A Tale of Two Rich Men
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The Ruler and the Tax Collector
The Ruler and the Tax Collector
You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”
“All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.
A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.
The ruler had been especially RIGHTEOUS. Zacchaeus had been especially SINFUL.
A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.
The ruler wanted to get to HEAVEN. Zacchaeus wanted to get to JESUS.
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”
Jesus gave both of them what they wanted—the ruler got DIRECTIONS to Heaven, and Zacchaeus got to HOST JESUS for dinner.
When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy.
The ruler was unwilling to GIVE UP everything he had to BE WITH Jesus.
So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
BEING WITH Jesus made Zacchaeus want to GIVE UP everything he had.
Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
The ruler MISSED OUT ON the kingdom, but Zacchaeus found SALVATION.
Eating with Jesus
Eating with Jesus
Jesus eats with sinners because his PRESENCE is the CURE.
Knowing Jesus is what gives us REASON to REPENT.
Repentance means JOINING with Jesus’ MISSION.
If you STRUGGLE to repent, SPEND time with Jesus!
If you WANT OTHERS to repent, GIVE THEM time with Jesus!
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
1. What did you find most interesting about the sermon this week? The most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling?
2. What is the difference between seeking Heaven and seeking Jesus? How does that play out in everyday life?
3. Why do you think Jesus gave the ruler such a difficult task in order to get eternal life? Was it fair?
4. The Ruler’s stumbling block was wealth. What other stumbling blocks keep us from following Jesus?
5. Why do you think Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus?
6. Can you sympathize with the crowd who were upset that Jesus would eat with a cheating, Roman collaborator?
7. What do you think Zacchaeus experienced with Jesus that changed his heart?
8. Why do you think Zacchaeus decided to give away his wealth?
9. How did Zacchaeus’ generosity fit in with the mission of Jesus?
10. What would it look like for you to join in the mission of Jesus the way Zacchaeus did?