Suppose a wealthy young ruler approached Jesus and inquired about the one thing he needed do in order to be granted eternal life. But there was something else that made people hate the tax collectors. Isaiah 1:18 says, Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool (NKJV). These actions left the people feeling overtaxed and angry of this man who was taking advantage of them. In those days, Rome collected taxes in three primary places: Capernaum, Jerusalem and Jericho. He ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to get a better view. Jesus came to give sight to the blind, not those who could see (Mathew 9:12-13; 18:11; Luke 5:31-32; Mark 2:17). 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. Zacchaeus was well positioned to be wealthy even without his occupation but both are probably mentioned to heighten the stress on his wealth.. Zechariah is identified immediately away by Luke, who first informs us that he was the top tax collector in his region. 8 Powerful Life Lessons from a Bible study on Zacchaeus By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Jesus brought salvation and hope to Zacchaeus (Luke 19:7-10), 4. Zacchaeus was the chief of tax collectors and a very rich man but in all his busyness and riches he was interested in seeing Jesus! But Zacchaeus could not be stopped by anything. But Jesus didnt care about either of these things. order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the The rich man must humble himself as Zacchaeus did. He defrauded his fellow countrymen by taking advantage of their helplessness in the face of danger. ' I have to spend the day at your place. As a result, he came down immediately and welcomed him warmly (Luke 19:5-6). In actuality, those who seek Jesus are sought after, seen, and saved by him because he seeks them out. He was the main tax collector and he was extremely wealthy. For Zacchaeus, Jericho served as a gateway into Roman-controlled territory as well as a key tax collecting center, which explains why he became wealthy. | Theme by SuperbThemes.Com, What Do Jehovah Witness Believe About Jesus Christ. We cannot emphasize this enough: Jesus is always available to save those who are willing to accept Him, 3) A converted person is a different person from before. Now he could enter the A lot of compelling arguments exist, of course, for why restitution should be an integral part of our journey toward becoming disciples of Christ. He could not see Jesus because of the crowd. Not discouraged by that, he ran ahead to climb a sycamore tree to see Jesus. While Zacchaeus sought Jesus, Jesus saw him. Although he was Abrahams son, he still needed salvation. The home is the place the family lives and the most intimate place of our lives. Zacchaeus wouldnt even have been allowed to be part of the synagogue or to worship with others. It is quite possible that Zacchaeus was guilty of certain injustices in the course of his customs collecting operations. be an irrelevant remark unless we recognize that the principal tension Zacchaeus was the citys principal tax collector and was known as the Tax Collector.. As a historical event narrated by Luke, the story lends itself to a straightforward analysis through appropriate use of critical methods. 1. Jesus told Zacchaeus that salvation would come to his house that day. TOP 9 why did zacchaeus want to see jesus BEST and NEWEST I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. Tax collectors worked for the Roman government, and their presence in Israel served as a continual reminder that the country was once again under the jurisdiction of a foreign administration. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Because Jesus is God, He knew all there was to know about the man in the treehis name, his job, even the number of hairs on his head! She has also spent many years mentoring Middle School and High School girls. Affected by Jesus teaching, the infamous sinner surrendered his life to Christ and his life was never the same after that. 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.. He was a prominent man in society and he wasnt poor. Zacchaeus came up with a brilliant idea at long last. Part 2: Why Couldn't Zacchaeus See? - Caleb's Journal The government then collects the tax money that you pay on the book. Second, Luke informs us that Zacchaeus was a wealthy man. Zacchaeus was interested in learning more about Jesus. So for these reasons tax collectors were not very popular people in their communities. He must be desperate to see Jesus (Not every one climbs a tree to see Jesus!) The very system Zacchaeus worked under encouraged corruption. The rich young ruler became very sad and walked away from Jesus. Props: A plastic caterpillar (or picture of a caterpillar). Yet, he desired to see Jesus, and he was determined to do so. Finally, little Zacchaeus the tax collector, could see what Jesus was up to. Jesus didnt come to call the righteous but sinners, to repentance. Here is one: John 13:20 Jesus says, "Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.. 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. These include: Perhaps the Holy Spirit is speaking to you about making things right in your life. UBF Resources : To Seek and To Save The Lost We too are chosen to be types of Christ and God works in the details of our lives to make us look more like Jesus every day. 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. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God. suffer so many things in vainif indeed it was in vain? His faith and works proved He was completely taken by surprise when the Lord addressed him by name and instructed him to come down from the tree. He had a birds-eye perspective of everything that was going on. The inhabitants of Jericho were taken aback when Jesus announced that he would be hosting this known sinner as his guest. Zacchaeus descends from the tree and receives him joyfully (19:6). If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. luke - Why was Zacchaeus saved according to Jesus? - Biblical The time has arrived for something fresh! Tax collectors worked for the Romans, the occupying force and the enemy. The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. Connect with Jason Soroski on Twitter, Instagram, or his website, JasonSoroski.net. His income was presumably high, but the work provided several possibilities for him to siphon off a portion of the profits for himself. PPT CUE is an abbreviation for PowerPoint CUE. There are different obstacles people face to come to Jesus but they could be overcome where there is willingness. Converted sinners will always live a life that is diametrically opposed to the life they previously led. God has sparked this same longing in the hearts of people of all ages many times throughout history, and this is not a new phenomenon. Similarly, we could have been tempted to write him off as well. That is exactly what occurred to Zacchaeus when he made the decision to repent and follow Christ. It is a totally new creation. Jesus was delighted, but the audience was outraged that He had chosen such a deplorable individual to greet Him (Matthew 9:11). Anything they were able to raise in excess of that amount was considered their own profit. Remembering that Zacchaeus had no clue that Jesus would recognize him at all. The narrative of Zacchaeus, which is only recorded in the Gospel of Luke, is more than just a charming childrens song; it is a morality tale. Matt 8:5-13 (key in on vss 10-12 Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith [l]with anyone in Israel. By Zacchaeus actions we see his hearts motivation and by Jesus response we see Zacchaeus heart's motivation. In Palestine, publicans (tax collectors) were considered as extortioners, traitors, and dishonest, greedy individuals by the general public. Look with me at Luke 19:1-10. Zacchaeus is a Greek name that means pure or innocent. While working as a tax collector, Zacchaeus did not live up to his reputation. God, on the other hand, had a personal interest in this guy and desired for him to be rescued. However, Jesus notices Zacchaeus up in the tree and, when Jesus arrived at the location, he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, come down immediately. 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! In Luke 15:1-7 is the shepherd in the parable equated to the Pharisees and the scribes? As chief tax collector, he would have been a district manager, in a sense, over a tax-collection territory. He collected taxes for the Romans, overseeing the customs charges on the trade routes through Jericho and levying taxes on individual citizens in that area. It was he who repented of his misdeeds and made reparation for the wrongdoing that had occurred. He said God could raise up children to Abraham from the stones (Matthew 3:8-9; Luke 3:8). He still wants to be there, for whatever reason. Luke 19:1-7. The Man of Sorrows was well aware that he would be subjected to derision, anguish, and disgrace. Is God directing your steps? Zacchaeus, though, was completely changed by his encounter with Jesus. Zacchaeus climbed up into the tree so that he could see the attention that Jesus was getting. Even if it might not seem particularly spiritual, a tree was just what he needed. Im still able to do the hand gestures to the music. 2 Also cf. Say this:Zacchaeus was a guy who worked for the Roman government, collecting taxes on behalf of the people. But crowds were gathered around Jesus, and Zacchaeus had two things working against him: his height and . Which ability is most related to insanity: Wisdom, Charisma, Constitution, or Intelligence? His conscience. We are expected to perform at a higher level. Tax collectors like Zacchaeus were especially looked down upon by the Pharisees and rule makers. They were not a free nation. ", And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. Nobody is born saved. The Bible tells the account of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10, and it is a fascinating read. Welcome to Stack Exchange, we are glad you are here. Due of his low stature, he could not see through the thicket of people to identify Jesus. Ironically, his given name in Hebrew translates as pure one or innocent. Zacchaeus, who was of little size, had to scale a tree in order to obtain a glimpse of Jesus as he passed by. Zacchaeus was the chief of tax collectors and a very rich man but in ." Dephne Aviyah on Instagram: "I MUST STAY AT YOUR HOUSE! Why should he be bothered about Jesus? Why did DOS-based Windows require HIMEM.SYS to boot? Teacher, they said, what do you recommend we do? It was his instruction to them that they should not collect any more than they were obliged to. (See Luke 3:11-13.) No. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. Every one of us must remember that Gods salvation is available to everyone, not just to those who are deemed to be members of the religious elite. It is not known what Jesus said to Zacchaeus once he arrived at the tax collectors house, but the outcome of their encounter is revealed. FINALLY WE GET TO THE CONCLUSION OF JESUS AND THE WRITER - LUKE: Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. Also, Acts 8:4 says those who were scattered (the believers) went everywhere preaching the word. The tax collector, on the other hand, was eager to be selected! Zacchaeus - Bible Story, Verses & Meaning - Bible Study Tools Thats right. Zacchaeus obstacle was the crowd because of his short stature. grace through Faith Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Zaccheus was saved because God chose him to be a type of Christ. This, then, is what ultimately caused Jesus to declare that salvation had come to Zacchaeus house. 4. Nobody is saved because he was born in a Christian home; no one is saved from birth. Everybody needs Jesus whatever is his social and financial status. Paul says Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom he was chief (1 Timothy 1:15). All throughout the New Testament are stories of people who stopped whatever they were doing to follow Jesus. They said, Jesus has gone to be the guest of a sinner. . Less clear (to me anyway) is the why. He came to "seek and to save what was lost." Zacchaeus must have been ready for a change of heart because he was eager to see and hear Jesus. It wasn't enough for Zacchaeus to find and see Jesus. redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for Onesimus changed (Philemon 10-16). Thus, Jesus statement implied that all Jews needed to be saved. Although he had achieved financial success, he felt that something was lacking from his life; and that'something' had everything to do with Jesus. How do you think Zacchaeus felt when Jesus said He wanted to stay at the little tax collectors house? 7th District AME Church: God First Holy Conference 2023 - Facebook (2023, April 5). For the wealthy, it is much more difficult to join Gods kingdom! (18:24-25) (Luke 18:24-25) The disciples were concerned about this. In contrast, when we genuinely comprehend that Jesus is the Son of God who died in order for our sins to be forgiven and for us to be granted eternal life, we are seeing with spiritual eyes! 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. Zacchaeus must have been a productive worker who was well-organized and forceful in his approach. What lessons can we learn from the encounter the only man the Bible describes as being short in stature had with Jesus? No one is beyond his help. The rich young ruler had approached Jesus early in Luke 18 and urged him to sell all he owned and donate the earnings to those in need. However, not everyone was ecstatic on this particular occasion. He said, Look, Lord! community.. faith. Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed in you. 9So then 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. 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. They uncovered the roof where He was and let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. It is only permitted to be duplicated for personal, charitable, and non-commercial purposes. The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25). Thank you to John R. Cross, author of The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus, and GoodSeed International for their assistance. the Law, or by hearing with faith? He left behind all thought of business to climb a tree and get a glimpse of Jesus. Also that he was a rich man. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus As a result, the rich young ruler grew depressed and decided to leave Jesus. That is what happened to Zacchaeus when he decided to repent and follow Jesus. So Jesus told the man to sell everything and give the money to the poor. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. It would not be a stretch to say that Zacchaeus was seeking after the truth. Final conclusion of Zacchaeus first action: By Zacchaeus actions we see his heart's motivation and by Jesus response we see Zacchaeus hearts motivation. Those who are well, have no need of a physician but those who are sick. 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. 4As a result, he raced ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus, who was on his way that way. 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. As a response, Jesus informed the gathering of disciples that He would be making an even greater sacrifice shortly. 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. Small in stature, Zacchaeus had to climb a tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus passing by. As recorded in the last lines of Luke 18, Jesus foresaw the impending death of His disciples, and as recorded in Luke 19, Jesus provided rescue and hope to a man called Zacchaeus. Being close to Jesus changed Zacchaeus, who promised to change his ways. Do you recall how Zacchaeus had an issue with his height? Those who seek Jesus, in reality, are sought, seen, and saved by him. He left behind all thought of business to climb a tree and get a glimpse of Jesus. 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. This perspective would need to view (I restore/repay) as a tendential present which implies that Zacchaeus was just on the verge of doing the action. vv. But here Jesus was, inviting Himself to a tax collectors house, acting like He was His friend. - maybe, Do distinguished people climb trees? The Gospel of Luke informs us that when Jesus went beneath the tree, He raised His eyes and addressed Zacchaeus by his given name. "Faith" is never mentioned in the passage. Jesus first said "I" am going to your house, and his second reference was, "salvation" has come to your house. Caterpillars are very hungry. Zacchaeus was a dishonest guy whose inquisitiveness led him to believe in Jesus Christ and receive redemption. What made Zacchaeus want to see Jesus and listen to his teaching? The text doesn't specifically say what we can we deduce from this action but lets consider a few things. He couldn't see over the crowd, so he scurried up a tree, which would have been a very undignified thing for him to do in that culture. He cherished his wealth as much as, if not more than, he cherished God! Despite the fact that the two men had never met before, Jesus was well-versed in Zacchaeuss life. Why Did Jesus Stay with Him? | Audacious Jesus Would My Planets Blue Sun Kill Earth-Life? Zacchaeus story is recorded in Luke 19:1-10. 10For the Son of Man has come to seek and to rescue those who have gone astray.. cedarministryng@gmail.com Jesus, on the other hand, was unconcerned with any of these things. Hed done it, hadnt he? written in the book of the law, to perform them. 11Now that no one He says in John 6:37 all that the Father gives Him will come to Him, and the one who comes to Him, He will by no means cast out. There is no merit toward salvation in giving things away, nor by giving up his job, nor by being called down from the tree. ("The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.") Jesus is making this statement regarding salvation as a reference to his statement previously to Zacchaeus when he was in the tree, "make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. When we believe this, repent, and follow Him, just like Zacchaeus did, Jesus will transform our life and transform us into something new and wonderful! In Matthew 19:16-22, the rich young rulers barrier to having eternal life, a barrier he could not overcome, was his wealth. As a side-note the name Zacchaeus means pure. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass . They had to obey Roman laws and submit to Roman authority. Every person who sees a butterfly flitting past on a warm summer day is filled with excitement because they are so stunningly gorgeous! Jesus said, Zacchaeus, come down immediately. But here Jesus was, inviting Himself to a tax collectors house, acting like He was His friend. There were so many people swarming about the Master, and since he was an outsider in the crowd and was also fairly little in stature, he was unable to approach near enough to see Him well.