Jesus and Zacchaeus

Setting the stage

Luke 18 we saw journey of faith on prayer, on persistence.

Luke 18 we also saw the proclamation of mission, Jesus mission what was waiting for Him when He got to Jerusalem, that all the things written were going to be accomplished.

Luke 18 we yet saw the compassion of Jesus as He was coming into Jericho and a mans eye-sight was restored because of his faith and now we will see salvation will reach an unlikely person, an outcast in an unlikely place, a tree.

A little more, Jericho was a wealthy city near the Jordan river known for its trade, palm trees and balsam groves.

This is set toward the end of Jesus public ministry. He is on the way to Jerusalem to be handed over now.

He is about to have an encounter with Zacchaeus a chief tax collector, a wealthy man, despised by the Jews as a collaborator with the Romans as known for corruption as in making money off the Jews. Tax collectors were considered traitors and sinners.

In the passage Zacchaeus climbs a tree, this would be highly undignified for a grown man to do, especially a wealthy official and would be showing his desperation and humility in doing such to see Jesus.

Can anyone tell me what the name Zacchaeus means? It means “Pure or innocent” a direct contrast to how others saw him.

Theme of the passage is that salvation reaches the outcast, and it highlights repentance, inclusion and Jesus mission found in Lk19:10 “to seek and save the Lost.”

Our Study Passage

Luke 19:1–2 NASB95

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich.

Luke 19:3–4 NASB95

3 Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.

Luke 19:5–6 NASB95

5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly.

Luke 19:7–8 NASB95

7 When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.”

Luke 19:9–10 NASB95

9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Anything in particular stand out to you?

What more can you learn about Zaccheus in (v.2)?

He was a man

He was a chief tax collector

He was rich

I wondered if a “chief tax collector” had any significance so did a little research.

Yes, there was significant meaning to being a chief tax collector in Jesus’ day—both socially and spiritually.

1. Position and Power

A chief tax collector (Greek: ἀρχιτελώνης, architelōnēs) held a high-ranking position in the Roman taxation system. While ordinary tax collectors gathered tolls, customs, or duties, the chief tax collector:

Oversaw a district or region with multiple subordinate tax collectors under him.

Was responsible for bidding for tax contracts and then collecting (and profiting from) taxes beyond what Rome required.

Had great wealth and influence, often owning a portion of what his subordinates collected.

In Luke 19:2, Zacchaeus is called a "chief tax collector" and is described as very rich, showing that this position brought material gain—often at the expense of others.

2. Social and Religious Stigma

Tax collectors were despised by Jewish society because:

They worked for the Roman occupiers, seen as traitors to their people.

They were associated with greed, corruption, and exploitation.

They were often excluded from synagogue worship and labeled "sinners" by the Pharisees (Luke 15:1-2).

As a chief among them, Zacchaeus would have been even more hated, considered a leader in unrighteousness.

Summary

Being a chief tax collector signified:

Great earthly power and wealth.

Great social rejection and spiritual disrepute.

What was Zaccheus trying to do (v.3) and what did he do (v.4)?

He wanted to see Jesus

He was small in stature so he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Him.

So, First Zaccheus sought Jesus, now see what happens

What did Jesus do (v.5) and what did Zaccheus do (v.6)?

Jesus looked up and told Zaccheus to come down for he must stay at your house today

He hurried down and received Him gladly.

What did the people in the crowd do (v.7)? and what did Zaccheus do (v.8)?

The crowd grumbled because Jesus went to be with a sinner

Zaccheus said would give away half of his possessions to the poor and four times as much to anyone he had defrauded.

It all comes down to these two verses (vv.9-10), what happens here?

Jesus said salvations has come to this house.

He is a son of Abraham too.

The Son of Man came to seek and save that which is lost.

What did Zaccheus do that changed everything at this point? (hint, look back to v.8).

If you still did not get it consider

Matthew 4:17 NASB95

17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Zaccheus repented! Jesus baptism was not yet, that did not come in until Pentecost, John did preach a baptism for remission of sins (Mt3:11), but that was not into possession of Jesus for He had not been glorified yet.

Big Idea of this passage is that God’s grace can transform even the most unlikely individuals, leading to radical changed and renewal in our lives. Can you think of any other biblical character that was radically changed (Legion, Rahab, Mary of Magdalene) what about someone you know, what about you.

This passage encourages us to reflect on our faith journey and to help others to know grace is never far out of reach, that Jesus came to save sinners just like us. He came to save the Lost.

Seeking the Savior

Zaccheus was financially wealthy but spiritually wanting, longing.

The world is longing, wanting, driving, looking for something. They are willing to go look for it, to take the initiative like for Zaccheus it was humbling himself and climbing a tree.

What have you been willing to do to fill voids in your life? Was it a job, a hobby, a work out regiment, yoga? or something else, maybe a form of religious practice?

What does Zacchaeus’s determination to Jesus reveal about his heart?

There are times in your faith journey when you will have to decide if you are willing to climb a tree or not to see Jesus

What do you think climbing a tree to see Jesus today may look like?

Jesus seeks Zaccheus

Zaccheus marking his humility and vulnerability, and now Jesus calls him by name.

Jesus offers personal fellowship, I must stay at your house today. - - - - immediately, he came down and gladly received Jesus.

Do you think that the personal call was significant? Do you think the Lord calls today personally? Is our response to be immediate too?

Do you think it was by chance you were saved, or did Jesus seek You? His mission was to seek and save the lost, right? He was working on you, long before you were seeking Him.

Suppressing Self-righteousness

Without a doubt you can look around and the crowd can be worked into a frenzy about anything and not even know what they are being worked up about. This crowd is worked up because of the company Jesus is keeping.

Crowds complaint: Jesus is gone to be a guest of a man who is a sinner.

The tension arises of social judgments and divine grace. The crowd is not listening to the word of the Lord that said salvation has come to your house today. They did not deem the chief tax collector worthy of divine grace.

Divine grace is not limited by human opinions, it is without any prejudices at all, it is divine, God given through faith.

Jesus did not even justify any response to the crowd on this directly but wrapped it all up in the next three verses

Jesus declaration of salvation

First comes Zacchaeus’ declaration of repentance (v.8)

You also can see the promise of restitution as evidence of a heart in the midst of being transformed.

Have you had to in your Christian walk had to offer forgiveness to someone or ask for forgiveness from someone? That is evidence of a changed heart.

True change manifests in actions that reflect Jesus love and generosity. Jesus mission is clearly stated in (v.10)- to seek and save the lost, and Zacchaeus story is a great experience of showing God’s ever reaching and transformative grace.

What does this story teach us about Jesus’s priorities and mission?

Life applications

Seek Jesus intentionally

Be willing to do something uncomfortable or undignified to know Him more

Welcome Jesus joyfully and follow obediently

No one is beyond the reach of Gods, Jesus grace/ Who in your life needs to experience the grace of Jesus through you? It starts with You, Let Jesus into all areas of your life, your heart, your home, just like Zacchaeus did.

Repent genuinely, let go of reputation

Show your transformation by letting go of reputation and let your transformation be seen through your actions not just your words. Zacchaeus risked ridicule to see Jesus. What bold step might you take to grow closer to Christ?

See others with grace

Do not be like the crowd that judged; rejoice when someone turns to Christ!

Embrace the mission/live on mission

Reflect Jesus’ purpose: seek out and love the lost. Jesus came to seek and save the lost and invites us into that mission. How can we reflect Jesus’s mission this week?

(Prayer) (Exit)