Luke 19:1-10
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.”
Jesus is in Jericho on his teaching ministry tour. Jericho is the last stop for Jesus before Jerusalem, and as expected now, he is drawing large crowds wherever he goes. It is here we meet Zacchaeus, who is the chief tax collector. We also learn that he is wealthy.
Both of these items are important to note. First, tax collectors are reviled by the Jews during this time. The reason is quite simple: tax collectors are working for Rome, against the Jewish people’s interests. In fact, the tax collectors are primarily Jews, so these are Jewish citizens working against the Jewish people for their oppressor, which is Rome. Of that, Zacchaeus is rich. So the second questions is this: how does a tax collector get wealthy?
In that time, the tax collectors used a principal called “Tax Farming”. This is the practice of overcharging the payee. So, the tax collectors would charge above what was owed. That was their profit. This added to their corruption. In Luke 3: 7-13, we see that Jesus order the tax collectors who came to be baptized to work within their means and not to charge the people more. But when we get to this piece, set in chapter 19, we see the practice is still very much alive.
Zacchaeus is a short guy, but he has a yearning to see Jesus. So he climbs a tree. This may seem like a throwaway verse, but nothing in scripture is that easily discarded. Three items can be discerned from this simple action:
1. Zaccaheus sought to see who Jesus was- There is action implied in Zacchaeus’s climbing. It is the natural first step toward Jesus. A search is involved. An action is necessary. Although Jesus can sometimes hit us over the head and blast into our life in a dramatic way, the relationship is never forced. Acceptance of Jesus is always a choice. The first step in that choice is to seek.
2. He didn’t care about public scrutiny- Oftentimes in life we are afraid to put ourselves out there. We are afraid what people will think of a public display, of putting our true self in front of others. We can see from his actions Zacchaeus doesn’t care what others think about this bold action.
3. Doing so was beneath his dignity - In this culture, a man of his age and stature does not climb a tree. Physical activity is somewhat frowned upon for older folks during this time. So Zacchaeus is risking public ridicule for his activity.
Because Zacchaeus risked embarrassment to see Jesus, Jesus sees him. James 4:8 echoes this authentic approach to God. Draw near to God and God will draw near to you. Do you see the action? The action is on our part. We seek and authentically draw near, then God will entangle us. But what is Jesus’ response?
1. Jesus knows his name (John 10:3)
2. Jesus tells him to hurry
3. Jesus wants to spend time with him
In turn, Zacchaues welcomes him gladly.
It’s actually what we all want. Acceptance. If we can imagine the scene, we have a short guy, who has spent his time in the world accumulating wealth, is reviled by his own people, sitting in a tree with a deep yearning just to see Jesus. We can almost imagine him peeking through the branches, just for a glimpse. Then suddenly, in this great crowd, Christ makes eye contact with him. He smiles, He steps toward him. He speaks to him warmly. Zacchaeus, a man not accepted by his own people, is suddenly accepted by Christ.
This short story has surprising depth, because Zacchaeus is a model of how to receive Jesus.
•Seek after Jesus with a real effort - Our effort, our motivation, is the important part here. Are we just trying to stay out of hell or are we trying to deepen a relationship.
•Humble yourself - Public opinion isn’t where your mind should be. Faith is not driven by the contemporary. It isn’t driven by others.
•Receive him no matter how sinful or hated you are - Zacchaeus was certainly hated in his society. Just the brief explanation of what he did for a living shows us a window into his sin. But that didn’t stop him. Understanding that Jesus came for the sick, not the healthy, is a clue as to how Jesus will accept us, no matter what baggage we have accummilated.
• Receive him as he invites you by name - Christ knows you. Christ wants to receive you. He waits at the door, knocking.
• Receive him without delay - Don’t wait. Develop the relationship.
• Receive him into your life and home - Don’t just keep him to yourself, but share him with others.
• Receive him despite what others say - There will always be those who second guess your choices, who scoff and try to diminish you. That is just the way the world works. It is important for us to rise above those things that can block us from a relationship.
• Repent- Repenting is about making a choice. Repenting means to change your mind, which results in a change of actions. It is about divorcing yourself from that old life and choosing a new one. And actively working toward that new life.
All the people muttered (V.7)
The people are not content with Jesus’ choice. All of these “followers” are suddenly in judgment. They know Zaccheus. They know what a cheat he is. But Christ, who regularly is in the company of sinners, chooses yet another sinner to make his divine point.
Despite public scrutiny, Zacchaus stands up and makes restitution to all he is wronged. The point here is large:
1. Zacchaeus first sought, then repented.
2. His repenting is recorded in righting the wrongs he has done.
3. Christ calls him a true son of Abraham, which means he is an authentic Jew.
4. He is not only a descendent by blood, but also of faith.
Zacchaeus may have never regained his standing in the community, but he regained his standing with God, through Christ, and that was ultimately what mattered. He sought Jesus in an authentic way, which disregarded the eyes and mouths around him. The story shows us how and why Jesus came:
1. HE CAME TO RESCUE THE LOST
2. FOR RELATIONSHIP, NOT EMPTY SACRIFICE
3. HE WANTS YOU TO COME WITH HIM
4. HE WANTS YOU TO COME IMMEDIATELY
5. HE WANTS TO BE WITH YOU
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.”
Jesus is in Jericho on his teaching ministry tour. Jericho is the last stop for Jesus before Jerusalem, and as expected now, he is drawing large crowds wherever he goes. It is here we meet Zacchaeus, who is the chief tax collector. We also learn that he is wealthy.
Both of these items are important to note. First, tax collectors are reviled by the Jews during this time. The reason is quite simple: tax collectors are working for Rome, against the Jewish people’s interests. In fact, the tax collectors are primarily Jews, so these are Jewish citizens working against the Jewish people for their oppressor, which is Rome. Of that, Zacchaeus is rich. So the second questions is this: how does a tax collector get wealthy?
In that time, the tax collectors used a principal called “Tax Farming”. This is the practice of overcharging the payee. So, the tax collectors would charge above what was owed. That was their profit. This added to their corruption. In Luke 3: 7-13, we see that Jesus order the tax collectors who came to be baptized to work within their means and not to charge the people more. But when we get to this piece, set in chapter 19, we see the practice is still very much alive.
Zacchaeus is a short guy, but he has a yearning to see Jesus. So he climbs a tree. This may seem like a throwaway verse, but nothing in scripture is that easily discarded. Three items can be discerned from this simple action:
1. Zaccaheus sought to see who Jesus was- There is action implied in Zacchaeus’s climbing. It is the natural first step toward Jesus. A search is involved. An action is necessary. Although Jesus can sometimes hit us over the head and blast into our life in a dramatic way, the relationship is never forced. Acceptance of Jesus is always a choice. The first step in that choice is to seek.
2. He didn’t care about public scrutiny- Oftentimes in life we are afraid to put ourselves out there. We are afraid what people will think of a public display, of putting our true self in front of others. We can see from his actions Zacchaeus doesn’t care what others think about this bold action.
3. Doing so was beneath his dignity - In this culture, a man of his age and stature does not climb a tree. Physical activity is somewhat frowned upon for older folks during this time. So Zacchaeus is risking public ridicule for his activity.
Because Zacchaeus risked embarrassment to see Jesus, Jesus sees him. James 4:8 echoes this authentic approach to God. Draw near to God and God will draw near to you. Do you see the action? The action is on our part. We seek and authentically draw near, then God will entangle us. But what is Jesus’ response?
1. Jesus knows his name (John 10:3)
2. Jesus tells him to hurry
3. Jesus wants to spend time with him
In turn, Zacchaues welcomes him gladly.
It’s actually what we all want. Acceptance. If we can imagine the scene, we have a short guy, who has spent his time in the world accumulating wealth, is reviled by his own people, sitting in a tree with a deep yearning just to see Jesus. We can almost imagine him peeking through the branches, just for a glimpse. Then suddenly, in this great crowd, Christ makes eye contact with him. He smiles, He steps toward him. He speaks to him warmly. Zacchaeus, a man not accepted by his own people, is suddenly accepted by Christ.
This short story has surprising depth, because Zacchaeus is a model of how to receive Jesus.
•Seek after Jesus with a real effort - Our effort, our motivation, is the important part here. Are we just trying to stay out of hell or are we trying to deepen a relationship.
•Humble yourself - Public opinion isn’t where your mind should be. Faith is not driven by the contemporary. It isn’t driven by others.
•Receive him no matter how sinful or hated you are - Zacchaeus was certainly hated in his society. Just the brief explanation of what he did for a living shows us a window into his sin. But that didn’t stop him. Understanding that Jesus came for the sick, not the healthy, is a clue as to how Jesus will accept us, no matter what baggage we have accummilated.
• Receive him as he invites you by name - Christ knows you. Christ wants to receive you. He waits at the door, knocking.
• Receive him without delay - Don’t wait. Develop the relationship.
• Receive him into your life and home - Don’t just keep him to yourself, but share him with others.
• Receive him despite what others say - There will always be those who second guess your choices, who scoff and try to diminish you. That is just the way the world works. It is important for us to rise above those things that can block us from a relationship.
• Repent- Repenting is about making a choice. Repenting means to change your mind, which results in a change of actions. It is about divorcing yourself from that old life and choosing a new one. And actively working toward that new life.
All the people muttered (V.7)
The people are not content with Jesus’ choice. All of these “followers” are suddenly in judgment. They know Zaccheus. They know what a cheat he is. But Christ, who regularly is in the company of sinners, chooses yet another sinner to make his divine point.
Despite public scrutiny, Zacchaus stands up and makes restitution to all he is wronged. The point here is large:
1. Zacchaeus first sought, then repented.
2. His repenting is recorded in righting the wrongs he has done.
3. Christ calls him a true son of Abraham, which means he is an authentic Jew.
4. He is not only a descendent by blood, but also of faith.
Zacchaeus may have never regained his standing in the community, but he regained his standing with God, through Christ, and that was ultimately what mattered. He sought Jesus in an authentic way, which disregarded the eyes and mouths around him. The story shows us how and why Jesus came:
1. HE CAME TO RESCUE THE LOST
2. FOR RELATIONSHIP, NOT EMPTY SACRIFICE
3. HE WANTS YOU TO COME WITH HIM
4. HE WANTS YOU TO COME IMMEDIATELY
5. HE WANTS TO BE WITH YOU