Zacchaeus: An Oppressor Liberated

KEY VERSE: “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” —Luke 19:10

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Luke 19:1-10

THE account states that Zacchaeus was chief among the publicans. In this office he was probably over the other tax collectors in and around Jericho. According to Bible commentaries, the area around Jericho was fertile and productive, yielding considerable tax returns, and because of the method of remuneration, Zacchaeus was, according to the account, rich.

When Jesus came to Jericho, Zacchaeus wanted to get a glimpse of him, but being small in stature, he could not see over the crowd. So running ahead to an advance position, he resourcefully gained a vantage point by climbing a tree. This expression of interest, of course, impressed Jesus, who told Zacchaeus that he would stay with him while in Jericho. The people objected, saying that Jesus was associating with a sinner. A tax collector, regardless of his moral character, was held in low esteem by the Jews because the money collected went to the Roman Empire and in many instances more was collected than the legal tax rate. Tax collectors were generally put in the same category by the Jews as known sinners. They also resented tax collectors because of their being in the service of unclean Gentiles.

But Zacchaeus, who was a Jew, apparently endeavored to maintain a good conscience toward God, for he responded in answer to the complaint of the people, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” (Luke 19:8) Jesus then replied, “This day is salvation come to this house, for so much as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost.”—vss. 9,10

Jesus recognized that Zacchaeus was a repentant sinner and he announced that it was his purpose to seek out and eventually restore all such to the perfection of life that was once enjoyed by man in the Garden of Eden, for this is that which was lost by Adam’s disobedience. Our Lord confirmed this mission in his life in an experience that involved the Apostle Matthew. (Mark 2:13-17) When Jesus was in Capernaum, he passed by Levi (Matthew) who was also a tax collector sitting at the receipt of the customs. Jesus said, “Follow me. And he arose and followed him.” It seems reasonable that Jesus had known Matthew and his condition of heart from previous contacts. Matthew apparently took Jesus and his disciples to his home for a feast, probably in celebration of his determination to follow Jesus. On the way to his home Matthew must have invited some of his friends to dinner. They also were considered as publicans and sinners by the Jews. The account continues, “And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with the publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?” When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, “They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”—vss. 16,17

Obviously the scribes and Pharisees felt that they were whole, or righteous, since they outwardly kept some of the more prominent features of the Law. And because of this, they looked down on all other people, especially the Gentiles. Jesus spoke a parable that condemned this self-righteousness of the Jews. It is recorded in Luke 18:9-14: “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. Two men went up to the Temple to pray; the one a Pharisee and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

Zacchaeus apparently, from the account, became a disciple of Jesus and was acceptable to the Heavenly Father because God looked upon his heart and not on the outward appearance.

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