Also, its more than just a narrative that was used to create the letter Z for alphabet rhymes in the New England Primer of the 1700s. Commentators and scholars see this as a fairly straightforward situation that demonstrates exemplary use of wealth and material resources. On the way into Jericho he once again identifies with a social outcast, this time a blind beggar, and heals him because of his faith. 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). ( Luke 19:1-10) Zacchaeus was a Jew, as may be inferred from his name and from the fact that the Saviour speaks of him expressly as "a son of Abraham."The term which designates his office -"the chief among the publicans . What lessons can we learn from the encounter the only man the Bible describes as being short in stature had with Jesus? 5So then, I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. And Zacchaeus was no exception. Although Zacchaeus was hoping to see Jesus, in reality, it was Christ who saw him first (19:5) and took the initiative. Zacchaeus, on the other hand, was profoundly transformed as a result of his experience with Jesus. First, Zacchaeus became a son of Abraham. 4. What can we learn from Jesus experience with Zachaeus in the present day? After reaching the tree, Jesus raised his eyes to find a guy in a nice suit perched on the branches, which he immediately recognized. StoryClubs. So again, I conclude, like I said earlier, Jesus believed that it was paramount in the heart of Zacchaeus to see Him, since Zacchaeus was willing to do whatever it took, even if it meant his pride, affluency, and reputation, just to get a glimpse of Him. Zacchaeus was promised by Jesus that salvation would arrive at his home on that particular day. We, too, have total access to the whole truth of who God is because of Gods word, which we may read here. Among those there was a man by the name of Zacchaeus, who was both a senior tax collector and a wealthy businessman. Mt 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. It is because of this concern that Jesus declares salvation upon him and his family. But Zacchaeus overcame whatever could be an obstacle because of his willingness. Zacchaeus hurriedly descended the ladder and greeted him with delight. The fact that you are seeking Jesus will not go unnoticed since He is aware of your existence, what you are doing, and where you are located. The Jews knew that Jesus was making reference to this fact and it offended them. Zacchaeus was an inquisitive young man who was eager to learn more about Jesus and resolved to meet him in his natural habitat. Zacchaeus wanted to see who Jesus was. Being close to Jesus changed Zacchaeus, who promised to change his ways. This was the right response to the Saviours invitation. According to them, Jesus has accepted an invitation to be the guest of a sinner. Zacchaeus climbed up into the tree in order to get a better view of all of the attention that Jesus was receiving. We may not be tax collectors, we may not be thieves or murderers, but we are all sinners. Charles Greene Sunday Night April 23, 2023 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. do it by the works of [h]the Law, or by hearing with faith? With no prior knowledge of the mans identity, Jesus addressed him by name, invited him to come down and accompany him to his home, where Jesus stated he would remain. The vast majority of adults pay taxes on their earnings at work, on the items they buy, on their houses, and on their automobiles. What Does the Bible Say About Eternal Life? He was looking forward to seeing Jesus, who was on his way. Jesus reacted by telling the gathering of disciples that He was going to make an even greater sacrifice than they had anticipated. The majority of Israelis believed that the Messiah would be a victorious military hero, rather than a little boy who would die at a young age. Biblically in Jesus' mind a son of Abraham is a man of faith that produces works that prove he has faith, just like Abraham (Heb 11:17). 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.. The timeline in this story becomes a bit ambiguous. The tax collector, on the other hand, was eager to be selected! Jesus had just arrived in Jericho and was traveling through town. When he worked as a major tax collector for the region around Jericho, Zacchaeus, a Jew, was an employee of the Roman Empire. How difficult it is for affluent people to join Gods kingdom! Jesus exclaimed to His disciples after they had finished their meal. Application: According to Psalm 139:13, You formed the innermost portions of my existence. It was you who put me back together in my mothers body. When we believe that, repent, and follow Himjust like Zacchaeus didJesus will change our lives and make us new and beautiful! Gillman takes this to mean that Zacchaeus accepted Jesus invitation to invite him into Zacchaeus home and that makes contextual sense. Behold, we have abandoned all and followed thee, he declared (verse 28). According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, Anyone who trusts in Christ is a new creature. The old has passed away! He looked up and said, Zacchaeus, come down at once. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Also we have to look at Jesus response to Zacchaeus climbing the tree, to get a glimpse of what Jesus deduced from Zacchaeus action. Jesus singled him out and invited himself to Zacchaeus' house for dinner, much to the grumbles of the crowd. Having expressed regret for his misdeeds, Zacchaeus promised to make amends for any injustice done to his fellow man by paying him a restitution of his own money. What were the most popular text editors for MS-DOS in the 1980s? This was visible to everyone. Knowing that Jesus would pass by a certain sycamore tree, Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed the tree, figuring he could see Jesus passing below. Upon seeing this, everyone began to murmur, He has gone to be the guest of a sinner, which was followed by further murmuring. His sin, not his height, is what was separating him from Jesus. Interacting With Jesus: Zacchaeus | International Student Ministry The more time someone spends in my home the more they know me intimately. We are not required to make everything right in all of our transactions before allowing him to enter. (2023, April 5). Luke 19:1-10 - Center for Excellence in Preaching Would My Planets Blue Sun Kill Earth-Life? As he stood alone, the Pharisee prayed: I thank God that I am not like other peoplerobbers, evildoers, adulterersor even like this tax collector, the Bible says (Luke 18:11). When we listen to the Shepherd calling us by name and respond to Him, our lives will be changed too! Although he had achieved financial success, he felt that something was lacking from his life, and thatsomething had everything to do with Jesus. And Jesus wants everyone to believe in Him so they can be new creations, too!