saw a sinner. The truth of the matter is, if the townspeople can praise Jesus on one day and hang him on the Calvary cross the next day, then there is no convincing the townspeople. The heart of the matter is that people who cannot consciously see the error of their ways are a danger to queer people and to everyone around them. We see that currently as Christian nationalists continue lead us. Jesus said in Luke 19:42, if you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace. But now they are hidden from your eyes.

In conclusion, as a spiritual care professional, I believe that we have to care for others, even those who can’t see. Milton Meyerhoff states that you have to be up to the challenge of caring for the other person in his book On Caring. I am up to the challenge. I believe Jesus was up to the challenge, and we know it didn’t keep the people from Lynching him.

Resources: 

• www.asexuality.org – bell hooks quote
• The Cross and the Lynching Tree -James Cone 
• Harper Collins Study Bible 
• Milton Meyeroff  On Caring

Rev. Brittany Powell, M. Div. (she/they) is a chaplain educator, ordained preacher, and womanist theologian. She is the daughter to April, sister, to Monroe and wife to Ceshia. She is the Co-Founder of the Sacred CPE Training Institute LLC and the Founder of Free Lyfe Ministries LLC a spiritual care consulting practice. A proud graduate of the Interdenominational Theological Center and Spelman College, she has a deep commitment to the spiritual health of the communities she serves and belongs to. With a lens of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, and class, she is committed to training the next generation of chaplains, clergy, and activists to address systemic oppression and the nuances of human experiences in the field of spiritual care. She has taught at several hospitals across the nation such as Johns Hopkins Hospital, Penn State Health and Mary Washington Hospital to name a few. Lastly, she is proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho.