"He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.' 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, 'He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.' 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, 'Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.' 9 And Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.'" Luke 19:1-10
1. WHY WAS ZACCHAEUS SEEKING TO SEE WHO JESUS WAS?
(Answer) The pain and horror of a guilty conscience
So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, 6 when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; Psalm 63:4-6
I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Psalm 16:8
(Answer) The prospect of hope (Luke 5:27-32)
And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:31-32
2. WHY DID ZACCHAEUS RECEIVE JESUS JOYFULLY?
Effective calling is an act of God the Father, speaking through the human proclamation of the gospel, in which He summons people to Himself in such a way that they respond in saving faith. Wayne Grudem Systematic Theology, pg 693
3. WHY DID THE ACCOMPANYING CROWD GRUMBLE AT THE FRIENDSHIP EXTENDED BY JESUS TO ZACCHAEUS?
(Answer) People involved in “works” righteousness (self made efforts to be right with God) do not understand the gospel of grace extended to the marginalized.
To understand the gospel of grace we must:
1. Understand the nature of sin
2. Realize that sin leads to death and separation from God forever
3. God in the flesh, Jesus Christ, has paid the penalty for our sin
4. There is a call for personal response
4. WHY DID JESUS SAY, “SALVATION HAS COME TO THIS HOUSE?”
(Answer) There was an observable change of behavior in the life of Zacchaeus (1 John 3:19, 3, 4, 5:18)
QUESTIONS:
1. Why did Zacchaeus want to see Jesus? What had happened in his circle of friends that would cause him to have hope?
2. What are some “unlikely things” that Zaccahaeus did to see Jesus?
3. Why did the crowds grumble? How does Luke 19:10 answer their concerns?
4. Do you agree with the following quote, “Any genuine gospel proclamation must include an invitation to make a conscious decision to forsake one’s sins and come to Christ in faith, asking Christ for forgiveness of sins. If either the need to repent of sins or the need to trust in Christ for forgiveness is neglected, there is not a full and true proclamation of the gospel.”
5. What was the observable manifestation of regeneration in Zacchaeus’ life?