Zacchaeus was well positioned to be wealthy even without his occupation but both are probably mentioned to heighten the stress on his wealth.. Luke says Zacchaeus was a wealthy man, so he must have extorted a great deal from the people and encouraged his subordinates to do so as well. We must put off the old man (nature) and put on the new man (Ephesians 4:21-24; Colossians 3:8-10; Romans 6:5-6). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Heres what Jesus said next to His disciples: How hard it is for rich people to enter Gods kingdom! In Dr. Thomas Constable's commentary (click the "Constable's Notes" tab), he posits a fourth option: Jesus assessed Zaccheus promises as an evidence of saving faith. It would not be a stretch to say that Zacchaeus was seeking after the truth. A descendant of Abraham, he was an example of Jesus 's personal, earthly mission to bring salvation to the lost. Think it was more than enough to make tax collectors unpopular, dont you believe it was? He went ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to have a better view of the landscape below. Zacchaeus must have been efficient, organized, and aggressive in his work. Because the Son of Man came to seek and rescue that which had been lost. (Luke 19:9-10, New International Version). Thats what Jesus died for. * 1 He came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Jesus desired for this young man to become one of His disciples, but He was well aware that the guy had made money into an idol in his own eyes. When we notice a large group of people, we slow down and look about. Perhaps the most important part of this story, though, is Zacchaeus motivation. (I get this from the flow of the text, Jesus responding to Zacchaeus. Quick, come down! The gospel, as opposed to all other religions, affirms that only righteous people are accepted by God. *Invite Jesus into your life. Once in Jericho he encounters Zacchaeus, concluding his public ministry in Galilee and Judea., Not only was Zacchaeus (rich), he was also the chief tax collector, a position that indicated that he was directly employed by the Roman Empire. The rich must not be deceived by their wealth. 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. When we believe that, repent, and follow Himjust like Zacchaeus didJesus will change our lives and make us new and beautiful! Zacchaeus cannot see Jesus because he is too short, both physically and morally, and so the crowds impede his sight. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". When a butterfly flits by on a sunny summer day, it brings joy to all who see it because it is so beautiful! Now he could enter the His faith and works proved 7Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith Zacchaeus is not mentioned again in the Bible after that episode, but we can assume his repentant spirit and his acceptance of Christ did, indeed, lead to his salvation and the salvation of his whole household. His encounter with Jesus changed his life. ("He also is a son of Abraham. Jesus enters the town surrounded by crowds pushing in on Him. | Theme by SuperbThemes.Com, What Do Jehovah Witness Believe About Jesus Christ. Further the text says he wanted to see Jesus but couldn't because of the great crowd, so his response was to climb the tree. Many times in the NT it says one must repent to be forgiven of sins (Mark 1:4; Luke 24:47) gladly exposing the darkness in your life so you can come to the light. The collection of taxes has never been popular in any society, but it was especially unpopular in Jewish culture throughout the first century AD. The tenth verse of Lukes Gospel is often regarded as the most important verse in the book. Jesus said, Zacchaeus, come down immediately. By Zacchaeus actions we see his hearts motivation and by Jesus response we see Zacchaeus heart's motivation.

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