Text: When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today” (Luke 19:5).
In my mind, I picture Zacchaeus as being about 5 feet tall with dark hair, a little goatee, average size nose, thick eyebrows, medium to dark brown skin color, beady piercing eyes, an attitude of superiority and having little feeling and sympathy for the average person.
The fact he was a short person led him to believe he had to demonstrate his importance by exercising authority over anyone he could. Little people have a tendency to have this feeling. Deep in their hearts they have an inferiority complex, but to compensate for this, they try to exhibit a superior attitude toward other people.
The King James Version says that Zacchaeus was “chief among the publicans” (Luke 19:2). During this time in history, there were many professions and occupations. There were physicians, nurses, plowman, judges, herdsmen, musicians, priests, prophets, rulers, schoolmasters, publicans, etc. The publicans were tax collectors similar to our county tax collectors, state tax collectors or federal tax collectors.
There were two classes of publicans. There was the “chief publican”, which is the title and position Zacchaeus held and then there were the other regular publicans who engaged in the actual collection of the taxes. In Orange County, we have Earl K. Wood who is the head or chief tax collector and then he has numerous people working for him who actually collect the taxes. Earl would be like the “chief tax collector or publican” and the people working under him would be the ordinary tax collectors or publicans. We don’t use the term “publican”, but we say they work for the county tax collector’s office.
Tax collectors in the days of Zacchaeus were not well liked. They had a reputation of cheating the people. The were collecting taxes for the Roman government, but many times they would exhort additional taxes from the people and put that money in their pockets. The publicans or tax collectors were cheaters who worked against the people paying taxes. Zacchaeus was “chief of the publicans” and acquired much money using unfair tactics.
I don’t believe Zacchaues’ career goal was to be a cheat, but I think as he gained power and prestige, the sins of greed, envy and pride set in and he became spiteful, selfish and self-centered. This same thing still goes on today. An individual moves up the rungs of the corporate ladder, reaches the top rung, and forgets how it is on the bottom rung of the ladder. Once the top rung is reach, more opportunities and benefits avail themselves and soon the individual becomes like Zacchaeus, conceited and uncaring of the people below him. We have seen this recently in the Enron Corporation. One sin leads to another and soon your sin will find you out.
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today” (Luke 19:5).
Why did Jesus say this to Zacchaeus? Zacchaeus was a cheater who daily took advantage of people.
If we stop and think for a moment, we realize God created Zacchaeus just as he created us. God knew Zacchaeus before he was even conceived in the womb. God knew each of us before we were ever conceived in the womb. God spoke these words to the prophet Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).
God had a purpose for Jeremiah’s life, a purpose for Zacchaeus’ life and he has a purpose for each of our lives. God appoints specific kinds of work for some people. Jeremiah’s work was “to be a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5); John the Baptist came a witness, “to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe; He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light” (John 1:7,8).
David was chosen by God, at the age 15 years, to ascend the throne some years later. Scripture indicates that Samuel sent for David, who was in the field tending the sheep, to come and be in his presence. “So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, ‘Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!’ Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward” (I Samuel 16:11-13).
Paul was chosen by God to do a specific work. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul records these words: “But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus” (Galatians 1:15-17). It was divine intervention that changed this man, Paul, from a persecutor of the Christians to the greatest Christian missionary that ever lived.
Paul knew his conversion and the message he was to preach came directly from God. He did not have to consult any other apostle or any other man because he knew his power came from God the Father.
Just as God knew Zacchaeus, John the Baptist, David and Paul before they were ever conceived in the womb, he also knew each of us. God knew the heart of each of these people and he knows our hearts. Everyone born is born with a sinful nature because of Adam and Eve. But just as God loved Adam and Eve, he loves each of us. His plan of redemption still holds true this very day.
There are going to be times we sin. There will be times when we are discouraged and feel unworthy, but we must remember that God is in control of our lives. He knows what we are going through. He knows how we feel. We must remember that he created us and since he didn’t create anything worthless, we are valuable to him and he has a plan for our lives.
Zacchaeus was a cheater and a little man puffed-up with an inflated ego. He was self-centered and greedy. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel as though I fall into that same category with Zacchaeus. David was not perfect. Paul was a crusader against God’s children.
I am not perfect; I don’t always make the right choices; I judge people at times; ugly words have come out of my mouth; I have carried resentment for whatever reason; I have opened my mouth when I should have perked up my ears; and, I am not the perfect husband, father or grandfather. In other words, I have shortcomings and you might have some too, but God still loves us and wants us to spend eternity in his kingdom.
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today” (Luke 19:5).
I believe Jesus looked straight into the heart of Zacchaeus and saw something beautiful. I believe Jesus saw the good things in his heart, the things that could be used for the glory of God’s kingdom. Jesus looks into our hearts and he sees the potential that is there.
Each person has value because they were created in the image of God the Father. Zacchaeus was created in the image God, but like many people, he veered off the straight and narrow road onto the wide and crooked road of life. Satan was working hard in the days of Zacchaeus and he is working hard today to cause us to take our eyes off Jesus and place them on the things of the world. He tries to get people to lie, cheat, steal and covet their neighbor’s possessions. Satan works overtime to break up marriages by encouraging people to commit adultery and fornication.
We must remember that God’s power and kingdom is forever, but Satan’s power is only for a little while. His script has already been written and will soon come to fruition or to an end. Satan will be destroyed when he is cast into the lake of burning sulfur. Revelation 20:10 says, “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” When this happens, the Satan will never again torment anyone.
God is a god of love, compassion, understanding; He is forgiving, kind, and considerate. Zacchaeus was made in the image of God, just as we are, and when Jesus looked up into that tree, he saw the good in Zacchaeus’ heart just as when he looks at us, he sees the good in our hearts. Zacchaeus had all the positive attributes of God in his heart, but he did not let it show because Satan was directing his life. You and I have love, compassion and understanding in our hearts. We are forgiving, kind and considerate of other people, however, at times it is buried in the very bottom of our subconscious minds.
As Christians, we know that “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (I John 4:4). Satan is strong in the world today, but God is stronger. Evil and wickedness is all around us and it is easy for us to follow the ways of the world. Evil and wickedness controlled Zacchaeus making him a cheater and people disliked him. He became rich at the expense of other people, but his richness was of the world and could not be taken with him when he exited this world.
Many people in the world today are like Zaccheaus. They take advantage of people in order to accumulate worldly possessions for themselves. They are always thinking of themselves instead of thinking about others. They will destroy relationships and step on people in order to acquire another earthly possession. They refuse to believe they are choosing their destiny or fate by their actions. Zacchaeus was choosing his destiny by the way he conducted his life and his business.
When Jesus looked up into that Sycamore tree, he saw a little man who was hurting on the inside. Jesus felt the pain and saw grief and unhappiness in Zacchaeus’ heart. He knew the life Zacchaeus lived. Jesus knew how he cheated people. He knew Zacchaeus wanted to be loved and liked by people, but unfortunately the way he treated people hindered this from happening.
I truly believe that even if Zacchaeus had been hidden in the crowd of taller people that Jesus would have found him and called him forth because he loved him.
Today, there are many people who have all the material possessions the world has to offer, but they are miserable. Many people who have reached the pinnacle of their career are unhappy. People who have all the world has to offer have committed suicide, because they have an empty place or a void in their hearts. They never consider the fact that God created them and that he loves them. Many fail to look up and ask God for guidance and assistance. Some believe there is no hope and no help from above. Others believe that death is the end and once the body goes into the ground life stops.
Bread winners tend to purchase insurance for their loved ones in the event they die, but they forget about insuring their soul.
Story:
A little boy climbed up on his father’s knee, and looking up into his face, asked, “Papa, is your soul insured?” “Why do you ask that question, Sonny?” “Why, Papa, I heard Uncle George say that you had your house insured and that you had insured your barn and your life, but he was afraid you had not thought about insuring your soul and he is a afraid you will lost it. Papa, won’t you go and get it insured right away?”
The father bowed his head and was silent. He owned broad acres of land, and his buildings were all covered with insurance. He had insured his life for the maintenance of his wife and little son; yet not one thought had he given to his own soul. And “what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Sunday School Times)
Some people are touched by a preacher on the TV or on the radio, or a friend who takes time to witness and care for someone hurting, or a church who says, “Come on in and meet the Man who walked on water”, or a husband, wife or child who has been praying for a family member or friend. It is our responsibility as Christians to be the “salt of the earth” and the ‘light of the world.”
Conclusion:
People are good because God never created anything bad. We do make the wrong choices and get off the straight and narrow path. There are times when we take advantage of people and hurt them, but we also have the option of asking forgiveness from them and from God for our actions.
God’s love for us is so strong that he sent His Son to die for our sins. The chief priests and the Pharisees did not kill Jesus. Pilate did not kill Jesus. Caiaphas did not kill Jesus. The Roman soldiers did not kill Jesus. Herod did not kill Jesus. Jesus died a voluntary death.
Why?
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Zacchaeus saw the Light, believed, and was saved, not only him, but his entire household. Every person in this world, who confesses their sins, repents of their sins and accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as their own personal Lord and Savior will be saved and will spend eternity with God in his kingdom.
Jesus said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (John 19:10).
Amen.
