why did zacchaeus want to see jesus

Because of the large throng, he was unable to see Jesus. physical descendants (cf. Zacchaeus wouldnt even have been allowed to be part of the synagogue or to worship with others. Connect with Jason Soroski on Twitter, Instagram, or his website, JasonSoroski.net. The Bible story of Zacchaeus, a leading tax-collector of Jericho, is discussed only in the Book of Luke. Your email address will not be published. It was real in what he observed in Zacchaeus, and it was for this that Zacchaeus was complimented. God wanted the little tax collector to see that Jesus could bring salvation to every single person in that crowd, even a hated outcast like Zacchaeus. The moment Jesus came, he immediately spotted Zacchaeus on the tree and told him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, because I must remain at your house today. This made Zacchaeus very happy, but the rest of the throng grumbled, or mumbled, in displeasure because Jesus had gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner, as they put it. Refer back to the text above and Luke 3: 7-9 - John the baptist says bear fruits in keeping with repentance. Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold (Luke 19:8 NKJV). Welcome to Stack Exchange, we are glad you are here. Tax collectors were very unpopular and known for cheating taxpayers. But they didnt go away or stay outside complaining. Unless otherwise noted the Scriptures taken from: Holy Bible, New International Readers Version, (NIrV). Thus, many people like Zacchaeus will encounter Jesus. The books were worth fifty thousand pieces of silver (Acts 19:18-19). (John 8:31-59), Abraham had 2 sons Ishmael born of the flesh and Isaac - miraculously born of faith! He did not come to praise the people that were already good. As a result of his short stature, Zacchaeus was able to go ahead of the throng and climb up into a sycamore tree in order to have a better view of Jesus. He collected taxes for the Romans, overseeing the customs charges on the trade routes through Jericho and levying taxes on individual citizens in that area. To tell the story of Zacchaeus climbing a tree is enjoyable for children of all ages, especially when they are also referred to as little tiny people. People were swarming about Jesus, and Zacchaeus, like the rest of us, was curious about what was going on around him. He couldnt do what Jesus asked him to do. If only the people in the crowd had opened their eyes to that truth, they would have been rejoicing that Zacchaeus was about to become a whole new person instead of complaining about Jesus friendship with a sinner.. Were Jesus and Zacchaeus previously acquainted? This would enable him to follow Jesus and become an active participant in Gods kingdom. He didnt say he was better than others like some people today feel. does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, If the person receives you remain there as long as you are in that city. He tried standing on his tip toes, but that didnt work. Thank you to John R. Cross, author of The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus, and GoodSeed International for their assistance. Everybody, including the high and the rich, needs Jesus Christ. Related Topics: Children, Children's Curriculum, Jodi is part of the Childrens Ministry team at Grace Fellowship Church, outside of Atlanta. 7When the rest of the people realized what was happening, they began to murmur, He has gone to be the guest of sinner. 8But Zacchaeus sprang to his feet and addressed the Lord, saying, Take a look, Lord! "), Do regular people typically climb trees? I must stay at your house today. So Zacchaeus came down at once and welcomed Him gladly. Similarly, we could have been tempted to write him off as well. During his journey, Zacchaeus evolved from being intrigued about Jesus the Christ to believing the truth about Him and becoming convinced that He was, in fact, the Messiah for whom all of humanity had been waiting. Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all that has been prophesied by the prophets concerning the Son of man will be fulfilled, Jesus told the twelve disciples in a private meeting (verse 31). In the concluding verse of our lesson, Jesus outlined the primary reason for His entry into the world. be an irrelevant remark unless we recognize that the principal tension ("The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.") What made Zacchaeus want to see Jesus and listen to his teaching? And because tax collectors worked for the Roman government, they were a constant reminder that Israel was once again under the authority of a foreign government. The Jews knew that Jesus was making reference to this fact and it offended them. As the Greek default tense the aorist is simply stating that this is, in fact, what happened, and no further assumptions may be made about this. He like some of the things that Jesus said, but he wasnt ready to give up everything to be part of the kingdom. It is a totally new creation. Because of this, Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham (Luke 19:9 NKJV). How do you think Zacchaeus felt when Jesus said He wanted to stay at the little tax collectors house? 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, Anyone who believes in Christ is a new creation. Small in stature, Zacchaeus had to climb a tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus passing by. How difficult it is for affluent people to join Gods kingdom! Jesus exclaimed to His disciples after they had finished their meal. He was the main tax collector and he was extremely wealthy. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Happily Zacchaeus listened to the Good Shepherds voice, and that made all the difference in his life. He saw him and called him by his name! Jesus had just arrived in Jericho and was traveling through town. However, there is another suggestion that Zacchaeus might have followed 2 Samuel 12:6, the second part of Davids judgment that the rich man in the prophet Nathans parable, who took the poor mans lamb and killed it to entertain his guest, instead of taking from his flock, must restore it fourfold. 08/23/19-Faith When I was growing up, we had a huge tree in the center of our front yard that was rather large in comparison to the other trees we had in the yard. His father was a small child, and he was a small child as well. A man named Zacchaeus lived there. There arent enough Zacchaeuses in the world. This is a hazardous attitude to hold because we never know when we could be given our final opportunity to hear the Gospel and accept Christ as our personal Savior. ("The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost. The inhabitants of Jericho were taken aback when Jesus announced that he would be hosting this known sinner as his guest. Lets continue reading to learn just how different Zacchaeus was after Jesus came to his house! The Lord be with you. Due of his attachment to money over his devotion to Jesus, the rich young ruler chose not to follow Jesus. Zacchaeus truly became a new man that day. Lets continue reading in Luke 19:5-7. (I get this from the flow of the text, Jesus responding to Zacchaeus. But there was something else that made people hate the tax collectors. I must stay at your house. Zacchaeus' response in verse 6, "So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly". But he was a short man. 1. After hearing Jesus remarks, the disciples were perplexed since the prediction ran counter to everything they had previously thought about the Messiahand they were at a loss for what to do. But here Jesus was, inviting Himself to a tax collectors house, acting like He was His friend. Would My Planets Blue Sun Kill Earth-Life? Im giving up half of what I own right now to help the less fortunate. It has been said that the penalty for anyone convicted for extortion or fraud under the Roman laws was fourfold restitution and that Zacchaeus pronounced this penalty on himself. Old things must pass away (2 Corinthians 5:17). - more unlikely, Do distinguished rich people climb trees in front of crowds of people?- NO, For Jesus there is a difference between descendants (sperma - greek word for descendants) and calling Abraham there father / being sons of Abraham. He thought he wanted to see Jesus by strategically positioning himself on the tree where Jesus was going to pass. Zacchaeus is one of the Bible's models of repentance. There are different obstacles people face to come to Jesus but they could be overcome where there is willingness. do it by the works of [h]the Law, or by hearing with faith? Weve always assumed it was a sycamore tree, and we still consider it to be one now. Not discouraged by that, he ran ahead to climb a sycamore tree to see Jesus. those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. Like others, this chief tax collector, a rich man, wanted to see Jesus. Now that he is saved from his sins, from the guilt of them, from the power of them, all the benefits of salvation are his. Zaccheus is declared to be a happy man, now he is turned from sin to God. Sinners must not think or be made to think that theyre too lost to be saved. Zacchaeus was changed, through and through. The rich young ruler did not follow Jesus because he loved money more than he loved Jesus. believer in Jesus. There must have been something amazing about Jesus to make the tax collector scramble down from the branches as fast as he could! Verse 9 explains exactly why Jesus chose to go to Zacchaeus' house. Tax collectors worked for the Romans, the occupying force and the enemy. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". At Jesus' call to him, Zacchaeus promised to give half his money to the poor and repay fourfold anyone he had cheated. The more time someone spends in my home the more they know me intimately. The city was also a primary toll station for transit between Arabia and Judea. [2] But Zacchaeus was a small man, and he couldn't see Jesus because of the crowd. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. When we notice a large group of people, we slow down and look about. He was looking forward to seeing Jesus, who was on his way. He attempted to stand on his tiptoes, but it did not work either. One day Jesus was passing through Jericho, and as usual, the crowd gathered because of Him. Jesus answered, Things that are impossible with people are possible with God. (Luke 18:26-27), Today we are going to read a story about another rich man who met up with Jesus. Believers must not discriminate against any sinner or believe (or suggest) that certain sinners cannot be saved. For further information, please see the following: Christ still has a special interest in sinners who would repent, guaranteeing them the blessings of everlasting life in their entirety. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. When Jesus says to any sinner follow Me, and that sinner decides to follow Him, God forgives their sin and gives them a new life. Zacchaeus was a dishonest guy whose inquisitiveness led him to believe in Jesus Christ and receive redemption. Zacchaeus, on the other hand, was profoundly transformed as a result of his experience with Jesus. So for these reasons tax collectors were not very popular people in their communities. After enjoying and living a godless life on earth, he was in torments in Hades while Lazarus who suffered while on earth was in comfort after death. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. As well as having a similar experience, we can also Jason Soroski is a homeschooling parent and the author of A Journey to Bethlehem: Inspiring Thoughts for Christmas and Hope for the New Year (A Journey to Bethlehem). Jesus was merely declaring what God had done by the fruit that he saw. The time has arrived for something fresh! All the people saw this. Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through People in Israel didnt like this at all. We arent told exactly what he thought. Jesus' repeating of the noun "oikos-house/home" shows a connection between the two references. Please consider. Zacchaeus was an inquisitive young man who was eager to learn more about Jesus and resolved to meet him in his natural habitat. Although brief, the Bible Knowledge Commentary (p. 252) has a very similar take on this verse. 2023 Proven Way Jesus chose to abide in the home of a tax collector (Luke 19:1-6), 3. He wanted to see Jesus, who was coming that way. The Bible says in Luke 19:1 that Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Ironically, his given name in Hebrew translates as pure one or innocent. Zacchaeus, who was of little size, had to scale a tree in order to obtain a glimpse of Jesus as he passed by. Making restitution will provide me with opportunity to share my testimony with individuals who knew me before I came to know Christ. Image courtesy of Getty Images/Batke. Plot No. Every time a citizen had to pay money to a tax collector, they probably thought really bad thoughts about the person taking their money. We scan social media on a regular basis to see what has been going on. As a result of these factors, tax collectors were not particularly well-liked members of their communities. However, because Zacchaeus was a small man, he was unable to see over the heads of everyone else. This does not match the context or the tone of the narrative which is that of a shocking reconciliation of a traitor, nor does it match the immediacy of Jesus declaration that Today salvation has come. Additionally, Metzger argues for the possibility that Zacchaeus is not pledging to give half to the poor and keep half of his wealth but to give away his half of all that he owns, on the basis of an early Greek uncial that includes a possessive, genitive pronoun. According to Jesus response, Things that are impossible with people are possible with God. (Luke 18:26-27; Matthew 18:26-27) Today we will hear a tale about another wealthy individual who came face to face with Jesus. 10For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for Speaking on his own behalf Zacchaeus notes that he gives half of his goods to the poor. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. In fact, Zacchaeus was so moved that he sprang to his feet and said (in the original Greek), Here and now, I am donating half of my assets to the needy! He also agreed to restore whatever money he had wrongfully taken from others, as well as 400 percent of the money he had wrongfully taken from them. After reaching the tree, Jesus raised his eyes to find a man dressed elegantly seated among the branches. | Theme by SuperbThemes.Com, What Do Jehovah Witness Believe About Jesus Christ. However, we do not need to go to remarkable lengths in order to discover the truth that is written down for us on every page of the Bible in its entirety. Zacchaeus wanted to see who Jesus was. He must have heard about Him before. And that is just what Zacchaeus was. Which ability is most related to insanity: Wisdom, Charisma, Constitution, or Intelligence? It is probably more preferable to treat both presents as tendential, since an iterative would imply that Zacchaeus will periodically give away his ill-gotten gain. They are so voracious that if you place one in a jar with a bunch of green leaves, the leaves will vanish before your eyes before you realize what has happened! As a result, please forward this communication to your friends and coworkers. I believe if you really want to know someone or be known by someone you have to go to or let them in your home. He most likely collected taxes from other tax collectors and then sent the money over to the Roman authorities to be spent. Our lecture has various practical applications, which are as follows: The reality of the matter is that opportunities to get back on track with God do not always present themselves day after day and year after year. Jesus went from Palestine to an area east of the Jordan River known as Perea, where he remained for about four months before his death on the cross. Accepting his invitation results in the remission of sins and the assurance of eternal life. Those who are well, have no need of a physician but those who are sick. Even though the OP says "why" was he saved, I think he means it more in the sense of "how," given the rest of the question. As a result, he dashed forward and scaled a sycamore tree. And Making reparation will help me maintain my moral integrity as a believer. In Ephesus, because of the ministry of Paul, many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. But that he also added what the law did not require by giving half of his goods to the poor. The new has come! Tax collectors worked for the Roman government, and their presence in Israel served as a continual reminder that the country was once again under the jurisdiction of a foreign administration. Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. cedarministryng@gmail.com, +234 815 574 4752 When he repented, he paid back those he had cheated. 6. But when we truly understand that Jesus is the Son of God who died so that our sins can be forgiven and we can have eternal life, then we are seeing with our spiritual eyes! The fact that his sinners heart repented completely is going to be our focus today. It was a sycamore fig tree. He loved his riches as much or more than he loved God! NC27, Phase AA3, In addition, Zacchaeus became not only a member of the genuine band of disciples who followed Jesus, but he also became a spiritual son of Abraham via his relationship with Jesus. Indeed, at some point I will want to consider how Luke and Paul (and James) all harmonize. Story: Zacchaeus Wants to See Jesus. But Zacchaeus overcame whatever could be an obstacle because of his willingness. Jesus stopped right under the tree where the little tax collector was perched did something really surprising. The story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 shows that the rich also need Jesus. In that case, thank You for knowing everything about my life; really, I have nothing to hide from You. No one is too far out of reach for him. Because Zacchaeus was a tax collector, he was "excluded from membership among the people of God." And there was some reason why tax collectors were not really accepted in the house of faith. But here Jesus was, inviting Himself to a tax collectors house, acting like He was His friend. The majority of people detested him and considered him to be the worst of sinners. A plastic butterfly (or picture). They just eat, eat, eat all the time. This perspective would need to view (I restore/repay) as a tendential present which implies that Zacchaeus was just on the verge of doing the action. We have forsaken all and followed thee, he declared (verse 28). But God was also working in Zacchaeus heart to enable him to see with SPIRITUAL eyes. It appears that they were just unable to grasp His announcement on the events that would take place in Israel. Because his name means "Pure." He was given that name as a baby. Zacchaeus had a similar appearance to a caterpillar before he met Jesus. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. The rich young ruler had approached Jesus early in Luke 18 and urged him to sell all he owned and donate the earnings to those in need. Props: A plastic caterpillar (or picture of a caterpillar). 25-27). The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25). In short Matthew and Mark say nothing regarding this womans inward reality of love for Jesus, although it can be deduced by her actions, but Luke expands the event explaining that Jesus recognized this sinful womans internal reality of great love in her heart based on her outward action of pouring out the alabaster of perfume. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Look at Luke 10 - where the seventy are sent out. And John 10:3, which tells us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are His dearly loved sheep, says: The sheep listen to His voice. Zacchaeus teaches us that when you make a solid effort to experience Jesus, you are rewarded. This Zacchaeus was behaving very differently than the rich young ruler we talked about at the beginning of the lesson! Jesus came to a stop right under the tree where the little tax collector was perched and did something that was completely unexpected. On the surface, it was almost as if Billy Graham had arrived in town and decided to stay with the proprietor of a downtown bar! Because of this it also risks over-analysis which may lead to a distorted perspective and understanding, such as extreme ascetism or even legalism. FINALLY WE GET TO THE CONCLUSION OF JESUS AND THE WRITER - LUKE: Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. The old is gone! In an instant, Peter brought Jesus attention back to the sacrifice that he and the other disciples had made.

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