Zacchaeus the Chief Tax Collector

"He has gone to be a guest with man who is a sinner" v7    Luke 19:1-10   NKJV

Zacchaeus was a Jewish chief tax collector, a hated breed of people, who were employed by the Romans to collect taxes from their own kins-people. Many, possibly including Zacchaeus, collected extra for their own pocket too. By this, they were considered traitors. This is why tax collectors were classed alongside prostitutes and other sinners.

Understandably, Zacchaeus was a very rich man, but like so many of the other tax collectors, he was a social outcast, a man with few friends, a real Billy no mates. 

At this present time, Zacchaeus had a great desire to see the man who everyone was speaking about - Jesus. He had heard that He would be passing by very soon, so he was anxious to get ready for this. However, the crowds were endless and because he was a man of short statue, he had difficulty in seeing. He therefore, climbed a Sycamore tree that was close by. This type of tree had low-limbed branches so it was easy to climb. All of a sudden, he had a prime position and could see more than the crowd below.

All of a sudden, Jesus was there below Him. 'Zacchaeus, make haste and come down for today, I must stay at your house' v5. He couldn't get down the tree quick enough and also, couldn't believe that this man of dignity, was calling him and wanted to stay at his house. The nearby crowd hated it, 'He's gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner' v7.

People just can't comprehend who Jesus is. They feel He should spend all His time with the famous and rich, not the people that are hated and despised.

Zacchaeus said, 'I give half of my goods to the poor and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore it four-fold.' Jesus replied, 'Today, salvation has come to this house, because he also is a Son of Abraham' v10. Now the Greek definition of the word 'Salvation' is Soteria which covers, deliverance, preservation, soundness, prosperity, happiness, rescue and general well-being. This fuller salvation covers the present possession with a fuller realisation for the future. In fact, it is The Full Monty of salvation.

Don't ever look down on people who don't come up to your standards. Be courteous and kind because, you never who you may meet on your way down. Jesus saw the best in us, let us do the same. Many of us, may have had a rough ride before we met Jesus, marital breakdowns, drink problems, soldiers, trying to adjust to civilian life after being in the forces, PTSD, and other such things. I don't know where you came from and neither do you know about me but, Jesus does, and He died on a cross for us all. I am a somebody and so are you! Amen? Amen!

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