Small Stature.

Peace be with you.

Let’s pray. Father, may your will be done. Jesus, may your word be proclaimed. Spirit, may your work be accomplished in us we pray. Amen.

I. Context

A. Child-like.

Luke 18:17 NASB95

17 “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

B. Wealthy.

Luke 18:24–27 NASB95

24 And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! 25 “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”

C. Seeker-friendly.

Luke 18:40–42 NASB95

40 And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, 41 “What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, I want to regain my sight!” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.”

II. Zacchaeus.

A. “Rich”.

Someone it is impossible to enter into the kingdom of God.

B. “Chief Tax Collector”.

Not just a sinner, but a tax collector. Not just any tax collector, but a chief tax collector!

C. “Small in Stature.”

in verse 3, we are told that he is “small in stature”. The Greek word Mikros which means small relates to maturity. It means young, not mature, not grown up, few, and small in that manner. The Greek Word helikia reinforces the manner in which Zach is mikros, it means adult, full-aged, in body and mind. When Zach takes off running and climbs a tree what does that remind you of.

D. Seeks Jesus.

Prevented by the crowd, just like Blind Bartimaeus who calls out for Jesus, Zacchaeus climbs up a tree for Jesus to see Him.

E. Jericho.

Luke tells us this takes place in Jericho, where Joshua led Israel into Canaan and took possession of the promise land. The impossible happened at Jericho where the city’s fortified walls came down. Here we see something similar taking shape. What is impossible for a rich man to accomplish, is accomplished by Jesus (Yeshua) when he calls him to come down from the tree. We see a chief tax collector (enemy of God as a sinner) enter into the kingdom of God as a saint.

D. A Man and a Tree.

Like a Child, Zacchaeus took off running and climbed a tree. These are the actions of a child, who, desiring to get a glimpse of that which his desires are aimed, demonstrates what it means to have faith like a child. To boldly take action to obtain what the heart moves it to do without restraint.

What is more is that there is a man in a tree. If we do not meditate on the scriptures then we will lose these subtle glimpses of Christ. Luke tells us that Jesus looks up and sees the man, Zacchaeus, in a tree. Maybe it is not that big of a deal for a grown man to be up on a tree but there again it may mean something very profound and deep. See Jesus is passing through Jericho which is on his way to Jerusalem which we all know what that means. Jesus will become the ultimate man up on a tree to pay for sin and die for all who believe. Zacchaeus’ child-like action has led him to climb a tree for Jesus. See this, Jesus tells him to come down, for Jesus will be the one who will climb a tree for him. Zacchaeus represents a willing to do for Jesus what Jesus is about to do for him in Jerusalem. Those who are willing to count the cost and follow after Jesus carrying their cross are worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven and that is exactly what Zacchaeus has demonstrated to Jesus, no matter the cost, he is willing to do whatever it takes to seek Jesus. Jesus will not only reciprocate in kind but do even further, to Die up in a tree to secure Zacchaeus salvation. Jesus looked up and saw a man in a tree who demonstrated the kind of faith that affords the salvation that Jesus accomplishes on a tree.

III. Application

Seeker- Jesus has come to seek and save the lost. Like one who leaves the 99 to seek after the one who is lost so Jesus Seeks after even chief tax collectors who no one likes. Zaccheus also “seeks” for Jesus. Zacchaeus also relate the the blind man, Bartimaeus, who seeks Jesus when he hears him come by through the crowd. Both end us seeing Jesus face to face and are given new life. But they rejoice with Bartimaeus but grumble with Zacchaeus.

Like a Child- Lke 18:17 teaches us unless we receive the Kingdom of God like a Child we cannot enter it. Here we are given that example of someone like a child (see theological definitions of “Little Stature” Minas helikia) who runs and climbs a tree to “seek” Jesus and finds Him. Both the children and Zacchaeus are prevent from others to come to Jesus but Jesus opens the way and child and Zacchaeus like a child finds a way.

Hosting Dinner. Jesus teaches us a parable about how to host a meal by inviting those who are not in positions of honor but those who are on the outside. Zacchaeus is very much on the outside of the community, and in the crowd positioning himself in the unlikely place to be invited forward by Jesus to dine with Him.

Worst of the Worst. Luke also informs us throughout his Gospels on the perception of Tax collectors in relation to sinners. It is one thing to be identified as a sinner, but is it a very different, far worse, thing to be a tax collector, and Luke tells us that that Zacchaeus is a chief tax collector.

Repentance and Restitution. The narrative also teaches the about the repentance and restitution that Zacchaeus initiates to Jesus. Zacchaeus embodies the better rich young ruler who is willing to give up his possession and make restitution for his wrong doing and follow after Jesus. Zacchaeus immeditately, so it seems, to consider the Kingdom of God of more value than his Kingdom of wealth. By faith in Jesus the impossible situation of a wealthy person entering the kingdom of God is made possible with Jesus.

Grumbling. Here we are told the people grumble again. They are in the annoying habit of grumbling. Yet their grumbling is out shined with the rejoicing of Heaven that happens when the lost are found. We need to align our affections towards the Kingdom of heaven and not of this world who despise the grace, mercy, and love that God shows towards sinners.

Come down. Like the walls of Jericho that once came down at the call of a trumpet, so Zacchaeus comes down out of a tree at the call of the voice of Jesus and is invited to feast with him which is the sign of the entering the kingdom.

IV. Closing

So may we, like Zacchaeus, become child-like enough to climb and humble enough to come down. Let the walls of pride and sin that keep us from Jesus fall flat before His mercy. For the same Lord who brought down Jericho’s walls now calls each of us by name, saying, “Come down, for I must stay at your house today.” The greater Joshua still does the impossible—He saves those who were enemies of God and makes them sons and daughters of His Kingdom. Let us therefore seek Him with childlike faith, repent with sincere hearts, and rejoice that salvation has come home. May the walls of our pride fall, may our child-like faith cause us to run to Christ, that salvaation and entrance into the Kingdom be ours.