LUKE 19:1-10 ZACCHAEUS ZIPS DOWN TO ENCOUNTER EMMANUEL

ZACCHAEUS ZIPS DOWN

TO ENCOUNTER EMMANUEL

Luke 19:1-10

Luke 19:1-2 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

Susie: I’ve read and heard this account more times than I can remember, but apparently the “where” of it has passed right through my mind and never stuck before today. Zacchaeus lived in or near Jericho, the city whose walls tumbled down in the book of Joshua!

Susan: Zacchaeus was one of the head tax-collectors, a very wealthy man.

Susie: Did tax-collectors get paid a lot of money?

Susan: I don’t know whether they got paid a living wage, but they lined their pockets by overcharging the people and taking the overage for themselves.

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

Susan: I know what little stature is all about since 2015! I am now 3’2 and even in my power chair, I cannot see over a crowd. I sit on the second row in church in order to see, but I can’t do what Zacchaeus did!

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

Susan: Zacchaeus booked it on his short but strong legs and climbed up a tree. He now had the best seat in the house, or outside the house (as the case may be).

Susie: He knew the route Jesus was taking and chose a tree that would allow him to see Him pass by.

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 today I must abide at thy house.

Susan: Jesus didn’t “just happen” to look up at that moment. He was well-aware of Zacchaeus’s seat in the “bird’s nest”.

Susie: What sticks out for me is that Jesus calls Zacchaeus by name even though they have never met. Jesus not only knew where he was but who he was.

Susan: Then Jesus invites Himself to supper!

Susie: He even tells Zacchaeus to hurry up!

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

Susan: Zacchaeus did not take offense at Jesus inviting Himself over and telling him to make it quick. He was elated to come down and entertain such an important guest.

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.

Susie: Why did the crowd whisper to each other that Zacchaeus was a sinner?

Susan: Tax-collectors, in the eyes of the crowd, were scoundrels and thieves who worked for the Roman government and stole from their own people.

Susie: At the time of Jesus, the Romans had conquered Israel, occupied it, and ruled it sometimes cruelly. Working for them as tax-collectors, and then taking even more than they had to charge, was a horrible crime in the minds of Zacchaeus’s fellow Jews.

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 anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

Susie: We do not know at exactly what moment Zacchaeus realized Jesus was the Messiah, Emmanuel, God in his presence, but he must have found saving faith that evening. The fact that Zacchaeus truly trusted in Jesus is evidenced by his conviction to make restitution for his work as a tax-collector. John MacArthur explains the significance of his promise far better than we could:

MacArthur Study Bible

19:8 I restore fourfold. Zacchaeus’ willingness to make restitution was proof that his conversion was genuine. It was the fruit, not the condition, of his salvation. The law required a penalty of one-fifth as restitution for money acquired by fraud (Lev. 6:5; Num. 5:6, 7), so Zacchaeus was doing more than was required. The law required 4-fold restitution only when an animal was stolen and killed (Ex. 22:1). If the animal was found alive, only two-fold restitution was required (Ex. 22:4). But Zacchaeus judged his own crime severely, acknowledging that he was as guilty as the lowest common robber. Since much of his wealth had probably been acquired fraudulently, this was a costly commitment. On top of that, he gave half his goods to the poor. But Zacchaeus had just found incomprehensible spiritual riches and did not mind the loss of material wealth (see notes on 14:28; Matt. 13:44–46). He stands in stark contrast with the rich young ruler in 18:18–24.

Susan: Zacchaeus’s encounter with Jesus impacted him so much that he determined to restore over and above what The Law required. Jesus did not demand this of Zacchaeus: the man just did it from the conviction in his heart.

Luke 19:9-10 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Susan: Zacchaeus had a total heart change because Jesus called him, and he responded in trust. He came down out of the tree, took Jesus into his home, and Jesus saved him. The evidence of Jesus’s calling Zacchaeus out of the tree and into fellowship with Himself was the positive response Zacchaeus had to the conviction in his heart.

Susie: Zacchaeus was not saved because he gave away half his goods to the poor and restored four times the amount he had taken from people. These acts were proof that Jesus had come into his life and empowered him to do what was right.

Ponder this and Apply it: To what lengths or heights will you go to draw near to Jesus? Will you enter His house regularly to worship and hear His word preached? Will you make time to dive into His word daily? Will you seek Him in prayer moment by moment? Amazing, complete changes happen in a person who truly encounters the Son of God! Jesus has gone to great lengths to demonstrate His love for us, even dying in our place on the cross.