Many, no doubt, were converted to the faith of Christ of whom no account is kept in the gospels; but the conversion of some, whose case had something in it extraordinary, is recorded, as this of Zaccheus.
I. The Meeting Of God And Man verses 1-6
A. God Is The Initiator
Christ called him by name, Zaccheus, for he knows his chosen by name.
John 1:47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.”
John 1:48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
But before he climbed the sycamore-tree Christ saw him, and knew him.
Jesus started by calling Zacchaeus by name.
John 10:2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep.
John 10:3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
John 10:4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
God Is The Initiator
Ephesians 1:4-6
Ephesians 1:11-14
Rom 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Rom 8:30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
B. The Free Will Of Man
We also see Zachaeus choosing to follow Jesus.
1. Some People Are Only Curious About God
He had a great curiosity to see Jesus, what kind of a man he was, having heard great talk of him, v. 3.
John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
It is natural for us to want to see famous people.
Those who are well known and popular for their achievements.
Zacchaeus may have been one who started this way.
NOTE- Zacchaeus put forth great effort in trying to gain sight of Jesus, but that did not necessarily mean that he came in faith.
Many are curious about God, Jesus, church, spiritual things.
They put forth much energy in “seeing” religious things.
But their interest often falls short of true conversion.
That kind of curious effort may be commendable by men, but it is not the thing that counts with God.
Conversion is what really matters.
Being spiritually “curious” does not save anyone.
2. Others Truly Desire A Relationship With God, And Pursue God
FORTUNATELY for Zacchaeus, his curiosity turned out to be more that just curiosity.
He made great efforts to see Jesus.
He put aside his position as chief collector, and did a boyish thing:
He climbed a tree.
He cared not that people saw him, or that he may have looked foolish.
He wanted to see Jesus, and nothing would keep him back.
NOTE- It is interesting that many people have much time and energy to pursue many things in life, but run out of time and energy when it comes to pursuing the things of God.
Many complain of how tired they are, that their schedules are too difficult.
There are legitimate occurrences of this kind of thing.
But for many, convenience rules them when it concerns the things of God.
And their lives prove this to be true.
They are not saved, or are lukewarm and defeated in their Christian life.
There is no urgency to seek God, only excuses.
No proactive efforts, only an accepting of what might happen.
Zacchaeus was a man who sought after the Lord.
3. Each Person Must Decide For Himself
Jesus told him to make haste, and come down.
Those that Christ calls must come down, must humble themselves.
They should not think to climb to heaven by any righteousness of their own.
They must make haste and come down, for delays are dangerous.
Zaccheus must not hesitate, but hasten; he knows it is not a matter that needs consideration whether he should welcome such a guest to his house.
Each person must choose to follow Christ.
Though God calls and chooses His own, there is a decision that must be made to follow Christ.
Acts 7:51 “You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.
2 Tim 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;
John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
John 5:40 “But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
But who made the first move?
In a sense, they both did; Zacchaeus reached out to Jesus by literally “going out on a limb” for Him;
Jesus reached out to Zacchaeus by speaking to him.
They both reached out to each other.
Jesus called Zacchaeus to Himself.
Zacchaeus chose to follow Christ.
II. Who Can Be Saved? Verse 7
1 Tim 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,
1 Tim 1:13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1 Tim 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
1 Tim 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
1 Tim 1:16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
Christ had lately shown how hard it is for rich people to enter into the kingdom of God, yet presently produces an instance on one rich man that had been
lost, and was found, and that not as the prodigal by being reduced to want.
Zacchaeus was not only a tax collector, but a chief tax collector – and men of his
profession were universally despised among the Jews.
This was not only due to man’s natural hatred of taxes, but more so to the fact that the tax collector made his profit on whatever extra he could get away with charging his client – so he had the motivation to make the taxes as high as possible
When the tax collectors came to John the Baptist, asking how they could get
right with God, he told them collect no more than what is appointed for you
(Luke 3:13).
If you were a tax collector, and you were rich, you were a rogue!
III. Conversion verses 8-10
A. The Marks Of Conversion verses 8, 9
Seemingly, the dinner took place in between verses 7 and 8.
It was after time with Jesus that Zacchaeus wanted to get right with God.
Often people come to Jesus, and only see things that need to get right after they spend some time with Him
Zacchaeus renounces his sin; Jesus proclaims his salvation
Zacchaeus evidences his salvation by generosity and restoration.
The law required someone who had stolen to restore the amount, plus 20%.
Zacchaeus is cheerfully offering to do far more than the law demands.
And to restore to any he has wronged would be remarkable; “Considering the way he had made his money it was unlikely that this would be a short list.” (Morris)
Jesus did not command Zacchaeus to do what He commanded the rich young ruler to do, because Zacchaeus did not need to – his giving heart was the way that this rich man was ready to receive salvation
In 18:24-27, Jesus said that it was impossible with man for the rich to enter into heaven; but it is possible with God.
This is a fulfillment of this; Zacchaeus became a joyful giver, thus showing God’s impossible work in him; the young ruler went away sorry, holding on to his riches
The priests of Jericho (it was a Levitical city) had no doubt often condemned Zacchaeus and called on him to give to the poor.
But after meeting Jesus, such a sacrifice was done joyfully.
Love for Jesus can motivate us for greater things than legalism, guilt, or manipulation can ever do
A saved man is a changed man.
G. Campbell Morgan- Thus he came out from his interview with Jesus with two resolves: I give, I restore. He went in, mastered by the passion to get. He came out, swept by a compassion that gives. His life had been one in which he had made revenue the means of self- enrichment. Now he would make righteousness the method of self- abnegation. Something had happened inside the house. What had happened? I need not speculate, b/c Jesus answers the question. He said, “Today, salvation has come to this house.”
Psa 116:12 How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?
B. Why Jesus Came verse 10
Jesus explains why He can extend Himself in friendship to a notorious sinner like Zacchaeus: the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. That was why Jesus came.
Zacchaeus really believed on Jesus; a true son of Abraham was not only
descended from Abraham genetically, but also had the faith in God Abraham had.
J.C. Ryle on Luke- page 242
1 John 4:20 If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
1 John 4:21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.
1 John 5:2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.
1 John 5:3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
1 John 5:4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
1 John 5:5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1 John 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.