God Cares About the One

Introduction

Luke 19:1–10 NIV

1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Background

Transition

Jesus Knew His Location

Luke 19:1 NIV

1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.

Luke 19:4 NIV

4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

Jesus Knew His Name

Luke 19:5 NIV

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

Zaccheus means “righteous one” (not living up to his name)

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume Luke 19:1–10

Many, no doubt, were converted to the faith of Christ of whom no account is kept in the gospels; but the conversion of some, whose case had something in it extraordinary, is recorded, as this of Zaccheus.

Jesus Knew His Story

Luke 19:7 NIV

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

Closing