Jesus saves those who seek Him. "), Do regular people typically climb trees? *Renounce your past way of life your relationship with the devil and his works. He has devised a strategy to remain with the man who is despised by everyone. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. In the judgment of the Jews, Jesus should not associate with such persons. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. I can see several possible interpretations of the text: Which of these (if any or many) is to be preferred? WhatsApp No: +2349081295947 We have forsaken all and followed thee, he declared (verse 28). Jesus came to a stop right under the tree where the little tax collector was perched and did something that was completely unexpected. The moment Jesus came, he immediately spotted Zacchaeus on the tree and told him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, because I must remain at your house today. This made Zacchaeus very happy, but the rest of the throng grumbled, or mumbled, in displeasure because Jesus had gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner, as they put it. During his journey, Zacchaeus evolved from being intrigued about Jesus the Christ to believing the truth about Him and becoming convinced that He was, in fact, the Messiah for whom all of humanity had been waiting. Final conclusion of Zacchaeus first action: By Zacchaeus actions we see his heart's motivation and by Jesus response we see Zacchaeus hearts motivation. But he was a short man. He still wants to be there, for whatever reason. The self-righteous people in the crowd were especially critical of Jesus interest in a man like Zacchaeus, but Christ was demonstrating his mission to seek and save the lost. A man named Zacchaeus lived there. After that occurrence, Zacchaeus is never mentioned again in the Bible, but we can conclude that his remorseful heart and acceptance of Christ resulted in his redemption as well as the salvation of his entire household. Also, Acts 8:4 says those who were scattered (the believers) went everywhere preaching the word. In the concluding verse of our lesson, Jesus outlined the primary reason for His entry into the world. Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. He was most likely a lonely man, and his only companions would have been wicked or corrupt individuals like himself. Many of Jesus actions are described in those chapters, which take place within a short time before His crucifixion and death. Im going to have to remain at your place today. As a result, Zacchaeus rushed down to meet Him and embraced Him warmly. Seeing a great crowd surrounding Jesus, Zacchaeus wanted to see for himself what this man looked like, but that was a problem because Zacchaeus was a short man and could not see over. But something surprising happened next. He was in charge of collecting taxes and was very rich. When Jesus saw the picture of his own destiny in Zaccheus, he invited himself to dinner to finish the picture, since when he came off the cross, he went to the marriage supper of the Lamb. To view Jesus, Zacchaeus had to climb a tree, which he couldnt do since he was too short. But unlike the rich young ruler, who wanted eternal life but wasnt willing to change his life, the rich man in todays story is a beautiful example of what Jesus told his disciples. 1. The timeline in this story becomes a bit ambiguous. Many of the tax collectors were also very dishonest, and collected more money than they were supposed to. This was the right response to the Saviours invitation. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. "), Salvation came to Zacchaeus because Jesus had called him down from the tree and gone with him to his house. Zacchaeus means pure or just but this man was not pure or just in the conduct of his business as a tax collector as he appeared to have become rich through corrupt practices on the job. But he can't see above the crowds or get through them. I will pay back four times the amount that I was defrauded. When Jesus arrived at Zacchaeus house, he remarked, Today salvation has come to your house. You are a descendant of Abrahams line of descent. All throughout the New Testament are stories of people who stopped whatever they were doing to follow Jesus. 2 Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, 3 was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. He could not see Jesus because of the crowd. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. That is exactly what occurred to Zacchaeus when he made the decision to repent and follow Christ. This gives precedence for this type of practice and what I will attempt to do below. While the crowds were grumbling because Zacchaeus was a sinner, Jesus was welcoming Zacchaeus because he was a sinner worthy of being changed. Jesus predicted His impending death and resurrection (Luke 18:31-34), 5. "Faith" is never mentioned in the passage. Now HE was the center of attention! It is difficult, but not impossible, for a rich man to be saved, according to Jesus. Why did Zacchaeus come to see Jesus? All rights reserved worldwide. The narrative of Zacchaeus demonstrates clearly the searching and rescuing action of Jesus. But the people of Jericho were not happy with Jesus because they were not happy with Zacchaeus life. However, because Zacchaeus was a small man, he was unable to see over the heads of everyone else. Having begun Zacchaeus (pure), a tax-collector near Jericho, who, being short in stature climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to obtain a sight of Jesus as he passed through that place. Tax collectors like Zacchaeus were especially looked down upon by the Pharisees and rule makers. He was also very, very small in size, which meant that he probably got lost in a crowd. If only the people in the crowd had opened their eyes to that truth, they would have been rejoicing that Zacchaeus was about to become a whole new person instead of complaining about Jesus friendship with a sinner.. Is "I didn't think it was serious" usually a good defence against "duty to rescue"? The rich young ruler did not follow Jesus because he loved money more than he loved Jesus. 191 Jesus entered Jericho and passed through it on his way to Jerusalem. He must be desperate to see Jesus (Not every one climbs a tree to see Jesus!) Jesus predicted His impending death and resurrection (Luke 18:31-34). Zacchaeus is one of the Bible's models of repentance. In that case, thank You for knowing everything about my life; really, I have nothing to hide from You. StoryClubs. (Galatians 5:22-23). He looked up and said, Zacchaeus, come down at once. Did Jesus recover the lost tribes of Israel? As a result of these factors, tax collectors were not particularly well-liked members of their communities. Once Zacchaeus has come down out of the tree the text states that he received Jesus joyfully. But Jesus didnt care about either of these things. Although we dont know what Jesus said to Zacchaeus after arriving at the tax collectors home, we do see the result of their interaction. That a result, I always pictured Zacchaeus climbing the sycamore tree in the same manner as I did. The tax collector, on the other hand, was eager to be selected! There arent enough Zacchaeuses in the world. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree. He must have heard about this Rabbi. As a result of his short stature, Zacchaeus was able to go ahead of the throng and climb up into a sycamore tree in order to have a better view of Jesus. Converted sinners will always live a life that is diametrically opposed to the life they previously led. It appears that they were just unable to grasp His announcement on the events that would take place in Israel. (Mark 8:36). Who was Zacchaeus in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org And because tax collectors worked for the Roman government, they were a constant reminder that Israel was once again under the authority of a foreign government. Maybe you remember the story. His love is a never-ending invitation to repent and come to him. He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). I'd cite my sources here, but there are a lot. *Invite Jesus into your life. Because he was very short, he tried to find other ways in order to finally see Jesus. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. In an instant, Peter brought Jesus attention back to the sacrifice that he and the other disciples had made. Upon seeing this, everyone began to murmur, He has gone to be the guest of a sinner, which was followed by further murmuring. There must have been something amazing about Jesus to make the tax collector scramble down from the branches as fast as he could! Can I use an 11 watt LED bulb in a lamp rated for 8.6 watts maximum? How difficult it is for affluent people to join Gods kingdom! Jesus exclaimed to His disciples after they had finished their meal. (Luke 19:3) Zacchus was too short to see past the crowd How did Zacchus become able to see Jesus? This would have been an extravagant donation, given that rabbinic law actually discouraged giving in excess of twenty percent of ones goods. Many of those who had practised magic also brought their books and burnt them publicly. There is no merit toward salvation in giving things away, nor by giving up his job, nor by being called down from the tree. Not only was Zacchaeus the most powerful IRS agent of his day, but he was also a traitor to his own country, according to historians. (I get this from the flow of the text, Jesus responding to Zacchaeus. Im still able to do the hand gestures to the music. Christ has the ability to save to the utmost (to the point of death). Thats what Jesus died for. Not discouraged by that, he ran ahead to climb a sycamore tree to see Jesus. The more time someone spends in my home the more they know me intimately. Zacchaeus, on the other hand, was profoundly transformed as a result of his experience with Jesus. Everyone who believes in Christ is a new creation, according to the verse above. Because Zacchaeus was a tax collector, he was "excluded from membership among the people of God." And there was some reason why tax collectors were not really accepted in the house of faith. Luke 19:1-4 (NASB) Note to the teacher: Jesus was going through Jericho on His way to Jerusalem, where the events of Holy Week would take place shortly after His arrival there. Zacchaeus truly became a new man that day. A boy can regenerate, so demons eat him for years. Zacchaeus encountered Him as He was passing through Jericho. +234 803 311 3523 Does Luke 17:2631 describe the destruction of Jerusalem? 1) There is no one who is too evil to be saved, or who is beyond the grasp of Gods mercy and love. It was no secret that he had amassed his money at the expense of his neighbors and fellow citizens of the United States. In Ephesus, because of the ministry of Paul, many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. Zacchaeus was a chief among tax collectors, and I'm sure his parents never would have dreamed that he would turn out the way he did. Also, they were considered traitors for collecting on behalf of their enemies, foreigners, the Romans who ruled over them, taxes they were forced to pay. There is no sinner too lost to be saved. By Zacchaeus accepting / receiving Jesus into the place he lives, is expressing the fact that Zacchaeus has nothing to hide and in fact gladly receives Jesus into the most intimate place of his life. Zacchaeus was a dishonest man whose curiosity led him to Jesus Christ and salvation. The Bible tells the account of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10, and it is a fascinating read. Here, Jesus teaches us what had happened to Zacchaeus and his own purpose in coming. Zacchaeus is a man who wants to see Jesus but because of his short . In Luke 19:1-10 we read the story of Zacchaeus which ends like so: And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. Commentators and scholars see this as a fairly straightforward situation that demonstrates exemplary use of wealth and material resources. At the time of Jesus birth, Israel was under the dominion of the Roman government. As a result, he dashed forward and scaled a sycamore tree. His spiritual eyes were opened, and he came to know Jesus as the Messiah, his Savior, as a result of his trust. 10For the Son of Man has come to seek and to rescue those who have gone astray.. Everybody, including the high and the rich, needs Jesus Christ. The trunk was close enough for me to embrace and work my way up, and when I eventually reached a limb, I was able to pull myself up and sit on it. 1-4 Since Zacchaeus is small he is overwhelmed by the crowd in his attempts to see Jesus. The rich young ruler had approached Jesus early in Luke 18 and challenged him to sell all he owned and donate the earnings to those in need, which he did. Zacchaeus was a little man, and wanted to see Jesus, so he climbed a sycamore tree. In Matthew 19:16-22, the rich young rulers barrier to having eternal life, a barrier he could not overcome, was his wealth. People were forced to pay vast sums of money to a harsh, foreign government, and the tax collectors shamelessly tacked on additional fees for their own benefit. This would enable him to follow Jesus and become an active participant in Gods kingdom. But for that rich man, it was too late. T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria. Luke 19:5 says, And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house (NKJV). Special thanks to John R. Cross, The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus, GoodSeed International. Zaccheus is declared to be a happy man, now he is turned from sin to God. The Pharisees, without a doubt, were among those who complained (verse 7). The author of this devotional essay was serving as a missionary in Italy at the time of its publication. God wants us to perceive Jesus in the same light as he does. He looked up and said, Zacchaeus, come down at once. For example, when you buy a book at the bookstore, a certain amount of tax is added to the price of the book. This ['He also is a son of Abraham'] will seem to Gillman takes this to mean that Zacchaeus accepted Jesus invitation to invite him into Zacchaeus home and that makes contextual sense. Why couldn't Zacchus see Jesus? Behold, we have abandoned all and followed thee, he declared (verse 28). Main Point: Anyone who believes in Christ is a new creation. Teacher Note: Any children who have sung the Sunday School song, Zacchaeus, will be able to tell you Zacchaeus distinguishing characteristichis short stature. Which was the first Sci-Fi story to predict obnoxious "robo calls"? faith. His treachery is described in Psalm 41:9; His crucifixion is described in Isaiah 53; and His resurrection is described in Psalm 16:10; All of these things were going to take place, as Jesus informed His followers. He must have blended in nicely since he was able to make a fortune off of it. Good News Translation He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was a little man and could not see Jesus because of the crowd. Zacchaeus couldn't see Jesus not because he was short, but because his eyes were fixed on another god. People in Israel didnt like this at all. It was the equivalent of being a backslider, a traitor. NC27, Phase AA3, Commentary on Luke 19:1-10 - Working Preacher Next, we come to understand that Zacchaeus is "trying to see who Jesus was" but because of a combination of things, he's not able to position himself to be able to see. All the people saw this. It is quite possible that Zacchaeus was guilty of certain injustices in the course of his customs collecting operations. Luke 19:7 says, But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner (NKJV). The reason Jesus came was to assume responsibility for the moral and spiritual flaws of the world and, via His crucifixion, to be punished as a result of these shortcomings. Less clear (to me anyway) is the why. That is why the gospel is so distinct from every other religion, which claims that only decent people are accepted by God. Why Did Jesus Stay with Him? | Audacious Jesus True repentance entails a change of heart and a refrain from engaging in wrongdoing. The way Zacchaeus exhibited his repentance was by promising to donate half of his money to the poor and to make things right with anybody he had wronged in his profession as a tax collector, according to the Bible. In those days, Rome collected taxes in three primary places: Capernaum, Jerusalem and Jericho. This Zacchaeus was behaving very differently than the rich young ruler we talked about at the beginning of the lesson! There are different obstacles people face to come to Jesus but they could be overcome where there is willingness. He's ambitious to get a glimpse of the Lord and knows that because he isn't in good favor with the townspeople, they won't let him through. In fact, Zacchaeus was so moved that he sprang to his feet and said (in the original Greek), Here and now, I am donating half of my assets to the needy! He also agreed to restore whatever money he had wrongfully taken from others, as well as 400 percent of the money he had wrongfully taken from them. Zacchaeus was eager to see Jesus, implying that his interest in Jesus went beyond mere curiosity on his part. These are in the lineage of but not of the faith of the patriarchs. I believe if you really want to know someone or be known by someone you have to go to or let them in your home. Therefore, he raced ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to have a better view of him, since Jesus was on his approach to him from that direction. At a friend's request, I'd like to write a little about Jesus' words, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down.". As a result, the rich young ruler grew depressed and decided to leave Jesus. 1. ), Salvation came to Zacchaeus because by turning from his tax collecting, he turned from Rome and was reconciled back to the Jewish community. it is written, Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things But he wanted to see him. Were all Abrahams seed (Galatians 3:27-29). He came into this lost world to seek and to save it. Due of his low stature, he could not see through the thicket of people to identify Jesus. Youll be pleased you took the time to read this. | Theme by SuperbThemes.Com, What Do Jehovah Witness Believe About Jesus Christ. The self-righteous people in the audience were particularly skeptical of Jesus interest in a guy like Zacchaeus, yet Christ was exhibiting his purpose to seek out and redeem the wayward by engaging with him. Corinthians 5:17 (New International Version) A plastic caterpillar was used as a prop (or picture of a caterpillar). A man named Zacchaeus lived there. Probably a lonely man, his only friends would have been sinful or corrupt like him. Despite the fact that the two men had never met before, Jesus was well-versed in Zacchaeuss life. There was a guy named Zacchaeus present; he was a top tax collector and a wealthy individual. Jesus didn't leave him in that tree. Copyright 1995, 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society / Used by permission of IBS-STL. He attempted to stand on his tiptoes, but it did not work either. As a crowd forms around Jesus, Zacchaeus is too short to see Him through the crowd. On the surface, it was almost as if Billy Graham had arrived in town and decided to stay with the proprietor of a downtown bar! I will be glad to hear from you. 1. Zacchaeus the Tax Collector - Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. He was a member of the Jewish community. They put it in their own pockets and kept it! Yet, he desired to see Jesus, and he was determined to do so. In Luke 18, verse 32, Jesus declares that He will be handed over to the Gentiles, where He would be humiliated, insulted, and spat upon. But Zacchaeus was a small man, and he couldn't see Jesus because of the crowd. Is there such a thing as "right to be heard" by the authorities? (All emphasis theirsthey bold words quoted from the text.). Zacchaeus was an inquisitive young man who was eager to learn more about Jesus and resolved to meet him in his natural habitat. in the story is caused by the rejection of Zacchaeus by the Jewish As well as having a similar experience, we can also Jason Soroski is a homeschooling parent and the author of A Journey to Bethlehem: Inspiring Thoughts for Christmas and Hope for the New Year (A Journey to Bethlehem). Jesus had just arrived in Jericho and was travelling through town when the story begins.