Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus (Pronounced Zac-key-us) who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which is lost.” (Luke 19:1-10)
This is one of my favorite passages of God’s love demonstrated through Christ for many reasons. First, Zacchaeus, probably oversaw a large tax district, and had other tax collectors working for him. The city of Jericho alone was a prosperous trading center, so it is certain that Zacchaeus wealth came to him because of it. On a contrasting note, Jesus declares just one chapter earlier, as Luke records the account of the rich young ruler and Jesus’ statement about “how hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” (Luke 18:24) Here in our text, Jesus is now showing God’s transcending love that when received with joy, changes the heart of sinful man, and transforms them into a people who want to please God. Not just by words spoken in declaration, but in a heart-felt attitude of love and restitution, reminding us that his conversion was genuine. Here Jesus demonstrates that with God, nothing is impossible (Luke 18:27). Jesus was probably traveling with a large entourage of pilgrims to the Passover in Jerusalem. But “the crowd” apparently refers to people in Jericho who lined the road to see Him pass through.His combined fame as healer, and teacher stirred the entire city when word arrived that He was coming. I must stay at your house—This was worded not as request, but rather as a mandate, and it is the only place in all of the gospels where Jesus invited Himself to be someone’s guest. Such a despicable sinner was Zacchaeus, a typical tax collector might have been deeply afraid of such a visit from the perfect, and sinless Son of Man, but Zacchaeus heart was prepared to receive Him. For he judged his own crime severely, acknowledging that he was guilty as anyone who has ever appeared before Christ. We all will appear before Christ one day, The Bible says, that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11). The Greek word for “confess” means “to acknowledge,” “affirm,” or “agree” which is what everyone will eventually do. In fact, the entire intelligent universe is called to worship Jesus Christ as Lord (Psalm 2). This mandate includes the angels in heaven (Revelation 4:2-9), the spirits of the redeemed (Revelation 4:10-11), obedient believers on the earth (Romans 10:9), the disobedient rebellious on earth (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9), along with demons and lost humanity in hell (1 Peter 3:18-22). One thing is for certain, no one who has ever lived will be unjustly judged, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17:31).
Beloved friend, God gives to those who come to Jesus Christ peace, eternal life is offered to everyone who comes to Him by faith, agreeing with His Word that we haved sinned against Him and broken His commandments. But what victory we have because our righteousness is given to us through Christ. If you haven’t made this decision yet in your own life, then ask yourself why? What will you gain from not turning to Him? Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6), It seems like a win win decision to me! Has salvation come to your house?
May the Lord bless your walk with Him!
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