Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector in Jericho. That is how Zacchaeus became wealthy. Since tax collectors were considered as sinful as prostitutes (Mt. 21:31,32), it gives us some idea of how dishonest and wicked they were back then! Zacchaeus was a multiple of that, being a chief tax collector.Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. (Luke 19:1-4)
Jesus called Zacchaeus the tax collector by his name! Imagine that! How did Jesus know Zacchaeus' name? The same way he knew the details about Nathanael (Jn. 1:47-49). The Lord invited himself to Zacchaeus' house for Zacchaeus' sake.When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. (Luke 19:5,6)
At the same time, it became crystal clear to Zacchaeus that Jesus was interested in him! Zacchaeus must have been stunned! Zacchaeus wasn't despised and shunned by the Lord because he was a known sinner. Zacchaeus was thrilled and gladly took the Lord into his house! NOTE: Zacchaeus' first act of obedience was his quick departure from the tree, as Jesus commanded.
Jesus going to the house of Zacchaeus caused an adverse public reaction in Jericho!All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'" (Luke 19:7)
The love of God for souls is not influenced by public opinion or theology. Also, Christian theology is to be shaped around scripture and God's truth and not the reverse!
Luke 19:1-10 show that Zacchaeus was a man who was involved in a hated profession -- tax collector. For the sake of the personal gain, Zacchaeus was willing to cheat people, but now there was a radical and strange spiritual change, since Zacchaeus made contact with Jesus! Money was no longer viewed the way it was before.But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." (Luke 19:8)
Zacchaeus further openly acknowledged Jesus as Lord and verbalized that he would give 50% of his possessions to the poor and pay back 400% those he cheated. That reflected his heart change and saving faith.
Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham." (Luke 19:9)
Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. " (Luke 18:24,25)Just one chapter before the salvation of rich Zacchaeus the tax collector, Jesus spoke those words. It seems impossible, unless you understand them in light of other verses and people like Zacchaeus.
That is part of the reason why Jesus went through Jericho, that is, to save what was lost -- namely Zacchaeus. There were many lost people in Jericho who watched Jesus just pass by. They remained lost and dead. Zacchaeus was different for he reached out to God and found eternal life!For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. (Luke 19:10)
Zacchaeus is never specifically mentioned again in the bible, like various others who were gloriously saved like Cornelius the Centurion, the Ethiopian eunuch, etc. If Zacchaeus endured hatred to the end for final salvation' sake (Matt. 10:22; Heb. 3:14) or not remains a bible mystery.
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