Luke 19


We conclude our reading this week with a familiar encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus. When we read the scriptures (the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in particular), we often forget that encounters with Jesus are not isolated events. They are connected. These encounters form a timeline of events. In this case, Jesus has recently told the parable about a tax collector (Luke 18) when he meets a tax collector (Zacchaeus). It’s likely that the folks who heard that parable are still around, still watching, and still listening.

Jesus didn’t tell compelling stories just to be a good storyteller. He wanted people to experience salvation and transformation! Think about this for a moment - Jesus had just told a parable about a tax collector who was justified by God. He'd just illustrated how God’s mercy and grace are available to everyone, even to tax collectors. He’d just made the point that the way to our heavenly Father is not in comparing our righteousness to people who are less righteous than us but in recognizing we could never be righteous enough. Jesus is preparing to move the lesson from the “classroom” to real life.

Enter Zacchaeus, a “chief tax collector.” If tax collectors were generally disliked by their own people, it is safe to say that “chief tax collectors” are absolutely despised, even hated. Luke also lets us know that Zacchaeus was wealthy. He, no doubt, gained that wealth by mercilessly exploiting his people. Zacchaeus had a reputation beyond being short, and it certainly was not a good one. He was a crook and a cheat, only looking out for himself and willing to take advantage of whomever to get whatever he needed. It was to THIS man that Jesus looked to put into practice the parable he had just taught.

Jesus spots Zacchaeus in a tree and invites himself to his house. We don’t know the conversations they had on his way home or when he got there, but his encounter with Jesus eventually led Zacchaeus to a place of conviction and then to repentance. That is what happens when we meet Jesus - salvation for eternity and transformation here and now!
Luke tells us that as Jesus interacted with Zacchaeus, “All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’” I wonder how many recalled Jesus's recent parable as they watched him make his way to Zacchaeus’s house. Jesus wasn’t just talking. He put his teaching into practice for everyone! I can imagine Jesus was thinking, “Why do you think I told you the parable about the Pharisee and the tax collector?” Or “Did you think I was kidding?”

Here’s what I think ... people muttered and were surprised because they were more in love with the idea of following Jesus than the reality. I can’t be too hard on them. I often find that is true for me as well. It is easy to read a devotion, listen to worship songs, or sit and listen to a message. It is far more difficult to live out daily what we read, sing, or hear. I often find in my own life that I am far more educated than obedient. I have plenty of information about living out my faith, I just lack the courage, discipline, or selflessness to apply that information at times. James says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22). At times, I can be just like the people Luke described, mumbling, muttering, and listening but not doing.

That’s why I love Zacchaeus. He is the exact juxtaposition to the muttering crowds that day. Zacchaeus was a doer of the word. He listened, experienced conviction, and then he acted! He repented. Luke tells us, “But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now, I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

When we read Zacchaeus’s story, we should be reminded of God’s desire for all to know, love, and follow Him (even a chief tax collector). We should also be challenged by Zacchaeus’s response to Jesus. Zacchaeus was a doer of the word, and we should be, also.

Reflection & Response:

• Why do you think it is so easy to simply listen and not do?
  
• Read James 4:17. What area of your life do you need to become a doer of God’s word? What area do you already have the right information but lack application?
  
• As you identify that area in your life, consider sharing that with someone in order to gain accountability.
  

Father, show me the places in my life where I need to apply what I already know. Show me the blind spots in my life, and give me the courage of Zacchaeus to repent and take action. Thank you for making salvation available to everyone!

Have Kids?

Family Application: Talk the Talk & Walk the Walk.

• Jesus was having dinner with a man named Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was dishonest and took money from people. Jesus tells Zacchaeus that this is wrong and that he needs to choose God’s ways instead of his own ways.
  
• Zacchaeus listens to Jesus and changes his ways right away. Zacchaeus went from dishonesty and taking people's money to honesty and giving money away. Zacchaeus did not only talk the talk, he walked the walk.
  
• As we close out this week, spend time worshiping God together. Your family might do this by singing worship music, praying, reading scripture out loud, spending time outside thanking God, or other ways.
  
• Maybe order pizza this Friday night and eat to the glory of God. Talk about what you have seen God do this week, tell your funniest stories from the week, and enjoy each other's company.