Written ~ 03-27-2024
Read Luke Chapter Nineteen
Luke 19
In our chapter for today, let’s look at the story about Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus. Zacchaeus was a tax collector and as we have learned, tax collectors were hated among the people, most of them were corrupt and only looked after their own interests. Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was coming to town and his curiosity brought him to the road Jesus was traveling on, he wanted to get a glimpse of Him. Not very often do we read about someone’s stature in the Bible, but it is written here in the book of Luke that Zacchaeus was quite short and because of that he couldn’t see over the heads of the people gathered around Jesus.
Luke’s Gospel is the only New Testament Book that records this story, I wonder what it was about this story that Luke thought it was significant enough to include in his manuscript. Here are verses 19:1-10,
1 Jesus entered Jericho and made His way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
5 When Jesus came by, He looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” He said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
In verses 19:1-2, it states Jesus is coming into the town of Jericho and it shows us the position Zacchaeus had in this town, “chief tax collector.” The position of “chief tax collector” was higher than the position Matthew had when we are introduced to him earlier in the Gospels. Zacchaeus would have had the power to extort a great deal of money from the people, which gained him considerable wealth. You can probably see why he was hated so much among the people.
In verses 19:3-4 we see Zacchaeus in a different light. He is desperate to see Jesus.
3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
So there he goes, he runs ahead of the crowd and climbs up a tree. Verse 3 says, “…he tried to get a look at Jesus…” It doesn’t say that he wanted to speak to Him or anything else, he just wanted to see Jesus. But look what happens next.
Jesus sees Zacchaeus.
In verse 19:5 it says,
5 When Jesus came by, He looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” He said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
Can you imagine Zacchaeus’ surprise! He must have been stunned that not only did Jesus speak to him, but that he was called out by his name! What do you think was running through his mind when Jesus invited Himself to his home?
Verse 19:6,
6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.
I love how Jesus says, “I must be a guest in your home today.” It shows there was almost an urgent necessity that Jesus had to go to Zacchaeus’ home that day. Look how in verse 6 it says, Zacchaeus didn’t hesitate at all, he climbed down that tree quickly and with great excitement he brought Jesus to his home.
As we have read numerous times, the Pharisees and religious leaders were always disgusted that Jesus would associate Himself with such obvious sinners. But in this story that disgust extended to the people who had gathered around Jesus as well.
Look at verse 19:7,
7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
They had completely misunderstood the love and compassion Jesus had for everyone, He wasn’t about to exclude anyone just because of what they did for a living or for how corrupt they might’ve been.
Once Jesus was at the home of Zacchaeus, it doesn’t say if a meal was prepared, but I do get the sense they sat together and had a little chat. One topic of conversation must have been Zacchaeus’ profession and the guilt he felt in taking advantage of the towns people. Look at what happens in verse 19:8,
8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
It’s obvious Zachaeus was feeling remorse for the things he had done and this was his way of asking for forgiveness of all the wrong he had done. He knew he cheated people and he wanted to give back. The amount Zacchaeus was willing to pay back was far more than was necessary. In Numbers 5:7 it says, “They must confess their sin and make full restitution for what they have done, adding an additional 20 percent and returning it to the person who was wronged.” Zacchaeus said he was willing to pay back four times as much. I would definitely say his heart was full of repentance for the things he had done. Now look at the response Jesus gave,
Verse 19:9,
9 “Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham.”
What does it mean that Zacchaeus was a “true son of Abraham?” Let’s look at Galatians 3:6-7, “In the same way, ‘Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.’ The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.” So this means Zacchaeus would have had a belief in God, it might just be that because of his line of work he had strayed far off a God fearing path. With Jesus saying that Salvation had come to Zacchaeus’ home that day, it could’ve meant that because Zacchaeus was repentant and willing to pay restitution, that he renewed his faith in the Lord that very day.
The last part of Jesus’ response really, truly is a “key verse” in the entire Gospel Message.
Verse 19:10,
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
We are lost without Jesus. And this verse says it all, He came to seek those whose hearts are lost and by dying on the cross He made a way to save all those who are lost.
How many of you would say that you have been a “Zacchaeus?” You know God, but maybe not in a real personal way. You have done things that have brought you shame and guilt. Then your focus changes, all you see is Jesus and you do everything you can to get to Him. Just keep in mind that even if you aren’t looking for Jesus, He sees you and He calls you out by your name to come to Him. Will your answer be as prompt as Zacchaeus’ response? Will you be quick, excited and full of joy as you bring Jesus into your life, to have Him take up residence in your heart?
Let’s all have Jesus say to us…
“Salvation has come to this home today…”
~AMEN~