March – 24 – Called to Repent

Sunday School Lesson

March 24

Lesson 4 (KJV)

Called to Repent

 

Devotional Reading: 1 Chronicles 16:8–13, 23–27

Background Scripture: Luke 19:1–10

 

Luke 19:1–10

1. And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

 

2. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

 

3. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

 

4. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

 

5. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

 

6. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

 

7. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

 

8. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

 

9. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

 

10. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

 

 

Key Verse

The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10

 

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

 

1. Recall details of the story of Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus.

 

2. Illustrate the transforming effect of God’s grace through the example of Zacchaeus.

 

3. Commit to a change in attitude toward money and compassion for others.

 

HOW TO SAY IT

Jericho	Jair-ih-co.
Laodiceans	Lay-odd-uh-see–unz.
Mosaic	Mo-zay-ik.
Pharisees	Fair-ih-seez.
Zacchaeus	Zack-key-us.

Introduction

1. From All to Nothing and Back Again

What is the measure of your life? An accountant can calculate your wealth. Your boss can state your contribution to the organization. Your family and friends can tell you how much you mean to them. Internet sites can tell you the impact of your social media posts. A physician can assess your health. Your résumé can detail your professional accomplishments. Which of these, if any, is the best measure?

We may also ask how the choice of measuring instrument has changed for you over the years. Were you once concerned with wealth, power, and/or popularity, but now you reject those touchstones in favor of assessing your life differently?

Such a change in assessment is central to what the Bible calls “repentance.” Repentant people revalue their lives, and with renovated values they embark on renovated behavior, the subject of today’s lesson.

 

1. Lesson Context

Our text is part of Luke’s narrative of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. Jesus had warned His disciples that He would be put to death but raised to life again (Luke 18:31–34; see also 9:22, 44; 13:31–33). Having arrived in Jericho, the setting of today’s lesson, Jesus was only about 15 miles from Jerusalem and its momentous events.

This lesson’s account is the last of three in close succession in which Jesus interacted with individuals who sought Him out. The first was a conversation with the man we call the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18–30); the second involved a blind beggar (18:35–43). The first man seemingly had every advantage and had followed every law of God; the second had nothing except the audacity to cry out persistently for Jesus’ mercy.

The surprising outcomes were that the advantaged man departed disappointed, while the disadvantaged one received his request and followed Jesus on the way. The reason we say surprising is because of commonly held viewpoints on privileged wealth and disadvantaged poverty (compare Matthew 19:23–25; John 9:2; James 2:1–4).

Those outcomes set the stage for the third and final encounter of the sequence. This encounter is with a publican (a tax collector). People in every time and place grumble about taxes and tax collectors. But tax collectors in first-century Israel were especially despised. The Roman Empire had a practice of contracting for the collection of certain taxes. The process involved an auction for the authority to collect taxes in a particular location.

Recognizing an opportunity to make a profit, people would estimate the taxes that could be collected and bid accordingly. The winning bidder would then do everything possible to maximize taxes collected in order to maximize personal profit.

Tax collectors were therefore despised for two reasons. One was the unfair and burdensome taxes they charged to enrich themselves. The other was the fact that such Jews were collaborators with the occupying force of pagan, oppressive

Romans.

 

1. Determined Glimpse

(Luke 19:1–4)

1. Challenging Setting (vv. 1–3)
2. And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

 

Jericho is a prosperous settlement in an oasis in the desert of the Jordan River valley. Though only about 15 miles from Jerusalem, it is more than 3,000 feet lower in elevation and thus a demanding, uphill journey. Jesus is approaching the place of His predicted death and resurrection. The shadow of the cross and the light of the empty tomb fall across this episode.

 

2. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

 

We now meet the man with whom Jesus will interact. Zacchaeus is described first as the chief among the publicans—those who collect taxes for the Romans (see the Lesson Context). Mentioned in the Bible only here, his description likely means that Zacchaeus is responsible for a region and supervises other tax collectors. This intensifies our sense that Zacchaeus is powerful and despised. The added note that Zacchaeus is rich confirms his status and reminds us of the rich young ruler (Luke 18:23).

 

What Do You Think? As we seek to make disciples (Matthew 28:19, 20), under what circumstances, if any, will it be helpful to categorize people in terms of their wealth or lack thereof? Why?   Digging Deeper In what ways, if any, do the multiple ways of defining “wealthy” have a bearing on the question above?

3. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

 

Luke has noted the crowds that surround Jesus as he travels to Jerusalem (Luke 12:1; 14:25). The growing multitude fills the narrow streets of Jericho and prevents Zacchaeus from seeing Jesus. Luke implies that Zacchaeus desires to learn about this well-known prophet so that he may evaluate Him. Zacchaeus’s short stature prohibits him from looking over the crowd, and his outcast status makes it unlikely that anyone will make space for him.

 

What Do You Think? What safeguards can we adopt to ensure that we don’t block others’ view of Jesus as He should be seen today?   Digging Deeper Think in terms of acts of both omission and commission in behavior and speech.

1. Humiliating Solution (v. 4)
2. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

 

Zacchaeus solves his problem with actions that do not comport with his powerful status. In biblical times, powerful men do not run. They have people do that for them. But Zacchaeus accepts the humiliation of running to get ahead of the crowd following Jesus. That expedience accomplishes little, though, when the crowd catches up as Jesus passes by.

 

So Zacchaeus takes another exceptional action: climbing into a sycomore tree. This is one of the fig trees that flourishes in Jericho, with its hot climate and abundant spring water. Grown men—especially powerful men—do not climb trees in Jesus’ time. For the moment, Zacchaeus has humbled himself in hopes of seeing Jesus (Luke 18:14).

 

Napoleon Complex

It’s called “Napoleon complex” or “short-man syndrome.” The theory is that short men may exhibit overly aggressive social behavior to compensate for below-average height. Napoleon Bonaparte was thought to compensate for his 5′2″ frame by seeking power and conquest.

The existence of such a complex has long been disputed, but recent research seems to strengthen arguments for it. A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that men who struggle with their masculinity are more than three times as likely to commit violent assault.

Though Zacchaeus of Jericho lived long before Napoleon, one wonders if we could classify him as having short-man syndrome. While the Bible does not mention any physically aggressive behavior on his part, his rise to be a top-dog tax collector may have been a way of compensating for self-perceived deficiencies. That’s just speculation, but this is a fact: the only deficiency that counts in the long run is sin. Until we realize that, we focus on the wrong thing.

—J. E.

 

1. Surprise Announcement

(Luke 19:5, 6)

1. Invitation by Guest (v. 5)

5a. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus.

 

We are not surprised when Jesus sees the curious sight of a grown man in a tree. But Jesus’ reaction is in every way exceptional.

To address Zacchaeus by name is a remarkable personal note, for minor characters in the gospel story are seldom addressed by name. In any event, it is astonishing that Jesus recognizes and calls by name a man He has never met. This is one of many examples in the gospel story in which Jesus exhibits supernatural knowledge, knowledge that can be rightly expected of God alone (see Luke 5:22; 6:8; 7:36–50; 8:46; 19:29–34; 22:7–13).

 

5b. Make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

 

Here Jesus’ divine knowledge is applied to expressing a personal, urgent invitation to the man in the tree. Zacchaeus is to make haste: that is, to do all in his power to accomplish what Jesus commands. Zacchaeus had climbed the tree to see Jesus; but now, having humbled himself, he will need no such undignified posture. Jesus will come to be a guest at Zacchaeus’s house.

Jesus of course will be Zacchaeus’s guest, yet Jesus initiates the invitation! It is as if He were the host. Jesus takes the role of authority in the exchanges, yet in so doing He dignifies Zacchaeus by designating the man’s home as the place where Jesus will receive refreshment. The added note of time (to day) stresses the urgency of the invitation.

Further, Jesus uses a telling expression translated must. In Luke’s Gospel, which features 12 of the four Gospel’s 30 occurrences in Greek, this word often signifies something that has to take place to fulfill God’s purpose. Despite Zacchaeus’s being despised by his contemporaries as a traitor, Jesus’ visit to the man’s home is a divine necessity.

 

1. Response of Host (v. 6)
2. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

Luke describes Zacchaeus’s reaction with words that precisely replicate Jesus’ instructions. The wealthy tax collector readily submits to Jesus’ greater authority; he does not submit fearfully or grudgingly, but joyfully. He has hoped only to catch a glimpse of Jesus, but now he has been chosen to be Jesus’ host. Zacchaeus seems to recognize the invitation as one of divine grace, representing a new opportunity of some sort.

 

What Do You Think? What are some practical ways your church can demonstrate the joy of encountering Christ?   Digging Deeper How might these practical ways differ from church to church due to the nature of their surrounding communities?

Recipeace

The International Day of Peace has been observed in some form on September 21 every year since 1982. It is dedicated to world peace and envisions the absence of violence. In 2013, the day was dedicated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to peace education.

Peace Day is celebrated in a variety of ways by various organizations. Of these, perhaps none is as intriguing as the efforts of a social movement known as “Recipeace.” Partnering with professional chefs, Recipeace strives to bring people together over food.

Recipeace offers recipes based on historical “peace meals.” For example, a plum pudding recipe recalls a Christmas Eve during World War I. Weary soldiers from Germany, Britain, Scotland, and France laid down weapons and left trenches to celebrate with carols and sweet treats. A three-meat mock-turtle soup recalls a dinner meeting between President Theodore Roosevelt and Booker T. Washington in 1901. This first-ever meal shared by a sitting president and an African-American in the White House featured discussions on ways to ease racial tensions.

Recipeace also gives directions for Underground Railroad jerky (hidden in tree stumps for escaping slaves) and Amish friendship bread. Eating meals together has long been part of recipes for peace.

Jesus understood the goals of Recipeace. He broke bread with the chief tax collector Zacchaeus. He promised the lukewarm Laodiceans that He would come and eat with them (Revelation 3:20). He even accepted dinner invitations from Pharisees bent on trapping Him (Luke 14).

As you follow our Savior’s footsteps, who can you invite to share dinner, coffee, or dessert?

—J. E.

 

III. Varied Attitudes

(Luke 19:7–10)

1. Crowd’s Complaint (v. 7)
2. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

 

Not everyone is joyous, however. The crowds that accompany Jesus include many who recognize Zacchaeus as a notorious tax collector. They express the common opinion that such people are, by definition, evil. Disloyal to God and His people, publicans opportunistically link their fortunes with the pagan oppressors.

Jesus frequently receives such criticism in this Gospel (Luke 5:30; 7:34; 15:1, 2). Only here do we see the hostility directed against a specific individual. And historical sources show us that this is unlikely to be the first time Zacchaeus has faced such hostility. He is of a despised class, and those who despise the class do so for what they believe are godly reasons. It’s likely that Zacchaeus has never gotten used to such treatment, even though it is painfully familiar.

 

1. Zacchaeus’s Promises (v. 8)

8a. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor.

 

It is not clear where and when Zacchaeus speaks these words. Bible translations and commentators propose one of three scenarios: (1) immediately, on the spot, (2) while walking to his home with Jesus, or (3) when the two are inside the man’s house. Time and place are not nearly as important as the content of the declaration, however.

Luke draws our attention to the importance of the pronouncement by indicating that Zacchaeus stands to speak and begins with the word behold. This expression draws attention to what is to follow (compare Luke 21:29). Further, Zacchaeus addresses Jesus as Lord. This indicates at least high respect (as in “sir”), if not Jesus’ divine, supreme authority.

For Zacchaeus to pledge to give half his wealth to the poor is an exorbitant gift! This act of generosity reflects the generosity that God is now showing him through Jesus.

 

8b. And if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

 

Next, Zacchaeus responds to his prior life. If I have taken any thing from any man might sound as if Zacchaeus is waffling on responsibility for his actions. But in the original language text, it is clear that he is confessing openly that he has done such things and is ready to make restitution. This will be to any and all, not just to some, whom he has wronged. The Mosaic Law called for restitution between two and five times when theft or fraud is committed (Exodus 22:1–14). Zacchaeus does not debate the proper number. Rather, he openly promises a high level of restitution.

 

What Do You Think? What challenges should we anticipate when a person with a notorious reputation comes to Christ?   Digging Deeper Under what conditions, if any, should conversion of such a person be accompanied by expectations of restitution?

We wonder if Zacchaeus’s promise is foolhardy. Since he begins by promising half his wealth as a gift to the poor, does he not run the risk of exhausting his resources before fulfilling all the restitutions? This very extravagance seems to be Luke’s point. Zacchaeus is no longer the profit-minded opportunist. He is now the recipient of the extravagant grace of God, so he responds with similar extravagance.

Zacchaeus displays the full ideal of repentance. Repentance is a change of mind, heart, and life in response to God’s gracious gift. Its fullness is measured not in how guilty the individual feels, not in how emotional is the transition, not even in how immediate the change is. Rather, repentance is genuine when an individual’s life increasingly reflects God’s goodness and grace. Zacchaeus is now on the right track in that regard.

 

1. Jesus’ Declarations (vv. 9, 10)

9a. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house.

 

Jesus celebrates and affirms Zacchaeus’s repentance. This is a momentous occasion, one that reflects fulfillment of God’s promises and Jesus’ mission.

Salvation in the New Testament reflects all that we typically associate with it and more than we sometimes realize. To be saved by the Lord is to be graciously granted life with the Lord beyond death. It is to guarantee resurrection to eternal life in God’s recreated heavens and earth. It is also to be restored to God’s blessed life in the present, to begin to experience the authentic life for which humans were made.

The latter does not imply an easy or materially wealthy life, of course. Salvation comes by the cross and calls the saved to take up their crosses (Luke 9:22–26). But salvation also transforms our perspectives to realize that the life of humble service in the Lord’s name is the divinely blessed life for which God has created us. For Zacchaeus, the salvation that comes to his house … this day is more than the assurance that death will not have the final word. It is also his restoration to the authentic life of God’s people.

 

9b. Forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

 

Zacchaeus’s contemporaries consider him a traitor who has forfeited citizenship in Israel, God’s people. Jesus now pronounces the opposite: Zacchaeus is a son of Abraham.

It is no accident that Jesus refers to Abraham instead of Jacob, Abraham’s grandson who became father of the 12 tribes. God’s promise is to bless all nations through Abraham’s seed (Genesis 12:3; 22:18). Having been considered by his neighbors to be part of the pagan nations, Zacchaeus is now reclaimed for God’s people according to God’s promise. Ironically, those devout Jews who are hostile to Zacchaeus run the risk of missing out on God’s promise if they fail to respond to God’s generosity in Jesus as Zacchaeus has just done.

 

10. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

 

In the New Testament, the expression Son of man, with one exception (John 12:34), is used only by Jesus to refer to himself. Though its significance is widely debated, most scholars today affirm that Jesus is alluding to Daniel 7:13,

 

14. There “one like the Son of man” is a figure who reigns over God’s kingdom as God defeats the beastly empires that have oppressed His people in the past. In other words, Jesus’ referring to himself as the Son of manis a veiled claim to be God’s triumphant king.

How does that king rule? This episode of today’s text illustrates Jesus’ rule as one who seeks and saves that which was lost. Jesus called Zacchaeus down to Him as that man looked down from a tree. Jesus invited himself to Zacchaeus’s home as an expression of grace. Jesus has pronounced salvation as coming to Zacchaeus’s house; that affirmation is of Jesus’ authority alone, apart from temple and sacrifice. Whatever opinion of Zacchaeus his neighbors hold, Zacchaeus is now surely identified as having been lost but now found and saved. He is a success story of the divine search-and-rescue mission.

When Jesus encountered criticism for eating with tax collectors previously in this Gospel, He restated His mission in similar terms (see Luke 5:32). The result was celebration for the lost as having been found (15:7, 10, 32).

 

What Do You Think? What changes will you make to better prepare to pursue the calling to seek and save the lost?   Digging Deeper Which Scriptures convict you most in this regard? Why?

Conclusion

1. Two Different Responses

Considering Zacchaeus’s pledge to give half his wealth to the poor, we may wonder why Jesus celebrated that promise when He had challenged the rich young ruler to give it all (Luke 18:22). The difference is in how each man viewed himself and how that view directed the response of each.

The ruler came to Jesus in self-assurance. He intended to do some great deed that would earn God’s favor (Luke 18:18). He was quite sure that he was blameless before God’s law (18:21). Zacchaeus, on the other hand, responded with repentant generosity. He recognized his real need—his weakness in what seemed like strength—and was ready to accept indignity in order to catch a glimpse of Jesus.

God’s grace in Jesus seemed to be far more than Zacchaeus had hoped for. His generous pledge was not a means of earning God’s gift. Rather, it was a grateful response to the gift he had received in his weakness. His generosity reflected that of the Christ who stood before him on the way to the cross.

Which man are you more like? Are you trying to offer something to God as a gift? Or having received His gift without merit, are you reflecting it with a life of Christlike generosity?

 

1. Prayer

Father, we are helpless on our own. Grateful for Your incomparable gift, we ask that Your Spirit empower us to reflect Your grace in every part of our lives. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen!

 

1. Thought to Remember

God grants His grace to those who know they need it.

 

 

 

Kid’s Corner

A Heart Prepared to Meet Jesus

Luke 19:1-10

Sunday, May 29, 2016

 

Luke 19:1-10

(Luke 19:1) He entered Jericho and was passing through.

 

Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land, and the LORD brought down the city’s walls after the army marched around it seven times; then Joshua put a curse on the city: “At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: ‘Cursed before the LORD is the one who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho: At the cost of his firstborn son he will lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates.’” (Joshua 6:26). During the reign of King Ahab, Jericho was rebuilt, and the curse fell upon the builder’s sons: “In Ahab’s time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the LORD spoken by Joshua son of Nun” (1 Kings 16:34). Jericho is located north of the Dead Sea near the Jordan River, east of Jerusalem. Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan who helped a man who was robbed as he traveled from Jerusalem to Jericho (Luke 10:30-36). Jesus was on his way for His final visit to Jerusalem before His crucifixion.

 

(Luke 19:2)  And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich.

 

The name Zacchaeus means “pure.” He was an Israelite who worked with the Roman conquerors and oppressors of Judea by collecting taxes for them. Other tax collectors worked under him to collect taxes for Rome. Tax collectors were despised by the people, perhaps because they had the reputation of cheating people for excessive personal profit. As a chief tax collector, Zacchaeus had become very rich.

 

(Luke 19:3)  Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature.

 

Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, perhaps because he had heard about and talked to the blind man, Bartimaeus, whom Jesus had healed in Jericho (Mark 10:46-52). Jesus had been in ministry for three years, so many would have reported in Jericho what they had seen and heard about Jesus. Zacchaeus was short and because he was a tax collector probably no one would let him squeeze between them in order to see Jesus.

 

(Luke 19:4)  So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.

 

Just as Jesus had said we must become like little children to enter the kingdom of God, so Zacchaeus ran ahead of the waiting crowd and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus (see Luke 18:17). Apparently the crowd knew the way Jesus would enter the city as He traveled through the city to Jerusalem, and without waiting for Jesus to come further into the city, Zacchaeus ran to the front of the crowd and climbed a sycamore tree (perhaps to avoid the possibility of others pushing in front of him and blocking his view).

 

(Luke 19:5)  When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”

 

Probably led by the Holy Spirit (who knew Zacchaeus’ heart), he put himself where Jesus could easily see and find him, and also where the crowd could hear any conversation between Jesus and Zacchaeus. Jesus knew what Zacchaeus needed and wanted, for Jesus knew what was in each person: “But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person” (John 2:24-25). So, Jesus invited himself into Zacchaeus’ home “immediately” without waiting to address the crowd.

 

(Luke 19:6)  And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly.

 

Zacchaeus did immediately what Jesus asked of him. Zacchaeus also welcomed Jesus gladly. Zacchaeus was a sinner, but he had probably heard how Jesus welcomed tax collectors and sinners. John the Baptist had baptized repentant sinners in the Jordan River near Jericho, and Zacchaeus may have been one of those tax collectors who went to John as Jesus said: “For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him” (Matthew 21:32). Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus gladly because he had prepared himself for a day when he might meet Jesus. He showed that he was a repentant sinner by welcoming Jesus gladly.

 

(Luke 19:7)  When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

 

Whenever Jesus spent time with tax collectors and sinners, those who thought they were righteous and looked down upon such people criticized Jesus. But even one of Jesus’ disciples had once been a tax collector. So notorious were tax collectors that when Matthew lists himself among Jesus’ disciples he identifies himself as the tax collector (see Matthew 9:9 and Matthew 10:3). Jesus could have said to some of those who criticized him: “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you” (Matthew 21:31).

 

(Luke 19:8)  Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.”

 

Zacchaeus proved that he was heart-prepared to meet Jesus, and that is why he welcomed him gladly and stood up and declared to Jesus what he was going to do with his wealth. Zacchaeus was not required to give all of his possessions to the poor, but he was led to give substantially to help the poor. He may not have cheated anyone, but he was willing to obey the law of Moses, make restitution, and repay anyone four times the amount he had stolen (see Exodus 22:1). Zacchaeus showed true repentance and faith.

 

(Luke 19:9)  And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.

 

Jesus had told His disciples that it was difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, but what is impossible with man is possible with God (see Luke 18:24-27). The fact that Zacchaeus repented and came to faith in Jesus proved that God had made it possible for him to enter the kingdom of God. Salvation came to his house because Jesus had come into his house, and Christ through Zacchaeus would lead each member of his household to saving faith. Peter wrote, “You are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” And Peter preached, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). In the Book of Revelation, we read, “And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (Revelation 7:10). Zacchaeus was more than an Israelite, the Apostle Paul explained the meaning of a “son of Abraham”: “Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham” and “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:7; Galatians 3:29). Jesus said, “If you were Abraham’s children, then you would do what Abraham did” (John 8:39).

 

(Luke 19:10)  “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

 

Jesus sought and saved Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus did not save himself. Jesus described how He came to seek and save the lost in the parable of the lost sheep and in the parable of the lost coin (see Luke 15:1-10). In another parable, Jesus also described the faith response of a lost son when he “came to his senses” and returned to his father who received him with love and forgiveness (Luke 15:11-32). Zacchaeus demonstrated his faith response to the grace of God when he climbed the tree to see Jesus. After Jesus found him there and went to his home, in faith Zacchaeus declared how his life would be different. Jesus declared that salvation had come to his home, because Jesus Christ himself is salvation and He came to Zacchaeus house “to seek and save the lost.”

 

 

A Heart Prepared to Meet Jesus

Luke 19:1-10

Sunday, May 29, 2016

 

“But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount’” (Luke 19:8).

Zacchaeus was a tax collector for the Romans in Jericho near the Jordan River, so he may have heard John the Baptist preach. Zacchaeus may have been baptized when John proclaimed “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 3:3). Luke recorded, “Even tax collectors came to be baptized. ‘Teacher,’ they asked, ‘what should we do?’ ‘Don’t collect any more than you are required to,’ John told them” (Luke 3:12-13). By previously submitting to John’s baptism, Zacchaeus may have prepared his heart to meet Jesus, because Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus gladly and told Jesus and the crowd that if he had cheated anybody he would make restitution to them. Zacchaeus rightly applied to his situation the Law of God in Exodus 22:1, “Whoever steals … a sheep … must pay back … four sheep for the sheep.” He may not have cheated anyone, but if he had, he was willing to pay them four times the amount. His willingness to make restitution was a sign he had repented. Zacchaeus also promised to give half of his possessions to the poor, another sign he had faith in Jesus and Jesus had cleansed his heart. Jesus proclaimed to the crowd, “Today, salvation has come to this house” (Luke 19:9). Jesus also told everyone about Zacchaeus’ changed life and faith when Jesus declared that Zacchaeus was a son of Abraham. From the Apostle Paul, we learn what Jesus meant: “Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7).

 

Thinking Further

A Heart Prepared to Meet Jesus

Luke 19:1-10

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Name _____________________________________

 

1. Compare Jesus’ approach to tax collectors and sinners to the Pharisees’ approach.

 

 

 

2. If he had heard John the Baptist preach, how might  Zacchaeus have prepared himself to meet Jesus?

 

 

 

3. What clues in this event might indicate that Zacchaeus had probably prepared himself to meet Jesus?

 

 

 

4. What did Jesus mean when He said salvation had come to Zacchaeus house?

 

 

 

5. Who is a child of Abraham?

 

 

Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further

 

1. Compare Jesus’ approach to tax collectors and sinners to the Pharisees’ approach.

Jesus sought sinners and tax collectors to bring them the good news of salvation; to seek and save the lost. The

Pharisees tried to avoid all contact with tax collectors and sinners.

 

2. If he had heard John the Baptist preach, how might Zacchaeus have prepared himself to meet Jesus?

See Luke 3:3-16 to formulate your answer.

 

3. What clues in this event might indicate that Zacchaeus had probably prepared himself to meet Jesus?

He welcomed Jesus gladly into his house. He said he would give to the poor. He said he would obey the law of

Moses and make restitution if needed.

 

4. What did Jesus mean when He said salvation had come to Zacchaeus house?

Jesus had come there and Zacchaeus had responded with faith in Jesus. Because Jesus had come to seek and save

the lost, He had found and saved Zacchaeus.

 

5. Who is a child of Abraham?

See Galatians 3:7 and Galatians 3:29 to formulate your answer.

 

 

Word Search

A Heart Prepared to Meet Jesus

Luke 19:1-10

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Name _____________________________________

 

H Y B E J N J X R E X Z A K C

Q L S X S M V G M I A C S G H

I F U B C A I T D L T U N S I

J E S L R H D B Y I E D A K E

E E E A O A R L W A T L Z R F

R R J T W R H O H E V O O Q Z

I T K F D B M C T A A M D Y S

C O Y C R A C C T C A L Q A Z

H K G B I A H I V C E O T L Y

O S U D Z E O W Y P S L D H N

Z M P L A N R S I T G Y L Z Y

Y L E T A I D E M M I E P O S

B R E S H O R T O Y X O Q Y C

K D P N X Q S D E M O C L E W

I V F C P C M F C R P M N X Q

 

Jericho

Zacchaeus

Chief

Tax

Collector

Wealthy

Jesus

Short

Crowd

Sycamore

Tree

Immediately

Today

Welcomed

Poor

Cheated

Salvation

Abraham

 

 

True or False Test

A Heart Prepared to Meet Jesus

Luke 19:1-10

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Name _____________________________________

 

Circle the true or false answers. Correct the false statements by restating them.

 

1. Jesus was passing through Jericho to go to Galilee. True or False

 

2. Zacchaeus was a wealthy chief tax collector in Jericho. True or False

 

3. Because Zacchaeus was short, he walked on stilts like a child. True or False

 

4. Because of the crowd, Zacchaeus climbed a tree in order to see Jesus. True or False

 

5. When Jesus saw Zacchaeus, He called him a hopeless sinner. True or False

 

6. When Jesus told Zacchaeus that He wanted to stay at his house that day, His angry face almost scared Zacchaeus to death. True or False

 

7. When Zacchaeus came down from the tree, he welcomed Jesus gladly. True or False

 

8. The people were glad that Jesus told Zacchaeus to lower their taxes. True or False

 

9. Zacchaeus said he would give half of his possessions to the poor. True or False

 

10. Jesus declared that salvation had come to Zacchaeus’ house. True or False

 

Answers to the True and False Test

 

1. False
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. False
6. False
7. True
8. False
9. True

    10.True

 

Prayer

Father, we are helpless on our own. Grateful for Your incomparable gift, we ask that Your Spirit empower us to reflect Your grace in every part of our lives. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen!