The Tax Cartel’s Kingpin, a son of Abraham?

1. Context
   1. Jesus’ long journey to Jerusalem (Lk. 9:51-19:35a)
   2. The final leg of the journey (Lk. 18:31-43)
2. Jesus Still Seeks ‘the Outcasts’ (Lk. 19:1-7)
   1. Jesus passed through Jericho (v. 1)
   2. Zacchaeus built his life the way he wanted it to go (v. 2) - kind of ‘seeking’ = thru it he got a lot
      1. Living in Jericho - those places we travel to & wish we lived in, Zacc was there!
      2. Chief tax collector (Lk. 3:12-13; 5:27-30; 7:24-34; 15:1-2; 18:10-13; 19:1-10)
      3. Very rich (1:53; 6:24; 8:14; 12:16, 21; 14:12; 16:1, 13; 16:19-22; 18:23, 25; 19:2; 21:1)
   3. Zacchaeus hit rock bottom socially (v. 3)
      1. Obstacles facing Zacchaeus
         1. Being short in stature, the crowd blocked his ability to see Jesus
         2. The crowd itself blocked him
      2. Despised
      3. His inner dissatisfaction drew him to Jesus
   4. Zacchaeus gets creative to push through obstacles to see Jesus (v. 4)
   5. Jesus stopped to talk to Zacchaeus out of divine necessity (vv. 5-6)
      1. Jesus sees right through our many layers
      2. Jesus crosses a social barrier by eating at Zacchaeus’ home
      3. Jesus seeking us & our seeking him is from God
   6. The crowd complains (v.7)
3. No One Is Beyond Jesus’ Reach (Lk. 19:8-9)
   1. Zacchaeus’ new found open-handed generosity testified of Jesus’ ability to change lives
      1. Zacchaeus is aware of his sin & openly repents of it
      2. Zacchaeus was eager to do what is right for the poor
      3. Zacchaeus was eager to make amends for his past wrongs
   2. Everyone who follows Jesus leaves something behind
   3. Zacchaeus’ actions are in line with OT laws of restitution (Lev. 6:5; Num. 5:7; Exo. 22:4; 22:1)
   4. Zacchaeus stayed in Jericho to testify of Jesus’ power to change lives (v. 9; 8:38-39; Mk. 5:18-20; 7:31)
      1. He bore fruit worthy of repentance (Lk. 3:8)
      2. He testifies to God’s impossible, restorative work (18:25, 27)
4. Jesus Came To Seek & To Save The Lost (Lk. 19:10)
   1. God takes over the responsibility of rescuing lost people (Ezek. 34:6, 11, 16)
   2. Jesus found the lost sheep
   3. Encapsulating Jesus’ ministry
5. Reflections
   1. A potent antidote to pessimism
      1. The time of deliverance & redemption is here
      2. “People never change”
      3. Cloistered Christians
   2. How God responds to the humble
   3. Don’t lose contact with sinners
   4. Rise above every crowd
   5. Salvation is a decision each person must personally make

1 He [Jesus] entered Jericho & was passing through. 2 There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, & he was very rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. 4 So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up & said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry & come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.” 6 So he quickly came down & welcomed him joyfully.

7 All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to stay with a sinful man.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood there & said to the Lord, “Look, I give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I pay back four times as much.” 9 “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek & to save the lost.” (Luke 19:1-10)

1. Context
   1. Jesus’ long journey to Jerusalem (Lk. 9:51-19:35a)
   2. The final leg of the journey (Lk. 18:31-43)
      • “Jesus’ meeting with Zacchaeus artfully picks up threads of the narrative in the…parable of the Pharisee & the tax collector (18:9-14) [which] turns on the question of righteousness. Jesus declared that ‘all who humble themselves will be exalted’ (18:14), & Zacchaeus cast aside all regard for his own dignity by climbing a tree in order to see Jesus.” (Alan Culpepper, The New Interpreter’s Commentary: Luke, p. 299)
      • “The story of Zacchaeus is coupled with the healing of the blind beggar - both occur as Jesus is passing through Jericho; the blind man wanted to see Jesus, & Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus; in both stories the crowd serves as an impediment to the one who desires to see; in both the verb ‘stood’ marks a dramatic turn in the story (18:40; 19:8); joy or the praise of God accompanies the ‘healing’ (18:43; 19:6); & in both the effect is immediate (18:43; 19:9).” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit , p. 299)
      • “The end of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem is drawing near. In the final portion of this journey (18:31-19:44), Jesus is preparing for what lies ahead. So he issues another prediction of his approaching fate (18:31-34). Then he displays his power to heal as the Son of David (18:35-43) & reveals his authority to bestow salvation as he commends the transformation of Zacchaeus (19:1-10). This tax collector illustrates a rich man who comes to faith, underlining that anyone can come to Jesus.” (Darrell Bock, The NIV Application Commentary: Luke, p. 472)
      • “The Journey to Jerusalem. Amid all the activities of his ministry of teaching, healing, & making disciples, Jesus ‘set his face’ (9:51) for his final journey to Jerusalem.” (ESV Study Bible)
      • “...[T]he story [of Zacchaeus] occupies a very serious place in Luke’s account of Jesus’ life because it is Jesus’ last personal encounter before his arrival in Jerusalem & the events leading to his death.” (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: Luke, p. 668)
2. Jesus Still Seeks ‘the Outcasts’ (Lk. 19:1-7)
   • “Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus is an example of the kingdom of God bringing salvation to the outcasts. It also provides a lesson on the proper kingdom use of money & possessions.” (ESV Study Bible)
   • “Luke tells this story as a kind of balance to the sad tale of the rich young ruler…& uses it as the final piece of framing before Jesus approaches Jerusalem. This kind of healing, this kind of new life…is what Jesus has come to bring.” (N. T. Wright, Op cit, p. 165)
   • “Luke’s account of Jesus entering the house of Zacchaeus stands fittingly as the last of Jesus’ encounters with outcasts before his entry into Jerusalem. Earlier, Jesus was mocked as a ‘friend of tax collectors & sinners’ (7:34; 5:27-32; 7:29; 15:1-2; 18:9-14). In Luke, tax collectors function as the prototypical outcasts - those whom Jesus befriends.” (Alan Culpepper, The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, Vol. VIII, Luke John, p. 299)
   • “The story of this ‘wealthy’ tax collector shows how a rich man can be saved (18:24-26). In contrast to the rich man who refuses to give up his wealth to follow Jesus (18:18-25), Zacchaeus, like the tax collector in 18:9-14, confesses that he is a sinner & gives up some of his wealth in order to follow Jesus.” (NIV Study Bible, p. 2118)
   • “The conversion of Zacchaeus illustrates the truth of Luke 18:27 ‘The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.’ Zacchaeus was a rich man, & ordinarily it is impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. But Zacchaeus humbled himself before the Saviour, & did not let his wealth come between his soul & God.” (William MacDonald, Believers’ Bible Commentary, p. 1440)
   1. Jesus passed through Jericho (v. 1)
      • “Whereas the healing of the blind man occurred as Jesus approached Jericho (v. 35), the encounter with Zacchaeus takes place while Jesus is passing through the town.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 299)
   2. Zacchaeus built his life the way he wanted it to go (v. 2)
      • “By way of analogy with other Lukan texts,...it is clear that Zacchaeus is…presented as a person of advanced status, even if only among other tax collectors. More specifically, as a ‘ruler’ in the Greco-Roman world, Zacchaeus would have enjoyed relative power & privilege,...” (Joel Green, Op cit, p. 680)
      • “Luke…makes Zacchaeus one of his minor heroes. Luke’s is the only Gospel that tells of him & his sudden moment of glory, & the hardened old tax-collector fits into three of Luke’s regular themes: 1) the problem of riches & what to do about it, 2) the identification of Jesus with ‘sinners’, & 3) the faith which recognizes Jesus as Lord & discovers new life as a result.” (N. T. Wright, Luke For Everyone, p. 165)
      1. Living in Jericho
         • “Jericho in this period was quite different from the OT city. Herod the Great had obtained Jericho from Caesar Augustus & proceeded to build aqueducts, a fortress, a monumental winter palace, & a hippodrome (for racing chariots) in the vicinity of the more ancient town. Excavations have revealed much of the Herodian palace structures; they were built in stages, by expanding on a previous Hasmonean palace. One striking feature of the palace site is its huge pools...Jericho boasted a tropical climate & excellent access to water for agriculture.” (ESV Study Bible)
         • “With its pleasant climate year-round, Jericho was especially noted for its palm trees but supported many other trees as well, including the well-known sycamore tree.” (Craig Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, p. 228)
         • “Old Testament Jericho had many tightly packed houses, but the prosperous city of the New Testament period had spacious villas & parks…” (Craig Keener, Op cit, p. 229)
         • Jericho was famous for its vast date groves, lush gardens, & the balsam plant which produced a rare, fragrant resin used in perfumes, anointing oils & medicinal ointments. It was also a thriving agricultural & trade hub, & the city controlled the main river crossings & routes into the Judean hills.
         • “Jericho was a major tax collection point for goods passing east & west.” (ESV Study Bible)
         • “Taxes were collected at three places inland - Capernaum, Jericho, & Jerusalem - & he had one of the big three. Jericho had a commanding position at the crossing of the Jordan River and one of the prime approaches to Jerusalem. And Jericho was rich due to its great palm forests & balsam groves.” (R. Kent Hughes, Op cit, p. 669)
         • “The ancient city of Jericho was by this time an affluent settlement, recently elaborately expanded by Herod; its warm winter climate made it a favored place for leading citizens of Jerusalem to have a second home. Such an administrative center was a suitable location for a “chief tax collector” (the term occurs nowhere else), not an ordinary local official like Levi and his friends (5:27–29), but probably the head officer for the region, hence his affluence.” (R. T. France, Teach the Text Commentary Series: Luke, p. 556)
         • “[Jericho] had a great palm forest & world-famous balsam groves which perfumed the air for miles around. Its gardens of roses were known far & wide. Men called it ‘The City of Palms.’ Josephus called it ‘a divine region,’ ‘the fattest in Palestine.’ The Romans carried its dates & balsam to world-wide trade & fame.” (William Barclay)
         • “There was a major road which ran from the south to the north through Jericho. If you were coming from the north down along the western side of the Jordan River & you wanted to go to Jerusalem you would inevitably go through the city of Jericho. From the north or the east, if you were coming through Damascus, you would come through Jericho. From the south you would cross over the Dead Sea & up through Jericho to Jerusalem. What that means is this. Jericho in Jesus’ day was a good place to be because if you knew what you were doing, you could make a lot of money. It was a good place to be if you had a good idea & were willing to work hard to make your idea become reality. A lot of things went to Jericho, a lot of things came out.” (Ray Pritchard)
      2. Chief tax collector (Lk. 3:12-13; 5:27-30; 7:24-34; 15:1-2; 18:10-13; 19:1-10)
         • “In Luke, tax collectors function as the prototypical outcasts - those whom Jesus befriends.” (Alan Culpepper, The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, Vol. VIII, Luke John, p. 299)
         • “Roman officials contracted with local entrepreneurs to collect the prescribed indirect taxes, tolls, tariffs, & customs fees in a given area…The chief tax collectors were required to pay the contract in advance. They would then employ others to collect the taxes with the hope that the amount collected would yield a profit. The system, not surprisingly, was open to abuse, & Jews who collected taxes for the Romans were assumed to be dishonest & were hated by other Jews for their complicity with the Gentile oppressors.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 299)
         • “Zachaeus is a chief tax collector, which means he stands at the top of the collection pyramid, taking a cut of commission from those who collected taxes for him. He is therefore a wealthy man…This cultural background is important in appreciating the crowd’s reaction to Jesus’ encounter with him.” (Darrell Bock, Op cit, p. 478)
         • “Not only a tax-collector, but a chief tax-collector; that is, not only did he make money on the side, in addition to his legitimate collections, but he almost certainly made more money from tax-collectors working under him.” (N. T. Wright, Op cit, p. 165)
         • “From a tax-collecting perspective, Zacchaeus had it made. Taxes were collected at three places inland - Capernaum, Jericho, & Jerusalem - & he had one of the big three. Jericho had a commanding position at the crossing of the Jordan River and one of the prime approaches to Jerusalem.” (R. Kent Hughes, Op cit, p. 669)
         • “He was the kingpin of the Jericho tax cartel & had the scruples of a modern-day crack dealer. He was filthy rich in the fullest sense of the term. Not a likely candidate for the kingdom!” (R. Kent Hughes, Op cit, p. 669)
         • “Zaccheus has three strikes against him. Number one, he was a tax collector. Tax collectors back then weren’t liked any better than tax collectors are liked today. Number two, he was a crook & a cheat as we will find out later in the story. Number three, he was working for the hated Roman empire. So we have a crooked tax collector working for the enemy. They hated his guts.” (Ray Pritchard)
         • “For generations, the government of ancient Rome commissioned generals to conquer & colonize people of various cultures & locations. In governing these conquered people, Rome enlisted the service of the publicani, who are called publicans or tax collectors in Scripture. These publicans were often considered both traitors to their own people & collaborators with the occupying forces, & they would often tax more revenue than required in order to line their own pockets.” (David Branon, Our Daily Bread)
      3. Very rich (1:53; 6:24; 8:14; 12:16, 21; 14:12; 16:1, 13; 16:19-22; 18:23, 25; 19:2; 21:1)
         • “Following a close reading of chs. 1–18, Luke’s audience might assume that the wealthy & those who rule are out...What, then, are we to make of someone who is all of these things? In his characterization of Zacchaeus, Luke pulls the rug from under every cliché, every formula by which people’s status before God might be calculated.” (Joel Green, The New International Commentary of the New Testament: Luke, p. 680)
         • “The story of Zacchaeus is a tale of unexpected twists & reversals. A chief tax collector embarrasses himself by running & climbing a tree, but Jesus’ ministry to the outcast & despised reaches the rich as well as the poor, tax collectors as well as harlots.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 301)
         • “Zacchaeus…is introduced [as]…rich...The rich have not fared well in Luke. Jesus pronounced woes on the rich (6:24). God called the rich farmer a fool (12:16, 20) & required his soul of him. The rich man went to Hades…(16:19-31), & Jesus observed how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God (18:23, 25). The reader may, therefore, initially expect that Jesus is about to meet a person on whom he will pronounce a severe judgment or one whose dishonesty will be dramatically exposed. On the contrary, this rich man plays the role of the blind man in the previous [story]. He desires to see Jesus, but cannot because of the crowd.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 299)
         • “It is right to speak of a ‘bias toward the poor’ in Luke’s portrayal of Jesus, & it may have seemed at times that the rich are regarded as irredeemably bad (16:19–31; 18:18–27); but here is a rich man who also finds salvation. Even he can be a true son of Abraham.” (R. T. France, Op cit, p. 562)
   3. Zacchaeus hit rock bottom socially (v. 3)
      1. Obstacles facing Zacchaeus
         • “Zacchaeus’ efforts [to see Jesus] are frustrated by two obstacles: the crowd & his own diminutive [short] stature” (Nicholas Perrin, Luke, p. 364)
         1. Being short in stature, the crowd blocked his ability to see Jesus
            • “For Zacchaeus to be ‘short’ by ancient Mediterranean standards could mean that he was shorter than five feet (1.5m) tall.” (Craig Keener, Op cit, p. 228)
            • “Zacchaeus was small of stature, so he could neither push his way through the crowd nor see over those in front. Clever & with singular purpose, Zacchaeus fan ahead & climbed a sycamore tree. In doing so, however, he exposed himself to ridicule on two counts. It was considered undignified for a grown man to run, & a man of his importance would certainly not climb a tree. The reader who is attuned to the social codes of the day can imagine the glee of the crowd seeing the little tax collector running & climbing a tree because he could not get through the crowd.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, pp. 299-300)
         2. The crowd itself blocked him
            • “The phrase ‘on account of the crowd’ has a causative force. Thus, it is not simply that Zacchaeus cannot see over the crowd; rather, the crowd itself is present as an obstacle to him. On account of their negative assessment of Zacchaeus (v 7), the people refused him the privilege of seeing Jesus as he passed by.” (Joel Green, Op cit, p. 681)
            • “...[I]t would be unlikely that anyone would offer this hated man a position on the first row of the crowd. This was the opportunity for those in the crowd who had been defrauded & extorted by this little man to put him in his place, so to speak!” (Alfred Edersheim)
      2. Despised
         • “Nobody in Jericho liked Zacchaeus…everybody despised [him].” (N. T. Wright, Op cit, p. 165)
         • “Within the Greco-Roman world, [Zacchaeus] would have belonged to a circle of persons almost universally despised.” (Joel Green, Op cit, p. 681)
      3. His inner dissatisfaction drew him to Jesus
         • “It is also very likely that Zacchaeus had found his wealth & lifestyle unsatisfying. A sense of unease made every pleasure unfulfilling. Nothing lasted…Zacchaeus was drawn by the severe mercy of dissatisfaction.” (R. Kent Hughes, Op cit, p. 670)
         • Trying (Gk. zeteo) implies giving attention & priority to & deliberately pursuing after. The most common sense of this word means to go in search or quest of, to look for, to try to discover, to search for by going from place to place (including sycamore trees!) In short, zeteo means to endeavor to find by any means…”
   4. Zacchaeus gets creative to push through obstacles to see Jesus (v. 4)
      • “Responding creatively to his challenges, Zacchaeus…mentally maps out the trajectory of Jesus’ entourage, Zacchaeus runs ahead in order to climb a sycamore-fig tree for a better view…Zacchaeus has cast aside all decorum [dignity]…to accomplish his objective of seeing Jesus. Some situations…demand our jettisoning social convention… [to] achieve God’s purpose.” (Nicholas Perrin, Luke, p. 364)
      • “Zacchaeus was small of stature, so he could neither push his way through the crowd nor see over those in front. Clever & with singular purpose, Zacchaeus fan ahead & climbed a sycamore tree. In doing so, however, he exposed himself to ridicule on two counts. It was considered undignified for a grown man to run, & a man of his importance would certainly not climb a tree. The reader who is attuned to the social codes of the day can imagine the glee of the crowd seeing the little tax collector running & climbing a tree because he could not get through the crowd.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, pp. 299-300)
      • “He goes to extraordinary lengths to fulfill his quest, even enduring the probable shame of climbing a tree despite his adult male status & position in the community as a wealthy ‘ruler,’ however notorious. That he goes to such lengths is illustrative of his eagerness, to be sure, but is also a consequence of the crowd, which has positioned itself as a barrier to his endeavor.” (Joel Green, Op cit, p. 681)
      • “Inquisitiveness had gotten the better of the little rich man, an unspoken question emerging from behind his hard, crafty look.” (N. T. Wright, Op cit, p. 165)
   5. Jesus stopped to talk to Zacchaeus out of divine necessity (vv. 5-6)
      • “Though…Jesus was only passing through Jericho (19:1), his sudden change of plans follows the…divine will bent on saving [people].” (Nicholas Perrin, Luke, p. 365)
      • “Jesus breaks the ice by noticing Zacchaeus in the tree. He stops & tells him to come down out of the tree because he ‘must’ stay at his house today. Jesus’ stay with the tax collector is a necessity because it pictures what his ministry is all about - to lead to God those whom others have given up on, to call those who, like the tax collector Levi, need to repent (5:31-32). His mission is to reclaim prodigals (ch. 15) & justify the humble (18:9-14).” (Darrell Bock, Op cit, p. 479)
      1. Jesus sees right through our many layers
         • “Jesus saw straight through the layers of graft & greed..&…knew…there was a sickness at the heart for which he had the remedy.” (N. T. Wright, Op cit, pp. 165-6)
      2. Jesus crosses a social barrier by eating at Zacchaeus’ home
         • “By staying at Zacchaeus’ house Jesus was again crossing the barrier of ritual purity. A tax collector would regularly be rendered unclean by entering the houses & inspecting goods. By entering Zacchaeus’ house, Jesus was also acknowledging the chief tax collector’s dignity & standing in the community…[H]e conferred a special honour on Zacchaeus by offering to receive hospitality from him.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 300)
      3. Jesus seeking us & our seeking him is from God
         • “What we begin to see at this point in the story is that Zacchaeus’ seeking of Jesus & Jesus’ seeking of Zacchaeus were both sovereign works of God. The crossing of their lives at the sycamore was a work of divine providence...The camel was about to go through the eye of a needle!” (R. Kent Hughes, Op cit, p. 671)
   6. The crowd complains (v.7)
      • “The reference to Zacchaeus as a ‘sinner’ marks him immediately as marginal to the community as one who does not follow its standards…his vocation as a tax collector may be reason enough to have stigmatized him in this way.” (Joel Green, Op cit, p. 681)
3. No One Is Beyond Jesus’ Reach (Lk. 19:8-9)
   • “Zacchaeus is indeed a sinner,...but he is not beyond the touch of God or his call…Jesus does not write off those who remain open to God…[H]is priority is to associate closely enough with the lost that they may come to know the grace of God.” (Darrell Bock, Op cit, p. 479)
   • “[Extorted] (Gk. ‘Sykophanteo’) denotes the act of gaining money or advantage through false accusation, intimidation, or under-handed complaint. Classical writers used the word of professional informers who leveraged the court system for profit; by New Testament times it was applied broadly to dishonest officials & anyone who enriched himself by slandering or threatening others [Lk. 3:14; 19:8].” (Bible Hub)
   1. Zacchaeus’ new found open-handed generosity testified of Jesus’ ability to change lives
      • “The example of Zacchaeus, who gave away half of his goods, underscores the kind of openhanded generosity that characterizes those whose hearts have been transformed by the gospel.” (ESV Study Bible)
      • “Giving away half of one’s possessions, which Jesus commends here, shows that other texts where Jesus calls for people to sell everything (18:22) serve as a rhetorical way of stating that one should see their possessions as under the stewardship of God…Such giving as Zacchaeus intends is not required by God’s law, but does reflect a heart given over to God.” (Darrell Bock, Op cit, p. 479)
      1. Zacchaeus is aware of his sin & openly repents of it
         • “The ‘if’ here is a first class condition so that Zaccheus is saying ‘Since I have defrauded.’ In other words he ‘virtually confesses fraud.’” (NET note)
         • “Zacchaeus expresses his appreciation of Jesus’ acceptance of him by declaring his intent to be a different man. Because of his new relationship with God, he will do two things: half of his possessions will now go to the poor, & those he has wronged will receive restitution at four times the amount taken. He is aware of his sin & desires to right the wrongs he has done.” (Darrell Bock, Op cit, p. 479)
         • “The tax-collector himself speaks to Jesus in public, & gives evidence of his extravagant repentance. Repentance here isn’t just a change of heart; as in Judaism in general, repentance involves restoration, making amends.” (N. T. Wright, Op cit, p. 166)
         • “The verbs in Zacchaeus’ speech are in the present tense: ‘I give...I pay back.’…Luke…portrays Zacchaeus as responding…to the message of Jesus. Verse 8 would refer to his repentance, while vv. 9-10 would refer to his being saved (usually understood in a spiritual sense).” (Joel Green, Op cit, p. 683)
      2. Zacchaeus was eager to do what is right for the poor
         • “Jesus challenged the rich ruler to sell all he had & give it to the poor (18:22), but he went away sad. Joyfully, Zacchaeus responds to Jesus’ declaration that he would stay at Zacchaeus’ house by promising to sell half his possessions & give the proceeds to the poor. The difference between half & all is not the issue. Rather, it is Zacchaeus’ eagerness to do what is right for the poor.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 299)
      3. Zacchaeus was eager to make amends for his past wrongs
         • “Zacchaeus…is freely declaring his resolve to make amends for his past wrongs as a result of the honour that Jesus has bestowed on him…Zacchaeus vows to repay all those whom he has defrauded in the past.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, pp. 300-1)
         • “Zacchaeus…was saying that his new life in Christ made him desire to make restitution for the past, & that in gratitude to God for salvation, he now wanted to use his money for the glory of God & for the blessing of his neighbours.” (William MacDonald, Op cit, p. 1441)
         • “Verse 8 is one of the strongest in the Bible on restitution. Salvation does not relieve a person from righting the wrongs of the past. Debts contracted during one’s unconverted days are not canceled by new birth. And if money was stolen before salvation, then a true sense of the grace of God requires that money be repaid after a person has become a child of God.” (William MacDonald, Op cit, p. 1441)
   2. Everyone who follows Jesus leaves something behind
      • “Every faithful disciple…left something behind. Boats, fishing nets, tax-booths, businesses, & personal ambitions. Following Christ always requires leaving something behind.” (Eric Turgott, Mighty Men of Valour, p. )
   3. Zacchaeus’ actions are in line with OT laws of restitution (Lev. 6:5; Num. 5:7; Exo. 22:4; 22:1)
      • “Zacchaeus’ pledge conforms to…OT laws of restitution…Old Testament laws varied, so Zacchaeus offered to follow the most stringent standards (Lev. 6:5; Num. 5:7; Exo. 22:4; 22:1).” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 301)
   4. Zacchaeus stayed in Jericho to testify of Jesus’ power to change lives (v. 9; 8:38-39; Mk. 5:18-20; 7:31)
      • “Zacchaeus isn’t going to follow Jesus on the road to Jerusalem, escaping the puzzled & probably still angry looks of the neighbours. He is going to live out his life & re-establish himself as part of the renewed Israel right where he is.” (N. T. Wright, Op cit, p. 166)
      1. He bore fruit worthy of repentance (Lk. 3:8)
         • “Zacchaeus…bore fruits worthy of repentance, & Jesus declared that he was a true son of Abraham…Jesus is confirming the change that has occurred in Zacchaeus…” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 301)
      2. He testifies to God’s impossible, restorative work (18:25, 27)
         • “‘Today salvation has come’ indicates that with God all things are possible, & a rich man can be saved (cf. 18:26–27).” (ESV Study Bible)
         • “To some Jews, a tax collector (& especially a chief tax collector), even if Jewish by birth, had forfeited any right to be counted among the chosen people. But Zacchaeus’s repentance has restored his birthright. It was to Abraham that God’s promises to his people had especially been made (1:55, 73), & it was in association with Abraham that his people were to enjoy God’s salvation (13:28; 16:22–30).” (R. T. France, Op cit, p. 561)
4. Jesus Came To Seek & To Save The Lost (Lk. 19:10)
   • “The prophets have spoken of the fate that awaits the Son of Man; but his mission is not just to suffer & die, but rather, through that fate, to search out & rescue the lost sheep. ‘He has gone in to spend time with a sinner’ will soon change to ‘He has gone out to die with the brigands’; & the same reason will underlie both. The Son of Man has come to seek & save the lost.” (N. T. Wright, Op cit, p. 166)
   1. God takes over the responsibility of rescuing lost people (Ezek. 34:6, 11, 16)
      • “Many Jewish people believed that salvation belonged to almost all Israelites by virtue of their descent from Abraham, except for those who excluded themselves by heinous crimes. In Ezekiel 34:6, 11 & 16, God took over the mission of seeking out the lost sheep because the leaders of his people had failed.” (Craig Keener, Op cit, pp. 228-9)
      • “Jesus describes his mission in terms of the will of Yahweh, who seeks out the lost in Israel, healing & restoring the people who have been mistreated by Israel’s leaders.” (G. K. Beale & D. A. Carson, Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, p. 354)
      • “Having spoken on Zacchaeus’ behalf, vindicating him before his townspeople, Jesus goes on to defend his own coming to Zacchaeus’s house. His characterization of his charge as Son of Man recalls his parabolic teaching in 15:1-32. There, he was indicted for having table fellowship with those toll collectors and sinners who had responded positively to his message; there, he insisted that his table practices were consonant with God’s response to the recovery of the lost. Another form of intertextuality is important here, one that reaches beyond the Lukan narrative to Ezekiel 34, where Yahweh & David seek out the lost of Israel, those mistreated at the hands of Israel’s leaders, & shepherd them. In seeking hospitality with one spurned as a socio-religious outcast, then, Jesus is simply fulfilling the divine will.” (Joel Green, Op cit, p. 684)
   2. Jesus found the lost sheep
      • “The story of Zacchaeus is a tale of unexpected twists & reversals. A chief tax collector embarrasses himself by running & climbing a tree, but Jesus’ ministry to the outcast & despised reaches the rich as well as the poor, tax collectors as well as harlots. Jesus has sought out & saved one who was lost. In response to Jesus’ bestowal of favour, unexpected & unmerited, the rich tax collector joyfully pledged to bear ‘fruits worthy of repentance’ (3:8). Zacchaeus thought he was seeking Jesus (19:3), but in reality Jesus was seeking Zacchaeus (19:10). Thus salvation can come even to the house of a tax collector.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, pp. 301-2)
      • “Zacchaeus…is a man who is sought & saved by the Son of Man.” (Darrell Bock, Op cit, p. 478)
   3. Encapsulating Jesus’ ministry
      • “This encapsulates the purpose of Jesus’ ministry & reaffirms his mission to ‘call…sinners to repentance’ (5:32). Not only is he able to save, but he also takes initiative in seeking those who need to be saved since he is both a powerful & merciful Saviour.” (NIV Study Bible, p. 2118)
5. Reflections
   1. A potent antidote to pessimism
      1. The time of deliverance & redemption is here
         • “In an era of overwhelming problems, the believing community can read the story of Zacchaeus as a potent antidote to pessimism. What do you say to those who live under the burden of deadening defeat & deflated dreams?...The good news Luke declares is…this is the time of deliverance & redemption. This is the time to open up our eyes & see what God is doing around us. When even one person is offered forgiveness, hears a word of affirmation, clings to hope that life can be different, or resolves to live by a new set of values in the future, there the kingdom of God is at work.” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 302)
      2. “People never change”
         • “Another of the impediments to the progress of the kingdom is the enslaving prejudice that we know who people are & that they cannot change…Yet Jesus stopped for…Zacchaeus because he wanted to see [Jesus] so badly that he ran & climbed a sycamore. Today can be filled with joy because…words of grace can still be spoken & forgiveness can still be experienced. What outrageous good news - a camel passed through the eye of a needle!” (Alan Culpepper, Op cit, p. 302)
      3. Cloistered Christians
         • “Rabbits are timid creatures that pop out of their holes every morning, try to avoid everything (except other rabbits), eat their food, & jump back into their holes in the evening...Rabbit-hole Christians are a lot like that. They eat lunch with other Christians at work & relate almost exclusively with fellow-believers in their church. They avoid socializing with unbelievers & wouldn’t think of accepting an invitation to one of their parties. No wonder unbelievers equate being a Christian with a kind of aloof self-righteousness. No one could say that about Jesus. He actually invited Himself to the home of Zacchaeus, a notorious tax collector…Jesus has equipped us with the Holy Spirit & assured us that He’ll be with us so we can follow His example.” (Herbert Vander Lugt, Our Daily Bead)
   2. How God responds to the humble
      • “[The story of Zacchaeus]...reveals basic attitudes about how God responds to the humble & to those who recognize that the way they have walked is wrong.” (Darrell Bock, Op cit, p. 480)
   3. Don’t lose contact with sinners
      • “This passage summarizes [a] key theme Luke highlights throughout his Gospel…Jesus’ mission to seek & save the lost...One of the errors that [Christians] can make is to separate themselves from the world in such a way that they lose contact with sinners. Usually two factors feed such isolation: 1) a healthy desire not to succumb to standards of living that destroy moral integrity, & 2) a subtle but deadly feeling of superiority.” (Darrell Bock, Op cit, p. 481)
   4. Rise above every crowd
      • “Zack did not allow anything, not the crowd or his condition, to stand between him & his desire to see Jesus. What about you? Do you care enough about the condition of your soul to pay whatever price is necessary to be right with God? Are you willing to turn from that little pet sin? Are you ready to walk away from the crowd in order to see Jesus? Are you ready to run to Him?
   5. Salvation is a decision each person must personally make
      • "The household is not a reference to the building, but to the people who lived within it. But don't misunderstand what Jesus is saying. He is not saying everyone in Zaccheus' house would automatically be saved. Salvation is a decision each person must personally make.” (NET note)

Ask one person to pray at the beginning of your meeting.

Check-in

Check in with each other about how everyone is doing.

Bible Reading: Luke 19:1-10

Sermon Summary:

As Jesus wound down his long journey to Jerusalem, he passed through the beautiful & prosperous city of Jericho. One particular man named Zacchaeus, the tax kingpin who’d amassed untold riches on the backs of the locals, wanted to see Jesus. Naturally, those same locals despised everything about Zacchaeus, & as Jesus walked by they prevented Zacchaeus from seeing & getting near Jesus. But clever Zacchaeus ran down the road leading out of town, climbed a tree, & waited for Jesus to pass by him. Zacchaeus had no idea that his life would change that day, because Jesus saw him in that tree & told him to come down so he could go to Zacchaeus’ house. Shortly after that encounter with Jesus, Zacchaeus stood & publicly declared that his old life was over & that he was repaying the people he’d defrauded in the past. Jesus then confirmed that salvation had indeed changed Zacchaeus’ life. Jesus had previously said that it was very difficult for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom, & everything in Luke’s Gospel confirmed that point. But here was a very rich man who humbled himself before Jesus & his life was turned around.

Discussion:

1. Look at these verses in Luke: 1:53; 6:24; 8:14; 12:16, 21; 14:12; 16:1, 13; 16:19-22; 18:23, 25; 19:2; 21:1. What point is Luke making about the rich & following God?
2. What is the attitude Jesus had toward tax collectors (outcasts) in Luke? See Lk. 3:12-13; 5:27-30; 7:24-34; 15:1-2; 18:10-13; 19:1-10.
3. What were the two obstacles, one physical & one social, that kept Zacchaeus from being able to see Jesus? What creative thing did he do to overcome them? What experience have you had in finding a way to get to Jesus even when the path was blocked?
4. What internal thing drove Zacchaeus to be so desperate to see Jesus? Have you had a similar experience? If so, what internal or external things tried to stop you responding?
5. What was the evidence in Zacchaeus’ life that he had been changed by Jesus? How have you had to deal with your past or make restitution with people you’ve hurt in the past?
6. Why do you think it was so important for Zacchaeus to remain in Jericho rather than to physically follow Jesus? What impact would his staying have on Jericho’s residents?
7. What is your personal takeaway message from the story of Zacchaeus?

End with Prayer.

• Pray for a heart that longs for Jesus & blocks out any noise that tries to stop your pursuit.
• Pray for one another’s concerns.

This week's set list:

The Joy – The Belonging Co

Same God – Elevation Worship

'Tis So Sweet / Turn Your Eyes – Gateway Worship

Who You Say I Am – Hillsong Worship