Zacchaeus

Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10) v. 1. Jericho had a colored history. A. It was the firstfruits of Canaan, utterly destroyed and rebuilt under a curse. JOS 6:26 c/w 1KI 16:34. 1. Sin and false religion, once destroyed in us by repentance to the truth, ought not to be rebuilt either. GAL 2:18; 4:9. 2. Christ once destroyed Satan and took away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (HEB 2:14; 9:26). Why would He even think of having to do it again in the Mass? B. Zacchaeus seems to have been the reason Christ had interest in Jericho which He passed through. God determines sometimes to “...take you one of a city...” (JER 3:14). v. 2. Zacchaeus was a publican. A. publican: Rom. Hist. One who farmed the public taxes; hence, a tax-gatherer. (Chiefly in Scriptural quotations or allusions.) B. Publicans were generally despised in Israel and considered like heathen. MAT 18:17. C. Zacchaeus is a Hebrew name. He was a Jew working for the Romans and likely looked upon with particular disdain as a sell-out, unpatriotic. D. He was not just a publican but chief among them, a high-ranking state agent. One wonders if there was a bit of a “Napoleon complex” here. E. No surprise: he was rich, and the account here implies that his riches were tainted by corruption. F. Zacchaeus would prove to be exactly what Jesus had just taught concerning the seeming impossibility of a rich man being saved. LUK 18:24-27. G. Some have to lose all their riches to find repentance (LUK 15:11-19). Early repentance is much less costly. v. 3. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, Whose fame was widespread. LUK 4:14, 37; 5:15. A. Massive crowds sought and followed Jesus as His fame in miracles and speaking grew. Jesus is very popular to the world when He is helpless in a manger or hanging on a cross, when He is healing infirmities, feeding the multitudes, doing miracles, or being made an excuse for an emotional holiday. But Jesus knows how to thin out the crowd. JOH 6:60-68. B. Zacchaeus was little of stature but he didn’t waste his time mentally claiming height, identifying as something he wasn’t. MAT 6:27. C. If Christ had been carried about on men’s shoulders like a pope, Zacchaeus would have had an easy view. But He rather had the weight of the eternal government and of sinful men upon His shoulder (ISA 9:6; 53:4) and His lifting up was for men to scorn Him. JOH 12:32-33 c/w PSA 22:6-8. D. Christ obviously knew Zacchaeus with a particular interest and cared nothing about his stature. He is much more concerned with the heart. HEB 4:12. v. 4. Zacchaeus set aside decorum and professionalism, running and climbing a tree like a child. A. He did not give in to a victim mentality and give up, nor demand that everyone capitulate to his will. B. Sometimes fervency for God will look like folly to nobles. 2SAM 6:16. C. When all is here said and done, Zacchaeus (like Queen Victoria years later) could be thankful for the letter “m.” 1CO 1:26. D. The gospel and reward is to small and great. ACT 26:22; REV 11:18. E. Those who genuinely want an encounter with Jesus will not be hindered by circumstances MAR 2:1-4. Zacchaeus 1-14-23 Page 1 of 2 v. 5. Christ invited Himself to his house. c/w 1KI 17:9-14. A. A tax collector should be familiar with this concept. B. Christ knew him by name, as He does all His elect. JOH 10:3. C. Those who truly desire Christ may be surprised to discover that He already knows them. ISA 43:1; 2TI 2:19. D. Those who love God were first loved by Him. 1JO 4:19. E. Christ promises to abide with all who love Him. JOH 14:23. v. 6. Zacchaeus made good use of the day and hasted. c/w PSA 119:60; HEB 3:7-8. A. He received not the grace of God in vain. 2CO 6:1. B. He was indeed a son of Abraham. GEN 22:2-3. C. To a sinner in the frame of heart as Zacchaeus, Christ’s coming is cause for faith and joy, not fear. 2TI 1:7; 1JO 4:18. v. 7. Murmurers murmur. They were more concerned about propriety than a publican entering the kingdom of God by repentance. MAT 21:31-32. A. The sick need the doctor, not the whole. MAR 2:17. B. The publican’s humility is better than the Pharisee’s pride. LUK 18:13. v. 8. Zacchaeus is openly penitent while confessing both his fault and resolve. ROM 10:9-10. A. He doesn’t only profess charity to the poor. And charity with others’ money isn’t exactly pure charity. God rejects robbery for offerings. ISA 61:8. B. He is also making restitution, resolving to do more than even the Law required. LEV 6:5. C. He was truly bringing forth fruits worthy of repentance. LUK 3:8, 12-13. v. 9. Jesus declares him thus a son of Abraham. c/w GAL 3:7. A. Greed may have troubled his house but salvation has come. PRO 15:27. B. “He that is greedy of gain troubles his own house, and brings a curse upon it (Hab 2:9), but he that is charitable to the poor does a kindness to his own house, and brings a blessing upon it and salvation to it, temporal at least, Psa 112:3.” (Matthew Henry on Luke 19:9-10) C. Repentance puts one in the way of life. ACT 11:18. v. 10. Our Lord’s sheep are by nature, and too often, lost. But that’s why He came. MAT 18:11-12. Zacchaeus 1-14-23 Page 2 of 2