John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. And he sought to see Jesus who he was , etc.] What sort of a person he was for complexion, stature, and age: having heard much of him, he was very desirous of indulging his curiosity with a sight of him; having, as yet, nothing else that induced him to desire to see him: his desire to see Jesus was not of the same kind with the kings and prophets, ( Matthew 13:16) but rather like that of Herod, ( Luke 23:8) and could not for the press ; the multitude of people that were flocking to meet Jesus, or who came before him, or were about him; for one part of the multitude went before him, and the other followed after him; so that he was in the crowd, and therefore could not easily be seen; because he was little of stature . The Syriac and Persic versions read, because Zacchaeus was little of stature, lest it should be thought that this is said of Jesus; for the reason why Zacchaeus could not see him for the crowd, was not because Christ was little of stature, and was hid among them, but because Zacchaeus was little of stature, and could not see over their heads.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - Those who sincerely desire a sight of Christ, like Zaccheus, will brea through opposition, and take pains to see him. Christ invited himsel to Zaccheus' house. Wherever Christ comes he opens the heart, an inclines it to receive him. He that has a mind to know Christ, shall be known of him. Those whom Christ calls, must humble themselves, and com down. We may well receive him joyfully, who brings all good with him Zaccheus gave proofs publicly that he was become a true convert. He does not look to be justified by his works, as the Pharisee; but by his good works he will, through the grace of God, show the sincerity of his faith and repentance. Zaccheus is declared to be a happy man, now he is turned from sin to God. Now that he is saved from his sins, from the guilt of them, from the power of them, all the benefits of salvatio are his. Christ is come to his house, and where Christ comes he bring salvation with him. He came into this lost world to seek and to sav it. His design was to save, when there was no salvation in any other He seeks those that sought him not, and asked not for him.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ εζητει 2212 5707 V-IAI-3S ιδειν 1492 5629 V-2AAN τον 3588 T-ASM ιησουν 2424 N-ASM τις 5101 I-NSM εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S και 2532 CONJ ουκ 3756 PRT-N ηδυνατο 1410 5711 V-INI-3S-ATT απο 575 PREP του 3588 T-GSM οχλου 3793 N-GSM οτι 3754 CONJ τη 3588 T-DSF ηλικια 2244 N-DSF μικρος 3398 A-NSM ην 2258 5713 V-IXI-3S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
3. He sought (ezhtei). Imperfect. He was busy seeking as Jesus passed. Who he was. Lit., is. No to see what kind of a person, but which one of the crowd he was.Stature (hlikia). See on ch. xii. 25.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
19:3 {He sought} (ezetei). Imperfect active. He was seeking, conative idea. {Jesus who he was} (iesoun tis estin). proleyis, to see who Jesus was. He had heard so much about him. He wanted to see which one of the crowd was Jesus. {For the crowd} (apo tou oclou). He was short and the crowd was thick and close. {Stature} (tei helikiai). No doubt of that meaning here and possibly so in #2:52. Elsewhere "age" except #Lu 12:25; Mt 6:27 where it is probably "stature" also.
