The Hebrew name Zacchaeus is taken from a Hebrew word Zakak which means to be bright, clean or pure. I can imagine that when Zaccheaus was a wee little baby his mom and dad had bright hopes for him. Names had significant meaning for the ancient Jew. Mary named her son Jesus the Greek version of the Hebrew name Joshua which means "the Lord is salvation." The names of children often were meant to steer them in a life direction or a career. Hannah named her boy Samuel, “Name of God,” or “heard by God” she promised that if God gave her a baby she would give him back to God. He grew up to be a prophet. Samuel knew what his vocation would be from the time he was a boy, so did Jesus. Names meant something back then. In a unique way, God even used the names of babies as a means of teaching His people. As in the case of Hosea, God told Hosea to name his first child Jezreel which means, “God sows”. All his life Jezreel carried the truth that God was going to sow vengeance on King Jehu for his murders and evil actions.
So, Zacchaeus was named bright, clean or pure. Unfortunately he grew up to be the complete opposite. One of the first things we learn of Zacchaues from Luke 19 is that he is the chief tax collector in the region. He’s not just a tax collector like Matthew, he’s Matthew’s boss. Jesus had already had some discussions with people about tax collectors. We don’t know if Zacchaeus was aware of what Jesus had said about his profession but it’s more than likely word had gotten around. And, I don’t know if Zacchaeus knew Matthew was a tax collector and one of the entourage of the messiah rabbi, but, it’s probable. In Luke 18 Jesus shares a story about a Pharisee and a tax collector praying in the temple. Jesus said, “The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
It was no surprise to anyone that Jesus refers to tax collectors as sinners. In the minds of everyone who wasn’t a tax collector these guys were brutal thugs, the worst of sinners. The apostle Paul thought of himself as a Pharisee of Pharisees so when he proclaimed himself to be the “chief of sinners” he was bringing this parable of Jesus full circle.
The second thing we learn about Zacchaeus is that he’s very rich. We also know from his title as the chief tax collector and his profession how he became very rich. I read an article on the internet by a blogger who was trying to convince his readers that homosexual activity wasn’t any more sinful today than an IRS agent doing his job. After all Jesus considered tax collectors sinners, so would he consider an IRS agent today a sinner? He concluded that Jesus was speaking into the culture of the day that tax collectors were sinners, but what about now? Are IRS agents and tax officials sinners for doing their job today? So homosexual activity is no more sinful today than a tax official collecting taxes. I think that’s pretty creative and I give the guy an A for effort but his premise that Zaccheaus was anything like a modern tax agent is about as wrong as thinking the Indianapolis Colts are Superbowl contenders. So let’s talk about what an ancient tax collector was. According to www.bible-history.com “Tax collectors were usually Jewish and therefore they were hated by their own people. When they collected their taxes for Rome they would turn over the required amount of money, and whatever they could add on for themselves is what they kept. They were known to be extortioners of large sums of money. Because tax collectors were in relationship with Rome, who were Gentiles in the eyes of the Jews, and hated for their domination, they were treated similar to the worst kinds of sinners and prostitutes.”
So instead of comparing Zacchaeus and Matthew and others who were tax collectors, to modern tax agents, a more accurate comparison to a modern definition would be an enforcer; a guy who works for a gang, or mob, or some other illegal group who extorts money from law abiding people and businesses. And hires thugs to beat up folks or destroy property of people who don’t comply to his demands. This is more like Zacchaeus. This was the ancient tax collector.
This was how Zacchaeus became very rich. He was the boss of all the extortioners in the region. You could think of him as the Godfather of his mob.
The third thing we learn about Zacchaeus is that he’s a short guy. That’s probably not that important a fact but it’s included in the story to help us understand something about Zacchaeus. He really, really, really wanted to see Jesus. Just as Jesus was approaching the city of Jericho a blind buy started shouting at the top of his lungs. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” In John 9:39 Jesus said, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” This blind guy shouting at Jesus had the spiritual eyes to see who Jesus really was. He called Jesus, the “Son of David” any one growing up in Saturday school knew what the blind guy was saying. And there were those in the crowd who were trying to shut this guy up. Not because he was yelling, there was a lot of commotion in the crowd, but because of what he was saying. The religious folks, the Pharisees, Sadducees, Priests, or any other religious officials would’ve been upset by the proclamation of this carpenter Jesus of Nazareth as a living descendant of King David. They definitely would’ve tried to shut him up. But the blind guy wasn’t deterred, he kept yelling out “Son of David have mercy.”
He got the attention he wanted. Jesus asks him, “what do you want me to do for you?” and the blind guy said he wanted to see. And Jesus heals him. Right there on the spot in front of the whole crowd. Now imagine you’re in the crowd. This blind guy starts shouting out that the man approaching your town is THE messiah prophesied about. This is the guy you were taught was coming in Saturday School. But you don’t know for sure. It’s interesting to consider though. Then, this blind guy is healed right in front of you. You’re not hearing about it. You’re seeing it happen right in front of you. There’s no way that it was a trick or some kind of illusion. A guy you know is blind, shouts out that the messiah is standing right in front of you and then you watch as the proclaimed messiah heals the blind guy. Now, how do you react? People began to praise God. They began to shout, yell, dance, who knows, maybe even scream at the same time. Now there was noise. And this is what interrupted Zacchaeus day of bullying people out of their money.
It wasn’t every day that a rabbi who said nice stuff about tax collectors came to town. And on top of that this Rabbi had been publicly proclaimed as the Messiah by a blind guy who moments earlier was healed by this Messiah. Zacchaeus just had to see this. But he was short. And he wasn’t very well respected. He was hated actually. So no one in the crowd was going to accommodate him. If he had asked someone to move or tried to work his way through the crowd they would’ve told him to get lost. So Zacchaeus did what any self-respecting man would do in this situation, he climbed a tree. Jesus noticed. It’s not every day you see a grown man in a tree. Jesus called out to Zacchaeus, he said, “Zacchaeus! Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Luke 19:5
I’m impressed that Zacchaeus didn’t fall out of the tree. How shocking for him that Jesus called him by name. I’m positive Jesus and Zacchaeus had never met before. The crowd is being treated to one surprise after another. Jesus heals a blind guy, and then, he calls out to a thug by name. But that’s not the biggest surprise. Jesus then says, “I must be a guest in your home today.” The language Jesus uses actually means, “it’s necessary for me to be in your home today. It must happen.” Zacchaeus was beside himself. He was excited. There was a huge crowd by then and everyone wanted attention. When Jesus healed someone everyone who knew someone who was sick, disabled, demon possessed or any other ailments would bring them to where Jesus was hoping for their own miracle. Jesus didn’t heal everyone, but, that didn’t stop them from coming. But today Jesus wanted to spend time with the thug.
Oh, the people didn’t like that. Why would a well respected Rabbi who was becoming more obvious as the promised Messiah want to spend time with a guy like Zacchaeus; more importantly why eat with him at his house? “But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.” Luke 19:7 Jesus had heard this criticism before. “The Son of Man,on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!” Luke 7:34.
It’s appropriate on Thanksgiving weekend that we talk about how Jesus introduced himself and His message to sinners like Zacchaeus at a meal. On a blog called the Theology Network Tim Chester wrote a piece called, "Making a Meal of It" a short dissertation about Jesus and meals. He writes and I quote, "New Testament scholar Robert Karris says: “In Luke’s Gospel Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal.’ So much so that his enemies accuse him of being ‘a glutton and a drunkard’ – someone who eats too much and drinks too much.”
Jesus used meals to make followers. It’s no coincidence that as a church we are called around a table. Every Sunday we share communion together. When the church was in it’s infancy the Lord’s Supper was celebrated as a meal. They had a feast. We’re missing something today and we have for centuries because we don’t share communion as a meal. I’m convinced we’re missing out on a key element of fellowship because of that. Jesus did some of his most important work while eating a meal.
Jesus said, “For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.” Matthew 25:35 I find it interesting that of these five acts of service, providing a meal, a drink, clothing, health care, and visiting a prison, four of them can be done in our home. And the first three we can provide through a meal. Jesus said, “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet, don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.” Luke 14:12-14 The best thing you can do to serve Jesus is simply open your home. I like the advice of Christian philosopher Francis Schaeffer, “Don’t start with a big program. Don’t suddenly think you can add to your church budget and begin. Start personally and start in your home. I dare you. I dare you in the name of Jesus Christ. Do what I am going to suggest. Begin by opening your home for community. You don’t need a big program. You don’t have to convince your church board or leaders. All you have to do is open your home and begin.”
Jesus shared a meal with a thug. And it made all the difference in his life. I wish that we had a record of the conversation that took place between Zacchaeus and Jesus. Whatever Jesus said it’s obvious that Zacchaeus had seen and witnessed enough. He was absolutely convinced that Jesus was Lord. His life changed in an instant. He said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Luke 19:8 I find it interesting that Jesus didn’t press Zacchaeus on giving all his wealth to the poor. You’re probably thinking about the same conversation I am thinking of. In Mark 10 Jesus is confronted by a wealthy young politician who wants to know what he needs to do to be saved. And Jesus told him, “sell everything you have and give it to the poor.”
What we need to remember above all else when we are considering our relationship with Jesus is that motive matters most. What is most important is not what you're doing but why you're doing it. Just doing the right thing isn't good enough. Jesus is after the heart of a person. So Zacchaeus demonstrates to Jesus that he gets it. He’s not only willing to repent of his sinful behavior but he wants to make things right with those that he has wronged.
This is the response of Zacchaeus to Jesus that we must emulate. Kristi and I made a decision early on in our marriage that we would search out couples and families who were a season or two ahead of us in life that we wanted to be like and we basically became stalkers. We watched them and we took notice of how they interacted. How they treated each other. We asked them questions about how they did life at home, about their routines and their habits. We especially paid attention to couples who had raised kids who were missionaries, preachers, worship leaders, church leaders, we wanted to know how they did it. Paul told the church in Corinth, “And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1
My parents were great examples to me and my brothers. We lived in the Philippines for 3 years as missionaries and my dad was a preacher for most of my life. My folks were always on the lookout for someone they could help or invite to our home. We took care of kids while their mom was in prison, we hosted Bible studies, we cared for the sick and the elderly, my mom and I even told stories of our Philippine adventures and played guitars and sang songs for my elementary school and other groups. I also learned early on that living a life for Jesus meant bringing the hurting to the home.
Paul told a preacher named Titus, “As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.” Titus 2:1-7
Imitating, emulating, providing examples these are all words that teach us that doing life together is essential to the Jesus follower. We talked about our small groups last week, we have one on Thursday evening that is discussing marriage and relationships and another on Sunday nights that is talking about parenting. How are we doing with the older teaching the younger. Can you say that you are the person that can provide the example?
We need to be like Zacchaeus. We must own up to our mistakes. Repent, but then be willing to offer to be the example of what a follower of Jesus looks like. When Kristi and I do pre-marital counseling with young couples we talk a lot about the mistakes we’ve made. Sometimes it seems that I have more to talk about with my mistakes than I do with what I’ve done right. How about you? Do you have successes and advice to share or lessons learned from mistakes you’ve made? Are you sharing with others? I hope that in these small groups we have those who have lived through these seasons of young love, early marriage, raising children who will be obedient to the Word of God and share with those are younger. Kristi and I are grateful for the examples that have been provided for us, for the older folks who have crossed our path and poured their wisdom and counsel into our life. Of course younger folks have to be open to this wisdom and counsel, and maybe that’s why it can be intimidating to those who are older. They don’t trust that young people want to listen. That’s probably more true than not, but, even still, according to Titus, “Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.” Titus 2:8
For Zacchaeus the response to Jesus was immediate. How about for you?
For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. Colossians 2:12
