Zaccheaus
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He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 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. 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. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 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.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Zaccheaus a Chief Tax Collector
Zaccheaus a Chief Tax Collector
We learn of Jesus travels heading up to Jerusalem. From Jericho the journey up is approzimately 3,300 feet up.
We also learn about Zaccheaus occupation and his financial status in the first 2 verses.
He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.
Jesus recognizes and uses the unpopularity of tax collectors to teach.
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
One of the things we need to do in order to take advantage of the wonderful promises of Jesus is to make an appropriate assesment of oursleves.
Humility is key in our slavation.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
Zaccheaus took a humble assessment of himself physically, as we ought to take a humble assessment of ourselves spiritually.
And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature.
This is the humbling of Zaccheaus in verse 3.
Then Zaccheaus makes the proper preparations to get himself in a position to see Jesus. Consider verse 4
So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.
Next we see Jesus repond to Zaccheaus. Jesus sees all, even in the crowd He notices Zaccheaus. Jesus is not small of stature. He knows what we have done to see Him; to find Him.
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.
Zaccheaus joyfully repsonds like one who had lost something and found it. It is the joy we have at finding our Savior and being saved. Do you remember that feeling?
The crowd however had a different response. Similar to the first laborers in the vineyard who were upset with the landowner for giving equal pay to the late comers in the vineyard. cf. (Mt. 20:1-16) How is this right we might think that Jesus would associate with sinners like that? Zaccheaus as a chief tax collector represents the outcast.
And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”
The euphoria of acceptance by our Savior is a wonderful feeling. Perhaps you felt it when you were saved? Zaccheaus certainly is struck by the gracious acceptance of Jesus. So much so that He freely offers to make restitution (repentance) for his past.
We see that he is no stranger to the reqirements of the law. He just hasn't been obeying them. What Zaccheaus offers to do is from the law of Moses.
Note at this time salvation has not come to Zaccheaus at the simple recognition of Jesus. Something is required of him. He must do something. He already has been accounted (born) into Abraham's family. What is required of him is repentance.
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.”
Concern for the poor is a most certain calling of our Lord and so for us also. Perhaps we need to take a better look at how we are doing in this area of ministry. In the Gospel of Luke the poor is a very strong theme in conjunction with the correct use of possessions.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
Luke(poor-11x) has twice as many references to the poor than Matthew (5x), Mark(5x) or John(5x).
The New American Commentary: Luke (7) The Christian Life
For example we read, “Sell your possessions” (12:33), or, “Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple” (14:33). Luke quoted Jesus’ words to the rich ruler found in Mark but intensified the demands by adding “everything”: “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me” (18:22).
What one does with his possessions is important to his Salvation and his Christianity.
Zaccheaus statement on the responsible use of wealth and possessions puts him back in line with the law. It in effect is his repentance and therefore salvation is at his doorstep.
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.
Hebrews should be familiar with how one ought to treat his neighbor and fulfill the two great commands of God's will.
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
After witnessing Zaccheaus confession Jesus speaks to His mission and ministry on earth.
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
You and I are short in a different sense and need to take a good look at ourselves to be sure we do not miss out on Jesus.
Where we see a need to repent we must do so.
Where we see a need for the poor, the oppressed and the blind we should act.
Not just the poor financial but the poor in spirit.
Serve the oppressed physically and spiritually.
Bring sight to the blind through the word of God.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,