Called to Salvation - Luke 19:1-10

Introduction/Seeing the Need

Repentant people revalue their lives, and with renovated values they embark on renovated behavior, the subject of today’s lesson. Out text is part of Luke’s narrative of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. Jesus had warned his disciples that he would be put to death but raised to life again. Having arrived in Jericho, the setting of today’s lesson, Jesus was only about 15 miles from Jerusalem and its momentous events.

This lesson’s account is the last of three in close succession in which Jesus interacted with individuals who sought him out. The first was conversation with the man we call the rich young ruler; the second involved a blind beggar. The first man seemingly had every advantage and had followed every law of God; the second had nothing except the audacity to cry out persistently for Jesus’ mercy.

The surprising outcomes were that the advantaged man departed disappointed, while the disadvantaged one received his request and followed Jesus on the way. The reason we say surprising is because of commonly held viewpoints on privileged wealth and disadvantaged poverty. Those outcomes set the stage for the third and final encounter of the sequence. This encounter is with a tax collector. People in every time and place grumble about taxes and tax collectors. But tax collectors in first century Israel were especially despised. The Roman Empire had a practice of contracting for the collection of certain taxes. The process involved an auction for the authority to collect taxes in a particular location.

Recognizing an opportunity to make a profit, people would estimate the taxes that could be collected and bid accordingly. The winning bidder would then do everything possible to maximize taxes collected in order to maximize personal profit. Tax collectors were therefore despised for two reasons. One was the unfair and burdensome taxes they charged to enrich themselves. The other was the fact that such Jews were collaborators with the occupying force of pagan, oppressive Romans.

Determined Glimpse -

Luke 19:1–4 NRSV

He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way.

Luke 19

Jericho is a prosperous settlement in an oasis in the desert of the Jordan River valley. Though only 15 miles from Jerusalem, it is more than 3,000 feet lower in elevation and thus a demanding, uphill journey. Jesus is approaching the place of his predicted death and resurrection. The shadow of the cross and the light of the empty tomb fall across this episode.

In verse 2, we meet the man with whom Jesus will interact. Zacchaeus is described first as a chief tax collector - those who collect taxes for the Romans. Mentioned in the Bible only here, his description likely means that Zacchaeus is responsible for a region and supervises other tax collectors. This intensifies our sense that Zacchaeus is powerful and despised. The added note that Zacchaeus is wealthy confirms his status and reminds us of the rich young ruler.

As we seek to make disciples, under what circumstances, if any, will it be helpful to categorize people in terms of their wealth or lack thereof? Why?

In verse 3, Luke takes note of the crowd surrounding Jesus, as he travels to Jerusalem. The growing multitude fills the narrow streets of Jericho and prevents Zacchaeus from seeing Jesus. Luke seems to imply that Zacchaeus desires to learn about this well-known prophet so that he may evaluate him. Zacchaeus’ short stature prohibits him from looking over the crowd, and his outcast status makes it unlikely that anyone will make space for him, if he asked.

What safeguards can we adopt to ensure that we don’t block others view of Jesus as He should be seen today?

Now Zacchaeus solves his problem with actions that do not comport with his powerful status. In biblical times, powerful men do not run. They have people do that for them. But Zacchaeus accepts the humiliation of running to get ahead of the crowd following Jesus. That expedience accomplishes little, though, when the crowd catches up as Jesus as Jesus passes by.

So Zacchaeus takes another exceptional action: climbing into a sycamore-fig tree. This is one of the fig trees that flourishes in Jericho, with its hot climate and abundant spring water. Grown men - especially powerful men - do not climb trees in Jesus’ time. For the moment, Zacchaeus has humbled himself in hopes of seeing Jesus.

Surprise Announcement -

Luke 19:5–6 NRSV

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 down and was happy to welcome him.

We are not surprised when Jesus sees the curious sight of a grown man in a tree. But Jesus’ reaction is in every way exceptional. To address Zacchaeus by name is a remarkable personal note, for minor characters in the gospel story are seldom addressed by name. In any event, it is astonishing that Jesus recognizes and calls by name a man he has never met. This is one of many examples in the gospel story in which Jesus exhibits supernatural knowledge, knowledge that can be rightly expected of God alone.

In second half of verse 5, Jesus’ divine knowledge is applied to expressing a personal, urgent invitation to the man in the tree. Zacchaeus is to come down immediately: that is, to do all in his power to accomplish what Jesus commands. Zacchaeus had climbed a tree to see Jesus; but now, having humbled himself, he will need no such undignified posture. Jesus will come to be a guest at Zacchaeus’ house.

Jesus of course will be Zacchaeus’ guest, yet Jesus initiates the invitation. It is as if he were the host. Jesus takes the role of authority in the exchanges, yet in so doing he dignifies Zacchaeus by designating the man’s home as the place where Jesus will receive refreshment. The added note of time (today) stresses the urgency of the invitation. Further, Jesus uses a telling expression translated “must”. Despite Zacchaeus being despised by his contemporaries as a traitor, Jesus’ visit to the man’s home is a divine necessity.

Luke describes Zacchaeus’ reaction with words that precisely replicate Jesus’ instructions. The wealthy tax collector readily submits to Jesus’ greater authority; he does not submit fearfully or grudgingly, but joyfully. He has hoped only to catch a glimpse of Jesus, but now he has been chosen to be Jesus’ host. Zacchaeus seems to recognize the invitation as one of divine grace, representing a new opportunity of some sort.

What are some practical ways our church can demonstrate the joy of encountering Christ?

Varied Attitudes -

Luke 19:7–10 NRSV

All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

In verse 7, not everyone is joyous. The crowds that accompany Jesus include many who recognize Zacchaeus as a notorious tax collector. They express the common opinion that such people are, by definition, evil. Disloyal to God and his people, tax collectors opportunistically link their fortunes with the pagan oppressors.

Jesus frequently receives such criticism in this Gospel. Only here do we see the hostility directed against a specific individual. And historical sources show us that this is unlikely to be the first time Zacchaeus has faced such hostility. He is a member of a despised class, and those who despise the class do so for what they believe are godly reasons. It’s likely that Zacchaeus has never gotten used to such treatment, even though it is painfully familiar.

In verse 8, Luke draws our attention to the importance of the pronouncement by indicating that Zacchaeus stands to speak and begins with the word “look.” This expression draws attention to what is to follow. Zacchaeus pledges half of is wealth to the poor - it is an exorbitant gift! This act of generosity reflects the generosity that God is now showing him through Jesus.

Next Zacchaeus responds to his prior life. If I have cheated anybody out of anything might sound as if Zacchaeus is waffling on responsibility for his actions. But in the original language text, it is clear that he is confessing openly that he has done such things and is ready to make restitution. This will be to any and all, not just to some, whom he has wronged. The Mosaic Law called for restitution between two and five times when theft or fraud is committed. Zacchaeus does not debate the proper number. Rather, he openly promises a high level of restitution.

What challenges should we anticipate when a person with a notorious reputation comes to Christ?

We may wonder if Zacchaeus’ promise is foolhardy. Since he begins by promising half his wealth as a gift to the poor, does he not run the risk of exhausting his resources before fulfilling all the restitutions? This very extravagance seems to be Luke’s point. Zacchaeus is no longer the profit-minded opportunist. He is now the recipient of the extravagant grace of God, so he responds with similar extravagance.

Zacchaeus displays the full ideal of repentance. Repentance is a change of mind, heart, and life in response to God’s gracious gift. Its fullness is measured not in how guilty the individual feels, not in how emotional is the transition, not even in how immediate the change is. Rather, repentance is genuine when an individual’s life increasingly reflects God’s goodness and grace. Zacchaeus is now on the right track in that regard.

Jesus affirms Zacchaeus’ repentance. This is a momentous occasion, one that reflects fulfillment of God’s promises and Jesus’ mission. Salvation in the New Testament reflects all that we typically associate with it and more than we sometimes realize. To be saved by the Lord is to be graciously granted life with the Lord beyond death. It is to guarantee resurrection to eternal life in God’s recreated heavens and earth. It is also to be restored to God’s blessed life in the present to begin to experience the authentic life for which humans were made.

The latter does not imply an easy or materially wealthy life, of course. Salvation comes by the cross and calls the saved to take up their crosses. But salvation also transforms our perspectives to realize that the life of humble service in the Lord’s name is the divinely blessed life for which God has created us. For Zacchaeus, the salvation that comes to his house....today is more than the assurance that death will not have the final word. It is also his restoration to the authentic life of God’s people.

Zacchaeus’ contemporaries consider him a traitor who has forfeited citizenship in Israel, God’s people. Jesus now pronounces the opposite: Zacchaeus is a son of Abraham. It is no accident that Jesus refers to Abraham instead of Jacob, Abraham’s grandson who became father of the 12 tribes. God’s promise is to bless all nations through Abraham’s seed. Zacchaeus is now reclaimed for God’s people according to God’s promise. Ironically, those devout Jews who are hostile to Zacchaeus run the risk of missing out on God’s promise if they fail to respond to God’s generosity in Jesus as Zacchaeus has just done.

Conclusion

Considering Zacchaeus’ pledge to give half his wealth to the poor, we may wonder why Jesus celebrated that promise when he had challenged the rich young ruler to give it all. The difference is in how each man viewed himself and how that view directed the response of each.

The ruler came to Jesus in self-assurance. He intended to do some great deed that would earn God’s favor. He was quite sure that he was blameless before God’s law. Zacchaeus, on the other hand, responded with repentant generosity. He recognized his real need - his weakness is what seemed like strength - and was ready to accept indignity in order to catch a glimpse of Jesus.

God’s grace in Jesus seemed to be far more than Zacchaeus had hoped for. His generous pledge was not a means of earning God’s gift. Rather, it was a grateful response to the gift he had received in his weakness. His generosity reflected that of the Christ who stood before him on the way to the cross.

Which man are you more like? Are you trying to offer something to God as a gift? Or having received his gift without merit, are you reflecting it with a life of Christlike generosity?

Prayer

Father, we are helpless on our own. Grateful for your incomparable gift, we ask that your Spirit empower us to reflect your grace in every part of our lives. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen!