#1418 Luke 19 Part 1 Wee Little Man

 

He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 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.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 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.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19: 1-10 ESV

Luke 19: 1-10 Zacchaeus

…10Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.… Matthew 9: 10-12

He was a chief tax collector and was rich - It wasn't just the Pharisees who hated tax collectors, pretty much everyone hated them. They were men who had purchased the right to collect taxes on behalf of Rome in a district. Rome, like a board of investors, expected a certain return on their investment. The investment was protection, so these men went out as a sort of legal mafia, knowing how much Rome wanted in gold, silver, produce and livestock from their region. Not all tax collecting is mafia like, as Christians we are told to pay our taxes, render unto Caesar what is Caesar's. When you raise the tax to the point where the burden becomes grievous, or you take tax money and use it to buy votes in a democracy, that's gross, that's an abuse. When you weaponize the IRS, that's an abuse and people should speak up and vote against such practices. I use the term mafia here because Rome expected a certain amount, and this was probably a fair amount, but in order for men like Zacchaeus to make good on this, well obviously they had to collect more than what was expected, and did so under the protection of Rome, with the backing of the Roman army. Those that really did well had their own thugs that would go out forcefully to take, bully people, and harass them into giving more. Matthew was probably a tax collector at that level, but Zacchaeus was on a whole other level, he was a chief. 

8When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men. 9As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him. 10Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples.… Matthew 9: 8-10

He was seeking to see Who Jesus was - It was not just the typical curiosity, no, it is the kind that must find it's outlet, and this is a man who is considered unclean, so he wants to learn more about Jesus, but not expecting to approach Him. He has wealth, so he isn't coming like some for the fish and bread, and he is not a leper, nor is there any other health reason given for his interest. He is trying to view Him from a respectable distance.

Trying (Seeking)(2212)(zeteo) implies giving attention and priority to and deliberately pursuing after. The most common sense of this word means to go in search or quest of, to look for, to try to discover, to search for by going from place to place (including sycamore trees!) In short, zeteo means to endeavor to find by any means which is an apt description of Zaccheus who used the "means" of a tree! It is interesting to note that zeteo in classical Greek is a technical term for philosophical investigation, describing that which is “examined, considered” or “deliberated.” Zaccheus was not interested in an empty philosophy, but in an eternal Person! And with the verb zeteo, Luke uses the vivid imperfect tense (over and over, again and again is the idea) which perfectly depicts Zaccheus' efforts to see Jesus -- can't you see him trying to push through the crowd (who would recognize this little weasel and would not be at all inclined to make room for him to pass through, but instead feeling vindicated that this "slimy" little shyster would not even be able to get a glimpse of Jesus)? Or picture Zaccheus again and again trying to stand on his tiptoes to see Jesus, but all to no avail. - Precept Austin

Because he was small in stature - Ah, childhood memories, "Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he, he climbed up in a sycamore tree, for the Lord he wanted to see." He is vertically challenged like my Lily, and he couldn't shoulder his way through the crowd. He was a bit too old to ask for a ride on someone's shoulders, so he runs ahead and finds a tree where Jesus is certain to pass. Here he can rise above the crowd, have the shade and concealment of the branches, hear the words of this great teacher, get a glimpse of the man Whom God has sent in great wisdom and power. Zacchaeus is a man of power and connections, yet he doesn't use any of that here. He doesn't try to get an audience with Jesus, which probably intimates a certain level of self awareness on his part. It is not just that people tell us we are unclean because we are not like them, that means nothing. If anything, we who know we are unclean should have pity on those who have not come to understand this. The self righteous will never seek Christ for Who He is. He is a Savior, this is a part of His eternal Being, but those who are impressed by their own sense of morals and the voices in the echo chamber they live in, they will only want Him for the fish and bread, they are too good to need Him for why He came. 

He looked up - Zacchaeus came with great curiosity and the hope to see Jesus as He walked by, but Jesus came to meet Zacchaeus.

1For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me. 2You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar. 3You search out my path and my lying down; You are aware of all my ways.… Psalm 139: 1-3

…47When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.” 48“How do You know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” 49“Rabbi,” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”… John 1: 47-49

Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today - Wow, he moves from outside the window, trying to peer in, to being the focal point of the Lord's attention. It's funny how pretty the picture is from here, reading about it, but if you turn the gaze from this seen in Jericho to peer upon the state of your own heart, is there anyone in your thoughts that is beyond saving? Are we not like the Pharisees toward some, to those who have not yet been endeared to us? If you were one of the people that Zacchaeus had extorted money from, would you find it in your heart to pray for his salvation, would you pray for the state of your own heart if you were unwilling to forgive? Why were you worth saving?

…19Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me. 21To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.… Revelation 3: 19-21

Stay (3306) meno in simple terms means to remain in the same place or position over a period of time. It means to reside, stay, live, lodge, tarry or dwell. Menō describes something that remains where it is, continues in a fixed state, or endures. Meno can mean "to take up permanent residence" or "to make yourself at home." Meno is the root of the Greek noun mone which means mansion or habitation (Jn 14:2, 23). - Precept Austin

Received Him joyfully - This is in contrast to Jesus' meetings with the self righteous. When he was at Simon the Pharisee's house they had a different sort of curiosity about Jesus, and were looking for reasons to play Him down. Someone with a cure for cancer will always be most popular with those dying from it. Those who see denial as a legitimate means, or their traditions as a path to righteousness, will never come. It is only sinners like me who know the high of Someone stooping down so low to look up at me in the tree. 

39When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!” 40But Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, Teacher,” he said. 41“Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.…

…42When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?” 43“I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Simon replied. “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. 44And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.…

…45You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume. 47Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”… Luke 7: 39-47

They all grumbled - "Yep, this Jesus is a phony, He comes to make the acquaintance of  sinners, and the worst sort, tax collectors, prostitutes and even fishermen." This is scary blind, there is really nothing better than the forgiveness of Christ, and these hecklers think they don't need it.

The half of my goods I give to the poor - When one truly comes to Christ it is because he sees the reality of who He is. He sees His need for Christ, and that to be like Christ is to give to those who have nothing to offer you. True, saving faith, always bears the fruit of repentance. It is so instant here that I pray in fear for those who don't think it necessary, who look for some other sort of sign, who never grow past the physical membership to some club. It is a creepy teaching in the churches today that a man must not change, and that I am to except his word as Bible, that he is saved, and the only fruit that matters is that he said so, and that he went to potluck. How is it that the same God who is able to justify you is not able to sanctify you? Why does that mean so little to you?

…16So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:… 2 Corinthians 5: 16-18

15Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.… Matthew 7: 15-17

Today salvation has come to this house - The Pharisees would have flipped on that. Jesus sees into the heart, and so He knows the work of the Spirit, and can recognize straight away that the old was is gone and the new heart is now beating.

Spurgeon - That was a grand proof that the conversion of Zacchaeus was genuine; I should like to see the same kind of proof in many professors whom I know: “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor.” I remember one who was converted in this place, and he at once gave £50 to some good object, and I said to his brother, “I think your brother got converted.” He answered, “I hope he is, but he is a dreadful skin-flint.” “But,” I replied, “only yesterday, he gave £50 to such-and-such a work.” “Ah, then!” said the brother, “I am sure he is converted, for nothing but the grace of God would make him do such a thing as that.” Now Zacchaeus was, no doubt, a man of that kind, one who loved his money, and kept it to himself as long as ever he could; but now that he is converted, he says, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor;” —He acts in charity and justice, for he is determined to do the right thing with his substance. You see, he was a rich man, so his money was a source of trouble. The blind beggar had no such difficulty, for he had not any money that he must distribute when he was converted; but this rich man —this camel, as our Saviour called such men, went through the eye of a needle by the grace of God, and thus the Lord proved the reality of his conversion. - Precept Austin

Since he also is a son of  Abraham - Now this would make the Pharisees fit to be tied. John the Baptist and Jesus, both, did not recognize any right to God solely upon a genetic relationship to Abraham. Listen to these:

…8Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. 9And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.… Matthew 3: 8-10

…57Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?” 58“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area.… John 8: 57-59

So what did Jesus mean here then? Zacchaeus was born again, read these, they explain it well:

…28A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical. 29No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God. Romans 2: 28-29

…6So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 7Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. 8The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”… Galatians 3: 6-8

For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost - Are you lost? If the answer is yes, then I have great hope for you. I know Jesus, and I know Him to be a Savior of sinners. He is the Physician and the Cure.