Luke 19:10 (KJV)

What does Luke 19:10 mean?

Luke 19:10 says that Jesus, calling himself "the Son of man," came with the purpose of looking for and rescuing people who are lost. The verse highlights Jesus’s mission as one of seeking out those who have gone astray and bringing them back.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking after meeting Zacchaeus, a tax collector seen as a sinner by others. Jesus explains his actions by stating his purpose: to seek and save those who are spiritually lost or separated from God. The verse sums up why Jesus interacts with people on the margins and offers hope to those who feel far from God.

The Greek behind Luke 19:10

• "Son" (υἱός, huios): This word means "son," and here it is paired with "of man" to refer to Jesus himself, a title he often uses that connects him to humanity.
• "Seek" (ζητέω, zēteō): This Greek word means to look for or search out. It shows that Jesus’s mission is active—he goes out of his way to find those who are lost, not waiting for them to come to him.
• "Save" (σῴζω, sōzō): This word means to rescue, deliver, or make safe. It emphasizes that Jesus’s goal is not just to find the lost, but to bring them to safety or wholeness.
• "Lost" (ἀπόλλυμι, apollymi): This word often means destroyed, ruined, or perishing. In this context, it refers to people who are spiritually lost or cut off, showing the seriousness of their situation and the urgency of Jesus’s mission.

Why Luke 19:10 matters

• Luke 19:10 clarifies that Jesus’s main purpose is to seek out and save those who are lost, not just to teach or perform miracles.
• The verse explains why Jesus spends time with people considered sinners or outsiders, showing that no one is beyond his concern.
• This statement sums up the message of the story of Zacchaeus and connects to the larger theme in Luke’s Gospel of God’s care for the outcast and the lost.