Zaccheus The Publican

Come On Down!

Luke 19:2 “And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.”

Zaccheaus - Jewish name

Publican

τελώνης, collector (receiver) of customs, tax-gatherer, revenue official, of any rank, but especially of Jews of the lower rank, who collected revenue for the Roman overlord, detested by their fellow-countrymen and practically identified with ἁμαρτωλοί.

Alexander Souter, A Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1917), 259.

Chief

In charge of a large district. Other people worked for Zaccheaus.

Rich

Some of his riches were ill-gotten

Luke 19:8 “And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.”

Luke 19:3 “And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.”

Who he was

Curiosity was his only motive for seeing Jesus.

Press = multitudes/people

Little stature = Zacchaeus was short

Luke 19:4 “And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.”

Sycomore

Egytptian fig tree with leaves like a mulberry

Luke 19:5 “And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.”

Looked up

Jesus knew Zacchaeus was in the tree. His upward glance was intentional knowing he would find and address Zacchaeus.

Zaccheus

Jesus called him by name

John 10:3 “To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.”

Make haste, and come down

Zaccheus responded quickly and directly

NOT a scolding, but rather a warm welcome.

For today

Our Lord invites himself without an invitation.

This invitation is in “royal style”

This royal invitation honors the recipient by anouncing that the sovereign was going to partake of the subject’s hospitality

Jesus speaks this invitation knowing that Zaccheus (and all the others) would appreciate the honor

Abide

Jesus probably stayed the night in Zaccheus’ house

John 1:39 “He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.”

Luke 19:6 “And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.”

Joyfully

The change in Zaccheus heart was immediate

We see immediate joy displayed by someone who exemplified all that was negative and corrupt.

The internal revolution that occurred in Zaccheus was perfect and instantantaneous.

Luke 19:7 “And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.”

To be guest

To lodge - more than just a meal

Sinner

The people did not know the internal change that had occurred within Zaccheus. His appearance to them was unchanged.

Luke 19:8 “And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.”

Stood = in front of everyone

Lord

Zaccheus recognizes the authority, dignity and power of Christ by calling him Lord.

If i have

“IF” here could be better understood as “so far as I have”.

Zaccheus is not sewing doubt about the reality of his sins.

Fourfold

This restitution was required by Roman law not Jewish law.

This restitution was not demanded by Christ. It was a tangible result of the intangible change in his heart.

Zaccheus’ actions were a RESULT of his conversion. His actions did not CAUSE his conversion.

Luke 19:9 “And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.”

This house

Jesus is addressing the taunt of “He is gone to be a guest”.

Jesus is denoting that this house is now washed clean and worthy to recieve the King.

son of Abraham

Zaccheus was Abraham’s son by birth (Jew) but here this reference is made to show that Zaccheus was a partaker of Abraham’s faith — he was saved.

Chris is using this saying to explain that Zaccheus is now saved.

Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Lost

There is encouragement in this narrative to hope for unexpection conversions.

Seek

Chris is searching and hunting for those lost to be saved.