Luke 19:1-10

The opening verse before us states that Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem from Galilee. In Jerusalem, He would be arrested, tried, convicted, and crucified. The Lord’s earthly ministry was quickly coming to an end. His ministry spanned approximately three and a half years. Word of His miracles and His teaching was cause for people to believe that He was the promised son of David. It was for this reason that many flocked to Him. Such was the case when He entered into Jericho.

Zacchaeus was among them who desired a close look upon Jesus. Zacchaeus was different from others in the crowd that thronged about Jesus. Zacchaeus was different from every other resident of Jericho — but not different in a good way. He was a publican above all other publicans in Jericho. Publicans were Jews employed by the Roman government to collect taxes. Zacchaeus did not become head tax collector by gathering less than what Rome expected. He had a reputation and it was not a favorable one. Verse 2 states that Zacchaeus was rich. Publicans were known to collect more than what Rome required.

Zacchaeus attempted but failed to catch a glimpse of Jesus. He was small of stature and he could not press through the crowd. Determined to see Jesus, Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree which overshadowed the path that Jesus would take.

The scripture before us does not say that Zacchaeus believed that Jesus was the promised son of David. It states that Zacchaeus sought to see “Jesus who he was” (v. 3). New Testament believers know who Jesus is; Zacchaeus did not. Zacchaeus had heard certain things concerning Jesus. Zacchaeus may have heard that Jesus taught that publicans could be favored by God above righteous Pharisees (see Lk. 18:9-14). Zacchaeus may have heard that Levi (Matthew), a fellow publican, had chosen to follow Jesus (Lk. 5:27-28). Zacchaeus wanted to view the physical presence of the one he had heard so much.

Those who believed that Jesus was the promised son of David were not looking for a Messiah who would die upon the cross. They sought one who would sit upon the throne of David and free them from the yoke of Roman rule. The scripture before us does not state that Zacchaeus shared this view. We know only that Zacchaeus sought to see who Jesus was.

While Zacchaeus was uncertain of Jesus’ physical identity, Jesus knew Zacchaeus. When Jesus came to the sycamore tree, He looked up and saw him and called out to him by his name. Jesus instructed Zacchaeus to come down from the tree “for today I must abide at thy house.”

Consider the statement Jesus MUST abide at Zacchaeus’ house today. Jesus had an appointment. While believers know that Jesus had an important appointment upon the cross of Calvary that He must keep in the coming days, we hardly think of Jesus’ appointment with Zacchaeus as a must. God the Father thinks differently. It is He who set the Son’s appointment schedule. We do not think as God thinks. He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. God the Father was not willing that Zacchaeus should perish.

Zacchaeus had climbed the sycamore tree, hoping to see Jesus. Zacchaeus got more than a look. He heard Jesus call him by name. Upon hearing his name, Zacchaeus made haste and joyfully received Jesus.

These things have been recorded in scripture because the Lord God wants us to know that He has made provision through His Son for all who will repent. Zacchaeus’ sins were great but God’s love for them who repent is greater.

The individuals in the crowd did not understand. They knew Zacchaeus to be a sinner and they murmured that Jesus had gone to the house of a sinner. The crowd may have murmured but the angels in the presence of God rejoiced (see Lk. 15:10).

Zacchaeus responded to Jesus’ visit with the words, “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.” While we do not know of other words which Jesus may have spoken to Zacchaeus prior to his response, we know the purpose for which Zacchaeus climbed the tree. He climbed the tree seeking to see who Jesus was. Zacchaeus’ announced intention —to give half of his possessions to the poor and to restore fourfold to anyone of whom he had made false accusation— indicate that he had discovered who Jesus was and is. Knowing Jesus is cause to put away one’s old ways and walk in His ways — the way of righteousness.

Knowing Jesus, was cause for Zacchaeus (a rich man) to give half of his goods to the poor and to restore fourfold all that he had taken wrongly from others.

Jesus announced to Zacchaeus (and to us), “This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham.” Being a Jew made Zacchaeus a son of Abraham by birth, but the change of heart reflected by his actions made Zacchaeus a son of Abraham by faith. Genesis 15:6 states, “And he [Abraham] believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” All who are true sons of Abraham by faith do the works of Abraham. All New Testament believers are made sons of Abraham by faith.

In verse 10, Jesus declared that He had come to seek and to save the lost. Jesus’ words applied to Zacchaeus, but they equally apply to all who would ever believe upon Him. Zacchaeus believed. Jesus gave His life such that all who believe might live. All who believe experience a change of heart that makes one a son of Abraham by faith. Abraham’s faith was cause for him to leave Ur (a land, symbolic of past ways) and to go to the land that God would show him (a land, symbolic of God’s way). May all believe, and obey, and become sons of Abraham by faith.