A Friend to Sinners.

He entered Jericho and was passing through. There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since He was about to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today I must stay at your house.” So he quickly came down and welcomed Him joyfully. All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to lodge with a sinful man!” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord! And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much!” “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

Prayer

Context

Jericho Is a city that neighbors Jerusalem 18 miles away and 3500 feet below Jerusalem in elevation the road is no easy trek either.

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Zacchaeus

Chief tax collector:

Rome preferred to hire locals who operated as subcontractors familiar with a region’s inhabitants, land, and roads.

They taxed travelers who were carrying merchandise between properties or delivering goods along certain well-defined roads.

Tax collectors earned a profit by demanding a higher percentages than Rome demanded but they were protected by Rome. This system led to widespread greed and corruption.

Jewish tax collectors who overtaxed their fellow countrymen were especially despised. Jews viewed such favor for Rome as betrayal and equal to treason against God.

A chief tax collector had large territories and would hire their own employees to collect their taxes.

Self Righteous

Opposed by Jesus

The belief that one is morally upright and has earned salvation because of strict adherence to moral and religious laws; often associated with an attitude of superiority toward those who are considered less righteous.

In this passage, “the righteous” (díkaios) denotes self-righteousness a part from God, rather than the righteousness that comes from God.

The Pharisees considered themselves righteous and refused to associate with sinners such as tax collectors.

Situation: (1-4)

Zacchaeus hears that Jesus is passing through town on His way to Jerusalem and He wants to see what the commotion was. So he climbs a tree to get a good look at him.

Wealthy political types don’t climb trees unless you got your wealth through tax collecting.

The Stress V.5

Luke 19:5 (HCSB)

When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today I must stay at your house.”

Jesus’ ministry is marked in many places by the self-righteous leaders confronting Jesus about his dealing with sinners.

Luke 15:1–2 HCSB

All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to Him. And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!”

Jesus reserved His strongest words for the Pharisees, whose righteousness was merely a matter of external actions rather than of the heart

Matthew 23:25–28 HCSB

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence! Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so the outside of it may also become clean. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every impurity. In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

They were furious because Jesus did not acknowledge them as the religious leaders and He did not praise them for their way of living.

Instead He favored the company of those who were poor, defeated, beat-down by society, and treated as outsiders. Sinners, yes, but they had an understanding of their wrong, they felt the weight of their actions and had remorse for their sin.

Matthew 9:10–13 (HCSB)

While He was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came as guests to eat with Jesus and His disciples.

When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

But when He heard this, He said, “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do.

Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

The Savior

Jesus is my hero. I am amazed how He could

1. Maintain His righteousness in the presence of sin,

2. It's incredible how God refrains from judgment, inviting people into fellowship and forgiveness, empowering them to change and follow Him.

3. Jesus made space for sinners during His life on earth.

Examples:

The Demon Possessed Man

Mark 5:3–5 HCSB

He lived in the tombs. No one was able to restrain him anymore—even with chains — because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had snapped off the chains and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. And always, night and day, he was crying out among the tombs and in the mountains and cutting himself with stones.

Mark 5:13–17 HCSB

And He gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs, and the herd of about 2,000 rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there. The men who tended them ran off and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed by the legion, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. The eyewitnesses described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and told about the pigs. Then they began to beg Him to leave their region.

Another example of Jesus’s kindness and mercy is the women caught in adultery

John 8:1–11 HCSB

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn He went to the temple complex again, and all the people were coming to Him. He sat down and began to teach them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. “Teacher,” they said to Him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do You say?” They asked this to trap Him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse Him. Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with His finger. When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then He stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only He was left, with the woman in the center. When Jesus stood up, He said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

Zacchaeus was full of greed and extorted people, but He was curious about Jesus.

The Demon Possessed Man, molested and terrorized a community of farmers but he realized his need for Jesus’ help.

The adulterous women commited adultery and was caught in the act, but she recognized her guilt before Jesus.

Jesus is a friend of sinners

If you are curious about Jesus,

or if you recognize your needs are greater than your power,

and If you acknowledge your guilt Jesus will acknowledge you and meet you with mercy.

He’ll make His presence know to you.

1. First as a friend with a listening ear,

2. Then as a God who can satisfy your

curiosity,

3. He’ll meet your greatest needs and

remove all your guilt as a sinner.

The Salvation, How does it happen?

v-6

Zacchaeus welcomed Him gladly as a friend.

However once he spent time with Jesus, he came to know him as Lord

Luke 19:8–10 (HCSB)

But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord! And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much!”

“Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham.

{Not through works but by faith. The giving of the money was not a requirement for salvation, it was the result of salvation}.

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

Zacchaeus is proof that regardless of the life you have lived, If you are curious about the Lord, He will engage you and reveal Himself as Lord to you, but you must be willing to change as a result of Following him not a requirement before you follow Him

You may be here today and you call Him a friend, but God is inviting you to follow Him in a much deeper way.

You may welcome talks about Jesus and faith, but Jesus wants you to become a faithful worshipper of God

New Situation

How do you see yourself?

As a sinner or self-righteous?

What is a sinner? Someone who sins.

The “good person” test - Ray Comfort

Have you ever told a lie, liar

Have you ever stolen anything, thief

Have you ever coveted others stuff?

Have you ever murdered someone, with a look of anger?

Have you ever lusted after someone of have immoral relationships? That makes you an adulterer.

If you stand before a good, and just judge for those crimes, would you be guilty or innocent? a sinner admits they're guilty but a self-righteous denies their sin only confirming their a liar.

Louie Giglio

Had a great thought regarding Jesus and why He always wanted to eat with sinners. He said “It is because Jesus have gotten tired of eating every meal by Himself.”

Romans 3:23 HCSB

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 HCSB

He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Who is Jesus? He is a Friend to sinners.

But He wants more than that.

He wants you to embrace salvation and follow His better path, leaving behind your old ways

From Friend to follower (Worship team)

Matthew 21:28–32 (HCSB)

“But what do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go, work in the vineyard today.’

“He answered, ‘I don’t want to!’ Yet later he changed his mind and went.

Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. “ ‘I will, sir,’ he answered. But he didn’t go.

“Which of the two did his father’s will [followed Him]?” “The first,” they said. Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you!

For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him, but you, when you saw it, didn’t even change your minds then and believe him.

As we close, we will finish with singing Gratitude.

Brandon Lake says in 3rd verse...

“I got one response, Ive got just one move...”

For Zacchaeus it was act on His curiosity and focus on Jesus.

The demon possessed man it was fall at his feet in need.

For the adulterous women it was bare her guilt before Jesus.

What is your response to Jesus this morning?

He is here today,

He wants you experience His friendship,

but you must be curious, acknowledge your need,

and bare your guilt and

be willing to receive Him with gladness in order to experience His mercy, grace and forgiveness.

A Friend to Sinners.

Who is Jesus? He is a Friend to Sinners.

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