Full Sermon Zacchaeus Shows Us Money’s Generous Side based on Luke 19:1-10

Let us pray: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I. Marcy and Jesse and “Mine!” I am sure you can remember a time when you bought a toy for a small girl and she did not want to share with a brother or sister. The brother or sister would want to play with the toy, but the little girl would not allow that and would say, “Mine!” You might have told her to share with a brother or sister, but the girl would hold that toy close to the chest and say, “Mine!”

My sister, Marcy, is twelve years younger than I am and we have a cousin, Jesse, who is about the same age as my sister. When they were both small children, they did a lot of things together. But they did not like to share with one another. So, if we bought a toy, we would often buy the exact same toy for both of them. We did not want them to fight over a toy.

II. Zacchaeus from “All Mine!” to “All Yours, Jesus!” This weekend we will conclude our three-week stewardship emphasis. We will look at Zacchaeus and how he shows us money’s generous side. Zacchaeus changes from thinking of his money as “All Mine!” to looking at Jesus and thinking of his money as “All Yours, Jesus!”

III. Read Luke 19:1-2 and comment. Luke 19:1-2 tells us, “(Jesus) entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.” This is the only time when the New Testament of the Bible connects the word “chief” to the expression “tax collector.” Zacchaeus was the top guy when collecting taxes was involved!

First century Jewish tax collectors worked for Rome. First century Jewish tax collectors could keep as much money as they collected—as long as Rome got its cut. This made Zacchaeus wealthy.

IV. Zacchaeus in today’s terms. In today’s terms, Zacchaeus would drive a brand new Mercedes, live in a 25,000-square-foot mansion at West Okoboji, and have season tickets to the Minnesota Vikings games. When thinking about money, Zacchaeus lives by one word—“Mine! It’s all mine!”

V. Zacchaeus and Luke 16:13. Then Zacchaeus took an honest look at himself. He might have heard these words of Jesus from Luke 16:13, “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Jesus did not say, “You shouldn’t serve two masters.” Jesus did not say, “Don’t serve two masters.” Jesus said, “You can’t serve two masters.” Trying to serve both God and money is impossible.

VI. Zacchaeus looked at himself. Zacchaeus took an honest look at himself. What did he see? He saw himself worshiping money. Zacchaeus began to see that if he did not change from “Mine” to “Yours” chasing after money would kill him.

VII. Story of greed. I read the following story: “A few years ago, authorities in Boston discovered the bodies of two women in a small apartment. Their cause of death? Malnutrition—malnutrition brought on by love of money. Authorities found $200,000 in cash hidden in the women’s mattresses!”

VIII. Take an honest look at yourself. If you do not understand money right, everything else will go wrong. If you do not get your attitude about money right, everything else in life will go completely wrong. How do you get your attitude about money right? Take an honest look at yourself. Then …

IX. Take a long look at Jesus and read Luke 19:3-4 and children’s song about Zacchaeus. Take a long look at Jesus. Luke 19:3–4 tells us, “And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.” Maybe you remember the children’s song about Zacchaeus: “Zacchaeus was a wee little man, And a wee little man was he. / He climbed up in a sycamore tree / For the Lord he wanted to see. / And as the Savior passed that way / He looked up in the tree, / And he said, ‘Zacchaeus you come down, For I’m going to your house today!’ / For I’m going to your house today!”

X. Jesus looks up and freed Zacchaeus from greed. Jesus looks up and he sees the local IRS chief tax collector looking at him. Zacchaeus had climbed a tree to see Jesus. Zacchaeus could have taken a short look at Jesus by just standing in the crowd. But that’s not the way to be free of financial miserliness and stinginess and pettiness. If we want to experience the freeing change from “Mine” to “Yours”—from greed to generosity—we need to take a long look at Jesus. We have to climb a tree and get out on a limb!

XI. Other Biblical examples of wanting to see Jesus. The wise men traveled a long distance—just to see Jesus. The shepherds left their sheep at night—just to see Jesus. Nicodemus waited for the darkness of night—he had to see Jesus. The Samaritan woman told lots of people in her village—she had to show them Jesus. Peter and John ran to the empty tomb on Easter—they had to see Jesus. Peter once jumped out of a boat and into the water—he would do anything to see Jesus!

XII. Take a long look at Jesus. Jesus. The Alpha and the Omega. The Beginning and the End. The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Jesus! The Root and Offspring of David and the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Why take a long, hard look at Jesus?

XIII. Because Jesus went to the cross.Because Jesus rose again. Because now we have forgiveness for every sin, direction at every turn, light for every dark day, and an anchor for every threatening storm! Jesus! Luke 19:10 tells us those amazing words of Jesus to Zacchaeus, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

XIV. Read Luke 19:5-6 and refer to Zacchaeus’ response. Luke 19:5-6 states, “And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.’ So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.”

Zacchaeus immediately jumped down from the tree.

XV. Read Luke 19:7. The crowd was shocked. Luke 19:7 states, “They all grumbled, ‘He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.’”

XVI. Read Luke 2:10 and comment. They wondered, “How can Jesus be such a great prophet if he hangs out with a scoundrel like Zacchaeus?” The angel answers that in Luke 2:10, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” “All the people.” That includes Zacchaeus. “All the people.” That includes even and especially you!

XVII. Take a direct look at people’s needs and Luke 19:8. Take a direct look at people’s needs. Luke 19:8 tells us, “And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.’”

XVIII. Three steps to generous giving. Zacchaeus took a good look at himself and he knew he worshiped money. Zacchaeus took a long look at Jesus and he knew real love for the first time. Then Zacchaeus took a direct look at people’s needs and he knew he needed to do something!

XIX. Why our church exists. Do you see them? All the people and all their needs! This is why our church exists! Connecting people to Jesus! Through pointing people to the Gospel good news about Jesus in the words of the Bible. Through the gracious working of the Holy Spirit in the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

XX. Read Luke 19:9 and comment. Luke 19:9 records, “Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, since he also, is a son of Abraham.’” Abraham was a man of faith—so is Zacchaeus. Abraham was saved by faith—so is Zacchaeus. How did Jesus know that Zacchaeus was a son of Abraham?

Jesus knew Zacchaeus was a son of Abraham because Zacchaeus’ attitude toward money changed. In that way he showed he had faith. Zacchaeus promised to give half of everything he owned to the poor. And, since Zacchaeus was a chief Jewish tax-collector working for Rome, the list of people he had cheated was a long one. Zacchaeus promised to pay them four times the amount he cheated them out of. Four times the amount!

XXI. Reasons to give. If you are mainly concerned about meeting the church budget, you will give only until we meet the budget. If you are concerned mainly about your duty, you will give only until you fulfill your duty. If you are giving mainly because of guilt, you will give only until your guilt goes away. Still, there is a better way to give!

XXII. Three steps to generous giving. Take an honest look at yourself. Take a long look at Jesus. Take a direct look at people’s needs. That will change how you give, what you give and why you give. How I give. What I give. Why I give That will change you from “Mine …” to “Lord, everything is Yours.”

XXIII. Conclude with wise words in Proverbs. The Old Testament lesson from Proverbs 3:5-6, 9-10 is good to think seriously about right now: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. … Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.