Zacchæus

1. Zacchæus

2. Woman Takenin Adultery Centurion’s Servant Fourth Passover, Thu, Apr 4; Jesus 33/34 Ministry begins; Jesus about 30 Tabernacles Second Passover; Jesus 31/32 Third Passover; Jesus 32/33 First Passover; Jesus 30/31 Sermon on Mount January 1, AD30 January 1, AD27 January 1, AD28 January 1, AD29 Transfiguration Jesus begins to tell the disciples of his death - Matt 16:21; 17:1 EpilepticChild The Manwith Dropsy Cripple By Pool Zacchaeus A Time-Line for Jesus’ Ministry

3. Toward Jerusalem • Luke 9:51 – About 7 months before Jesus’ death; soon after the transfiguration. • Luke 10:1 – 70 disciples: urgency! Cp Luke 9:1, 2. • Luke 13:22 – “toward Jerusalem”. • Luke 17:11 – 10 lepers healed. • Note Jesus’ concern for others. • He had burdens of his own! • Luke 18:35 ff; 19:1 – HealedBartimæus at Jericho. • Luke 19:1-10 – Zacchæus!

4. Jericho • It’s near the Dead Sea, 250 metres (820 feet) below sea level. • Jerusalem is nearby, 730 metres (2400 feet) above sea level. • In Joshua 6, Jericho was used as a figure for the sin that will be wiped out in the kingdom. • Joshua cursed the city (Josh 6:26). • In the days of Ahab, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt the city - to his cost (1 Kings 16:34).

5. The Tax System • The right to gather tax was let by auctionand was then sublet to lesser farmers. • Tax agents were necessarily wealthy– they had to guarantee their returns. • Collectors were allowed to take apercentage above the assessment. • Excesses were common and there wereno proper means of regulating the fractional surtax. • The common people had no redress: • The force of Rome was behind the tax agents. • Some Roman authorities connived at theoppression because they benefited from it.

6. The Jews Hated Tax Gatherers • Because of the oppression. • John the Baptist said, “exact nomore than that which is appointedyou” (Luke 3:13). • Because of principle – Jews were God’s people; thus “free”: • “We be Abraham’s seed and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?” – John 8:33. • Some argued it was unlawful to pay Roman tax – Matthew 22:17. • Gentile associations made them socially unacceptable: • “It is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company or come unto one of another nation” – Acts 10:28. • By this rule, tax gatherers were sinners because they broke this law. • Even Jesus used them as a symbol of the rejected – “Let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector” – Matthew 18:17.

7. Zacchæus Meets the Lord • “He ran before” (Luke 19:4). • He had foresight (Compare Abraham – Gen 18:19). • He had faith in Jesus’ consistency. • Zacchæus threw his pride to the winds: • He was a top public servant. • He gathered up his skirts and ran. • Climbed a tree – in public. • The tree was a sycamore fig: • It gave travellers fruit and shade. • Compare Psa 121:5; Isa 25:4. • So Zacchæus became taller!

8. 6 5 4 3 2 1 7 8 9 Table Arrangement Israelites generally ate twice daily Ex. 16:12, 1 Ki. 17:6, Jn 21:4, 5, 12). At the time of Christ, guests reclined on couches around three sides of a rectangular table, giving servants access to the fourth side. TABLE Position 1 was the “highest room” (Luke 14:8) because, being first to receive the food from the servant’s right hand, he had first choice; the dish was then passed to the next position in order. Position 9 was the “lowest room” (Luke 14:9) because, being last to receive the dish, he could choose only what was left on it.

9. “They” All Murmured • That Jesus was guest to a sinner (Luke 19:7) • Who were “they”? • Mt 9:11, Lk 5:30; Lk 7:34, 39; 15:2; 18:9-14; Mt 21:28 • We’d better be ready for criticism – no matter what we do someone is likely to find fault • Certainly, Zacchæus was a publican but, in itself, that didn’t make him a sinner! • We ought not to pre-judge people • We’re all sinners!

10. Zacchæus Stood • He could stand in Jesus’ presence! • He addressed the Lord, not the murmurers. • It was his already established custom to give half to the poor; also to restore unjust exaction (vs 8). • Moses’ law: Help the poor – Deut 15:7-11. • Strangers, fatherless, widows and Levites to share in freewill offerings (De 16:10 ff) gleanings (De 24:19-21) and tithes (De 26:12). • Moses commanded that illicit gain be restored in principal together with a 20% surcharge (Lev 6:2-5).

11. Salvation is Come to this House • Not because of the works, but because of the faith that gave rise to the works. • Zacchæus’ (Hebrew) name means “pure”. • He was a “son of Abraham” – cp Jn 8:39. • Fundamentally this means one who makes his ways subservient to God’s way – like Abraham. • Jesus sought and saved the lost! – Luke 5:31.