Did you hear the story of Zacchaeus? Well, the word Zacchaeus means “pure” in Hebrew. He was a chief tax-collector at Jericho, mentioned only in the Gospel of Luke. A descendant of Abraham, he was an example of Jesus's personal, earthly mission to bring salvation to the lost.[3] Tax collectors were despised as traitors (working for the Roman Empire, not for their Jewish community), and as being corrupt.
The story of Zacchaeus is used by some to illustrate the saying of Jesus: "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8), because the name Zacchaeus means 'pure'.
Zacchaeus also becomes a contrast of character with the Rich Young Ruler (Luke 18:18-23). Both Zacchaeus and the Rich Young Ruler were wealthy men, but one was self-righteous and would not give up his possessions, while the other gave half his possessions to feed the poor.[9] The rich farmer of Luke 12 is also a foil to Zacchaeus. While the rich man sought to find an abundant "life" in the stockpiling of his possessions, Zacchaeus "finds 'life' in the dispossession of his plenty."
I am sure when he got up that morning, Zacchaeus did not expect that before long he would be entertaining the Son of God in his own home.
As a rich, important and chief tax-collector he was an individual who was hated by the Jews and despised by the Romans and was quite possibly a man who had been a swindler or a thief. But Jesus took time to come to him, to call to him and to open up for him the path of salvation, for Jesus has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
No doubt God had been preparing the heart of this wealthy yet detested tax-collector, for God is able to discern the motives of every man, and this meeting with Christ brought a sinner to repentance, when confronted with the incomparable perfection of the Son of Man.
How unlike the arrogant Pharisees, who looked with such disdain on tax-collectors and sinners and thanked God that they were so different from such 'offensive' people. These self-righteous men were so proud that they fasted twice a week, paid tithes of all their cumin and dill. They were unswervingly righteous in their own unenlightened and petty little eyes, yet failed to act justly to love mercy and to walk humbly before God.
Our Lord Jesus was such a contrast from those critical Jewish leaders, who so readily accused the Lord Jesus of fraternising with tax-collectors and sinners! But that day, salvation came to the house of Zacchaeus, for the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.
God still knows the heart of man and He is still seeking and saving those which are lost and bringing salvation to many souls who trust in HIM - by grace through faith.
My Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You that You came to seek and to save a lost sinner like me and for the amazing love and grace You have bestowed upon me. Thank You for forgiving my sins, for bringing salvation into my heart and for making it Your dwelling place. Keep me humble in heart, meek in spirit and submissive to Your Holy Spirit, and may I be used to Your greater glory in all I say and do today, in Jesus name I pray, AMEN.
GOD BLESS YOU.
Comments