Christ Saves Zaccheus

1. CHRIST SAVES ZACCHEUS ()

Luke 19:1–10 HCSB

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.”

The Chapter begins with “He entered Jericho”, we don’t know just by reading this Chapter who Luke is talking about until we get on down to verse 3. It is always good when studying a passage of scripture to read what the verses say before and after them.

So many people, including some pastors, take scripture out of context when reading just one verse or a couple of verses and drawing a conclusion as to what they mean on their own. There have been denominations started just because they make a conclusion from just part of the scripture,without looking at the Bible as a whole, and they base their beliefs on that one scripture. That is why we have so many denominations in the Christian church.

So, if we go back to verses 35-43 of Chapter 18 we see that Luke is clearly talking about Jesus walking on the road to Jericho, and if you go back a little further you will see why he is on the road to Jerusalem.

That’s just a little bit of information of how to do a bible study, now let’s get back to the text at hand. You people are already distracting me.

Let’s look at the character in this story recorded in .

I. THE CHARACTER—

Luke 19:1–4 HCSB

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.

Don’t look upon people as to what they are, rather, what they can be. Find out why they are the way they are. Maybe he is his grumpy old self because he has fallen in depression in years past became grumpy, which made people avoid him, which makes him even more depressed, even more grumpy so people avoid him a little more. It’s a domino effect. When all he needs is a little love, understanding, and help through this time. Maybe he needs the love of Jesus shared with him.

A. His name was Zaccheus

Let’s see who he was, and why he was who he was.

1. He was a publican—tax collector

It doesn’t say here, but tax collectors were generally disliked by the majority of the people. Why? Because they were given the task of collecting the taxes from the people, for the government. They were granted full authority to collect in any means they felt necessary to get the required amount of taxes. They were not paid by the government to do this. They were to collect what was owed to the government, and their payment was whatever they could collect above and beyond what was owed to the government.

2. He was rich—perhaps though dishonestly

So, with that being said they were able to use any means necessary to collect however much money they wanted with the full backing of the government. You could see how this position could make a person dishonest, and without any conscience about it. This position could make a dishonest person very rich, and very much disliked, but with that much power there is not much any one can do about it.

An honest person could do this job if it is someone who loves people, and who would just look at it as a job, and pay themselves a fair but humble wage. They could be someone who the people may not like what they do,

3. He was a short man

B. Anxious to see Jesus—“Climbed a sycamore tree”

(Are you anxious to be with Jesus?—)

II. THE COMMUNION—

A. Jesus’ orders—“Come down”

(I must abide at your house. Is Jesus at your house?)

B. His obedience

1. Made haste and came down

2. Received Jesus joyfully

3. He did not ask any questions or make any excuses, but obeyed

III. THE COMPLAINING—

A. The people complained because Jesus took time with a sinner

B. Jesus loves “bad people” and wants to save them

C. Christians need to be interested in “bad people” and seek to win them to Christ

D. Too many Christians feel that they are too good to fellowship with sinners

IV. THE CONVERSION—

A. Gave his money to the poor

(Giving is a good sign of real Christianity)

B. Restitution—“Restored fourfold”

(Not only right with God, but right with man)

C. Salvation—“Today salvation is come to thy house”

(Yes, Jesus’ blood cleanses “bad people,” too)

D. Christ’s mission—v.

(Seek and save those that are lost)

Christ had time for Zaccheus, though he was a tax collector, and was hated by others. Christ didn’t see the bad—He saw the good

Pentz, C. M. (1968). 52 Simple Sermon Outlines (p. 11). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.