Scripture: He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:1-10 ESV
[Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Friday’s Daily Focus, Jesus tells a parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector who enter the temple to pray. The Pharisee smugly raises his hands to heaven and extols his high moral standing under the guise of thanksgiving. Concurrently, the tax collector stands at a distance, beats his breast, and speaks forthrightly to God, asking for mercy and confessing his sinful nature. Then, to ensure all listening understood the driving point of his parable, Jesus passionately contends that only the tax collector returned home justified before God, for those who self-promote will be humbled, but God will exalt the humble.
Today’s reading (skipping over those segments covered in the parallel passages of Matthew) brings us to Jesus’ encounter with a chief tax collector named Zacchaeus. Luke tells us that after healing blind Bartimaeus, Jesus enters Jericho, drawing a crowd of onlookers. Curious about all the fuss, Zacchaeus (short in stature) scales a sycamore-fig tree to see for himself. And when Jesus approaches the tree, he looks up and commands Zaccheaus to hurry and prepare for his stay.
The crowd is shocked that Jesus would socialize with a known sinner who had dishonestly gained wealth. But Zaccheaus is elated and declares to those around him that he will donate half of all his possessions to the poor and remunerate fourfold any he has defrauded. So Jesus assures Zacchaeus that having genuinely repented, as evidenced by his promised restitution, he demonstrates he is a son of Abraham, and thus salvation has come to his family. Lastly, Jesus announces amid the crowd’s hearing that his mission is to seek and save the lost.
Takeaway: As explained in previous Daily Focus devotions, tax collectors contracted with Rome to ensure a set amount of tax revenue. They often extorted more than was owed to pad their pockets. Seeing that Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and wealthy, he undoubtedly followed this disreputable practice. But when he sincerely announced he would pay back four times the amount cheated to any of his fellow citizens, he offered 400% restitution as compared to Levitical law that prescribed 20% (Leviticus 5:16). On top of his magnanimous gesture toward reconciliation, Zacchaeus pledged to give half of his goods to the poor (again far exceeding what most devout Jews would offer).
And it all spurred from Jesus commanding Zacchaeus to prepare his home for Jesus’ stay—a shocking turn of events given a pious Jew would never even don the door of a known thief. Ironically, though, Zacchaes’s sincere faith and repentance better demonstrated his kindred line to Abraham, with whom Yahweh credited the patriarch’s faith as righteousness (Genesis 15:6). But the story reveals its brilliance in how it summarizes our timeless Gospel:
- It is a universal invitation to all who will listen (vv.2-4).
- It overcomes stumbling blocks to our faith (v.2).
- It levels the playing field for the socially disfavored (v.7).
- It reveals God’s presence working (vv.5, 9).
- It creates a sense of necessity and urgency (v.5).
- It fosters feelings of joy (v.6).
- It motivates us to seek restitution (v.8).
- And most importantly, it brings us salvation (vv.9-10).
Our takeaway? Like Zacchaeus, there is no better time than now. If we are wary or uncertain or have strayed or feel burned out, now is the best time to respond to Jesus’ invitation. Indeed, he stands at our door and knocks, for he desires to sup with us (Revelation 3:20). And when we step out in faith and receive Christ with open hearts and minds, we will experience his inexplicable joy.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son who has made way for us to draw near you and enjoy you forever. Still, some of us reared in the Christian tradition may not truly know the joy of your Son’s salvation. And others may be drifting or feel discouraged. So whether lost or wandering, would you please help those of us who need to hear again the good news to feel a sense of urgency to respond? And for those on track with our faith, would you strengthen and guide us to reach out to the “Zacchaeus” of this world and invite them to come and sup with us and meet Jesus? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling