1He entered Jericho and was passing through it. 2A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. 5When 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." 6So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. 7All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner." 8Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much." 9Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."
Introduction
The Gospel of Luke is my personal favorite among the synoptic Gospels, I love the language of Doctor Luke, which reveals him to be a very educated man—he very often alludes to sickness and diagnoses and being a Greek and a doctor explains his scientific and orderly approach. Earlier we dealt with story of the Sinful Woman and the Pharisee. And so now, we want to explore the story of Zacchaeus the Tax Collector. When was the last time you moved beyond your comfort zone? While operating within your comfort zone is safe, it does not give you the opportunity to grow. You may be good at what you do, but if you continue to do things in the same way, your life will have a tendency to become very boring. It may no longer offer you a challenge. Only by trying new things can you get your creative juices flowing and experience the thrill of reaching new heights of achievement that you would otherwise not receive while being restful in Zion.
As Christians the depth in which we experience the fullness of God’s plans for our lives is often related to our willingness to step beyond our comfort levels. There are a few things that God has taught me about comfort zones, and one thing is stepping out of your comfort zone is a huge sign of spiritual maturity! Zacchaeus had a sycamore tree to climb in order to appease his comfort level. There is nothing really wrong with the sycamore tree spiritually speaking. We all have sycamore trees to climb they are a part of our daily lives as a matter of fact—but every once in a while the Lord will instruct us to come down in order for us to enjoy a closer walk with Him. Maybe the tree you need to climb down from means shutting off the TV; turning the computer off with its Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter; and maybe it is disassociating yourself with people who are standing in the way of your spiritual growth maybe this will aid you in getting out of your comfort zone and spending more time with Jesus.
The sycamore tree is the rut that keeps you from breaking old and very deadly habits. What are you willing to uproot out of your life so you can intimately experience Jesus Christ in your life? Just take time, to set aside some time in your daily life and spend time with Jesus and watch a great change come into your life. Even Jesus if you think about it, stepped out of His own comfort zone in heaven with the Father.
Jesus loves us so much that the comforts of heaven could not distract Him, the walls of heaven could not encase Him, the voices of the angels could not dissuade Him, and the power of His deity could not hold Him. He had to come. He could do nothing else because of the seriousness and possibility of you and I becoming eternally lost forever due of our sins with no chance of experiencing the everlasting bliss and glory of heaven. He stepped out of heavenliness to take His place in this dirty, dusty, faded, unloving, uncaring, and sin-cursed world we call earth. And here we have little old stingy Zacchaeus whom his community despised and hated as a tax collector, and as a representative of the Roman oppression who was in need of the lesson on how to move beyond his comfort zone. He climbed up a sycamore tree because it gave him a better view of Jesus; although it limited him from the intimate, loving, and saving relationship that he really needed.
Some people need salvation and don’t know it; you may have a relative or friend in this condition right now. They are constantly on your mind and you pray for them both day and night. But sadly, some do know that they need the Lord but refuse to accept Him or either they just simply delay in receiving Him with the thought, “I’ll receive Him when I feel that I am ready to receive Him” and they fail to realize that now is the time to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior! Zacchaeus knew that he needed Jesus but never in a million years did he ever expect to receive Him. He had a profession, which came attached with a very bad reputation. He was considered by all to be a crooked businessman and a corrupt politician.
Zacchaeus lived in Jericho where he made his headquarters as the chief tax collector. What’s wrong with being a tax collector in those days? I am glad you asked, you see generally tax collectors had a reputation for extortion and dishonesty. Tax collectors are often the most questioned and/or questionable people around and If you don’t believe me just pick up your daily newspaper and you will find them somewhere in the news that the IRS or some other agency dealing with taxes are continually placed under scrutiny—it is what I call the scrutiny of the scrutinizers. And If I were a tax attorney I would have a good case against him because Luke tells us that Zacchaeus was very rich, and the assumption is that he made himself rich off of the backs, the blood, and the sweat of his own people there in Jericho.
1.) He Was Desperate To See Jesus (vs. 3 – 4)
Zacchaeus was not only short in stature but also very sophisticated in his sinning. In his community oppressing people who were already down made him the lowest of the low. The only other profession worse than his was grave robbers but at least their victims couldn’t feel or say anything. They were already dead! He was short in stature. Not just socially or economically but physically. And much worse, spiritually! He was a dead man walking.
If he were alive today and living among us he could easily make an episode on “America’s Most Wanted”. However, Zacchaeus was desperate to see Jesus—despite what he had done in the past this is one of the very best desires any man or woman could ever have. Not only was he desperate to see Jesus, he openly showed his desperation for all to see because he was willing to climb out of his comfort zone up a sycamore tree, however uncomfortable the sycamore tree did provide him with a better glimpse of Jesus Christ, it took some effort to climb the tree but once he climbed it he had the perfect view, although, he climbed out of his comfort zone. I submit to you it would have been equally uncomfortable for him to stand in the midst of the crowd, for one thing most of them hated him, and even if they didn’t hate him he was just too short in stature and could not get a very good view of Jesus when He passed by. To mingle with the crowd would have most likely been dangerous for him, he would be nudged, kicked, and bruised before it was all over. And so he proceeded to climb up the sycamore tree.
I remember when I was child ( a long time ago) back in 1963 and living in San Antonio, Texas, my family and I were excited about seeing the then Vice President of the United States, Lyndon Baines Johnson in a parade the day prior to the assassination of JFK. We all knew that we would not be able to speak with one on one or even shake his hand, but the thrill of just seeing for ourselves a man of such great importance was more than enough. I suppose this is how Zacchaeus must have felt; “If I could just see Him” must have been the thought that ran through his mind that day. He might have felt that Jesus would be much to busy to take time to even give him a moment’s notice.
But he was desperate just the same; he was determined to see Jesus at any cost. Nothing would stop him from seeing Jesus, he was wealthy but he was unhappy. He was lonely; he had absolutely no BFF to confide in and there is no mention of an immediate family, no wife, no children—just him by himself. He had chosen a way or a living that made him an outcast. But somewhere and somehow he heard about Jesus Christ the man who openly welcomed tax collectors and sinners, a man unlike everyone else he knew who despised and hated men such as he, Zacchaeus was reaching after the love of God. Zacchaeus was like many of us today smiling on the outside but crying on the inside. This is why he so desperately wanted to see Jesus.
2.) He Received The Invitation of Jesus (vs. 5 – 6)
Despite what others thought of him, the beginning of faith was stirring up deeply inside him for some time now. It is entirely possible that he heard about another tax collector by the name of Matthew—another tax collector just like him who eventually became one of Jesus’ Disciples. He was tired of being the villain of his own people; he knew that he was not living right. Talking about being out of your comfort zone, how about living your entire life out of your comfort zone?
It would be very uncomfortable to live in a community where no one liked you or cared anything about you. Simply walking down the street would be traumatic wouldn’t it? How could he possibly be a happy man living under those conditions? If the truth were told, the only real happiness and satisfaction comes we find the Lord Jesus Christ and then let Him into our lives. There is emptiness in our hearts until Christ becomes a part of our daily life here on earth. Only Jesus can quench our spiritual hunger and thirst, nothing else and no one else will do! Here in our text, Zacchaeus while sitting in his sycamore tree was on the verge of finding true happiness, excitement and joy.
Because Jesus looked up and saw him, in fact Jesus sees each and every one of us, no matter where we are: In the dark places of sin and shame He sees us, in our home, work, or play. Jesus sees every man, woman, boy, or girl and He especially sees those of us who are desperately seeking Him. Zacchaeus serves as a perfect example for us today, he was indeed desperate to see Jesus so much so, and he struggled against the odds and found a comfortable place in order to see Jesus. Eventhough this particular place that he found caused him to have to humble and expose himself before the very people who just could not stand him.
However, Zacchaeus was perfectly willing to suffer the humiliation, ridicule, vitriol, or whatever it took just to get a look at Jesus. Sometimes it is like this with us, even in the Church house. You do know that not everyone in the Church possess the Spirit of love and unity that a Christian is suppose to have and should have? But you come to Church anyhow because it is not about them—but it is all about Jesus! Because Zacchaeus diligently sought to see Jesus, Jesus saw him. Not only did Jesus see him, He called Zacchaeus by his name. If a stranger called you by your name it would most definitely get your attention wouldn’t it? In fact, when anyone calls you by your name your ears automatically perks up doesn’t it?
You see knows every man and woman by their name, regardless of your beliefs He still knows you by your name. He surprised Nathanael one day, when He called his name. Nathanael immediately asked, “How do you know me” and Jesus responded when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. In Isaiah 43: 1 we read, “But now, this is what the LORD says—he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” He wants to address every one of us by our name. Isn’t that wonderful? Isn’t that exciting? The Creature of the entire universe knows you by your name! However, we must let Him call us by our name.
We need to follow Zacchaeus’ example—seek to find a place, a vantage point where can see Jesus even if we have to move out of our comfort zone. When we do this, Jesus will in turn see us and call us by our name. When Jesus saw Zacchaeus there was no time to waste He told him to come down from his sycamore tree, by no means could Zacchaeus respond in the manner I mentioned earlier, “I’ll receive Him when I feel that I am ready to receive Him” Zacchaeus had to make haste and come down from his sycamore tree, he had to act right then and there! How many times have people missed their opportunity during the time the pastor offers an invitation after preaching a convicting sermon? How many times have people allowed Satan to tell them that they have plenty time?
How many times have they said within themselves, “I will accept the invitation next week or when I feel more comfortable to do so—maybe even tomorrow” read James 4: 14 if you will, “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Jesus was telling Zacchaeus, now is the time! Jesus wanted to be welcomed and received by Zacchaeus—but it was up to Zacchaeus to act right then and there, that very moment that very day. Not tomorrow—right now!! Zacchaeus obeyed Jesus; he joyfully came down from his sycamore tree.
3.) He Repented and His Whole Life Changed (vs. 7 – 10)
After coming down from his sycamore tree, those watching this interchange between he and Christ murmured to each other and said
Jesus was staying in the house of a sinful man—in their view; Jesus was giving in to this known ‘back-stabber’ a man who betrayed his country, by serving their oppressor. Zacchaeus knew that he had been wrong towards his own people, he knew that he was a great sinner, a thief, and a yes—a backstabber. And it is exactly why he readily confessed his need for Jesus Christ to be his Lord and Savior.
At this very moment, the roles were exchanged.
Zacchaeus was being righteous but the crowd was being self-righteous. They did not like the idea of Jesus eating and associating with someone that they themselves had already refused to associate with. Their mentality was that He could not be their friend and his friend too. Now this may surprise you a little bit but there are some people who want to be blessed by the Lord—and at the same time they do not want the Lord to bless you. Look at verse 7(a) once again, “And when they saw it, they all murmured…” they murmured, to murmur means to grumble or whine. It is not wrong to complain if correction is needed, but there should be no murmuring. Why does the Word of God mention the act of murmuring so much?
Murmuring is mentioned throughout the Bible, for example, the parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Matt. 20:1-16). They murmured because they had worked all day while others who had worked for a much shorter period received the same wages. They had received their just due but they still murmured. The scribes and Pharisees murmured against the disciples of Jesus because they ate and drank with publicans and sinners but they were really striking out at Jesus (Luke 5:29-32). They did not care that the publicans and sinners needed Jesus. They were only concerned with their personal agenda. The Jews murmured about Jesus because He said He was the bread of life (John 6:41). Instead of investigating His claim in an effort to know the truth, they murmured.
Unfortunately, many Christians are murmurers and complainers. In the home, on the job and in the local church they grumble, murmur and complain. They can see nothing good. To them, everything is bad -- their life is miserable and they want to make it that way for everyone else. Zacchaeus had his sins they were right about this, but their sin was murmuring, grumbling and complaining—they misunderstood the purpose of Jesus coming to earth that He may save sinners. However, despite all this righteous indignation coming from the crowd Zacchaeus repented just the same. He made an about-face and his whole life changed in an instant, he completely turned around from his sinful life and turned to God and His way of righteousness.
Conclusion
Zacchaeus took steps to show all the community that he was a changed man. He decided to give half of his goods to the poor. This powerful story ends with the great words; the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost. Man has wandered away from God and is lost but through Jesus; man can be saved…Jesus changed Zacchaeus, identity,now he was identified as the son of Abraham, the receiver of blessing and grace from God. Have you taken the opportunity, as Zacchaeus did, to receive the Savior into your home and life instead of just watching Him pass by? If you have, praise the Lord! But if not, now is the time. Amen.
