Zachaeus Lesson 23 Series

A. INTRODUCTION

1. Retreat from Jerusalem. Jesus left Bethany shortly after raising Lazarus from the dead. “Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples” (John 11:54).

2. Request for faith. “And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith’” (Luke 17:5). Answer: “If you have faith as a mustard seed . . .” (Luke 17:6).

B. FINAL MINISTRY IN GALILEE (LUKE 17:20 – 18:14)

1. Question: “He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come . . .” (Luke 17:20). Answer: “The kingdom of God does not come with observations . . . for indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20).

a. The King is here.

b. Kingdom Principles.

2. Delay. “For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day” (Luke 17:24).

3. Immediately. “But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation” (Luke 17:25).

4. Our response. “. . . men always ought to pray and not to lose heart” (Luke 18:1). The parable of importunity, a widow pestered a judge until he acted on a case.

5. The sinner’s prayer – Jesus gave a parable of a Pharisee who was self-righteous and a tax collector who prayed, “God be merciful to me a sinner!” (Luke 18:13).

C. FINAL MINISTRY IN PEREA (LUKE 18:18-25)

1. The rich young ruler asked to follow Jesus. He was told to obey the commandments. The response: “All these I have kept from my youth” (Luke 18:21). “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Matthew 19:21). Why money?

a. Vow of poverty.

b. Rich enter camel gate (Matthew 19:23).

c. Barnabas, a Levite, owned property illegally (Deut. 18:1-2) who sold all to follow Christ (Acts 4:37).

2. Peter asked what rewards the disciples could expect for following Jesus. “. . . sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28).

3. Parable of laborers in the vineyard. Landowners hired workers throughout the day and paid them all the same. The parables dealt with wrong attitudes. None deserved the things about which they complained.

D. FINAL DAYS IN JERICHO (LUKE 19:1-28)

1. Two blind men. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me?” (Luke 18:38).

2. How many? Matthew identified two healed, but Mark only one. Answer: All sick gathered in one spot and Matthew notes two, because Jews demanded two witnesses. Mark writes only of the dominant one.

3. Where were they held? Luke describes healing when entering (Luke 18:35), but Matthew and Mark described it when leaving (Matthew 20:29; Mark 10:46).

Answer:

a. Two cities, an old Jericho and a new Jericho.

b. They asked when Jesus entered and were healed as Jesus exited.

E. ZACCHAEUS

1. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector, i.e., former supervisor of Matthew. The conversion of Matthew was his motivation to see Jesus.

2. Homogeneous Principle. “Make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house” (Luke 19:5). “Today salvation is come to this house . . .” (Luke 19:9).

3. Jesus was criticized for eating with “sinners.” “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

F. APPLICATION

1. The Gratitude Principle. We get strength, healing and growth of character as we express our appreciation to others.

2. The Inevitable Pride Problem. No matter where we are in Christian growth or in fellowship with Christ, we will be tempted by pride and self-advancement.

3. The Witness Through Our Strength Principle. God wants us to use our strongest assets to witness, as Zacchaeus did.

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.

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