BIBLE CHARACTER: Zacchaeus

A man of short account…..

 

Although he is only mentioned in one place in the New Testament, many people are familiar with the name of Zacchaeus. Children in Sunday School have often been riveted by the story of the little man who climbed into a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus. Those young in years have, in the past, sung the chorus about him with great enthusiasm, sometimes with accompanying actions:-

 

 

Zacchaeus was a very little man,

And a very little man was he.

He climbed up into a sycamore tree,

For the Saviour he wanted to see.

And when the Saviour passed that way,

He looked into the tree,

And said, “Now, Zacchaeus, you come down,

For I’m coming to your house to tea.”  

 

Those words succinctly summarize the incident recorded in Luke 19:1-10. However, although the account is brief, the words are carefully chosen and rich in meaning. Anyone who diligently studies the narrative will be amply rewarded.

 

 

JERICHO – IN CONTEXT

The Lord Jesus was making His way to Jerusalem in order to offer His life upon the cross for sinners. This was the divine purpose that lay behind His coming into the world. He had spoken of it in terms of “a baptism to be baptized with,” and He was determined to face that awful death (Lk.12:50). Luke points out that He was “journeying toward Jerusalem” (13:22). His route to the cross took Him through Jericho, a city which lay under the curse of God. When Israel had entered the Promised Land, centuries before, and had begun to conquer Canaan, Jericho had fallen – literally. After the Israelites had marched repeatedly around its walls, the priests blew with their trumpets and the people shouted loudly. The walls of the city “fell down flat” (Josh.6:20), allowing the Israelites to enter easily. Rahab, one of its inhabitants, was saved – along with the members of her family because she had come to believe in Israel’s God. Following the capture of the city, the walls of which had collapsed, Joshua had pronounced a curse upon the person who would rebuild it (Josh 6:26). Years later, in the days of King Ahab, Hiel the Bethelite presumed to rebuild the city and paid the price for his act in the death of his sons (1 Kings 16:34). Zacchaeus was one of the later inhabitants of that city.

 

The closing verses of Luke 18 describe the time that Jesus approached Jericho. Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, had cried out for mercy and had received his sight. He joined the throng that had already gathered and followed the Lord Jesus who “entered and passed through Jericho” (v.1). This was the last time He would visit the city, so anyone else who wanted to meet Him had to take the opportunity of the moment.

 

 

ENTER ZACCHAEUS

Zacchaeus’ name (meaning “the just” or “the pure”) was singularly inappropriate. Surely when he was given his name his parents would have wanted things to turn out much better than this, for their son had grown up to collaborate with the Roman authorities and to become a dishonest tax-collector! He now enjoyed the elevated position of being “chief among the publicans” – a situation which had made him rich (v.2). His later words of confession clearly indicate that his wealth had been obtained by dishonest means, for he referred to those he had defrauded. Success in life – especially when obtained by fraudulent means – does not bring satisfaction. Many others, since Zacchaeus, have found this to be true.

 

Although, figuratively speaking, Zacchaeus walked tall in society, in reality “he was little of stature” (v.3). Dissatisfied with life, he had heard about Jesus who was “the talk of the town”. Countless miracles had been performed by this Man from Galilee who befriended “publicans and sinners” (Lk.15:1,2). Zacchaeus, with aching heart, “sought to see Jesus who He was” (v.3). Those words are significant: he did not simply want to “see Jesus” as someone might wish to catch a glimpse of a royal personage, but he sought to see “who He was”. Zacchaeus was concerned to know Christ as a Person. Desperate in his search, he found his stature was an impediment. Being short, he could not see over the shoulders of other people! Any in the crowd who recognized him (as surely they must) would have no intention of showing this despised man any favour. Paying taxes to Rome was bad enough, but this unpopular fellow had added insult to injury by making them pay far more than was necessary – making him rich at their expense!

 

Undeterred, Zacchaeus made his way ahead of the crowd. Evidently he was aware of an alternative route enabling him to get through the mass of people. Knowing that the crowd could easily block his view once more, Zacchaeus nimbly climbed into a tree where he could hide in the spreading boughs. Unlike the sycamore with which we may be familiar, this tree had leaves like a mulberry and fruit like a fig. Trees of this kind were often found by the roadside. Unnoticed, probably in its lower branches, Zacchaeus would have had a clear view of Christ.

 

“When Jesus came to the place, He looked up, and saw him” (v.5). Nobody had told the Lord Jesus of Zacchaeus’ location, but the Saviour knew he was there – and knew his name too! Addressing the sinful man directly, Jesus said “Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house” (v.5). It was a matter of urgency requiring immediate action and also involved descending from the tree. The Lord Jesus had a purpose in view – to abide in the home of Zacchaeus, which is a little more than the thought of “coming to tea” as expressed in the children’s chorus!

 

 

“RECEIVED HIM JOYFULLY”

This incident is a beautiful illustration of the Gospel. The Lord, by His Spirit, calls to the sinner who must “come down” from his lofty seat. We must humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand (1 Pet.5:6). Repentance involves leaving any supposed position and casting ourselves at the feet of Jesus for mercy. Like Zacchaeus we must treat this as a matter of urgency and must receive the Lord Jesus joyfully (v.6). Those who receive Him in this way become children in God’s family by means of the new birth (Jn.1:12,13).

 

Zacchaeus’ meeting with Jesus turned out to be a very meaningful experience. It became a turning point in his life. The previously rich man now declared that he would give half of his goods to the poor and would recompense fourfold any he had wrongly defrauded. The Lord Jesus announced that salvation had indeed come to Zacchaeus’ house that day, for he was one of the “lost” the Saviour had come to seek (v.9,10).

 

When a soul receives the Lord Jesus in genuine sincerity, life will change dramatically. All things become new when someone becomes a new creation in Christ (2 Cor.5:17). The much-loved story of Zacchaeus is a beautiful illustration of all these things.