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Luke 19:1-10
In Luke 19:1-10 we learn about a man, Zacchaeus, who wanted to see Jesus as He came through Jericho, but he was not tall enough to see over the crowd. The Bible teaches us that Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and was very rich (Luke 19:2). He ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a tree so that he could see Jesus as He passed by. But to his surprise, Jesus stopped and called to him to come down from the tree because He was going to stay at Zacchaeus’ house (Luke 19:5). Zacchaeus came down from the tree and was very excited about taking Jesus to stay with him, however, the crowd disapproved saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” (Luke 19:7, NKJV).
Zacchaeus told Jesus that even though he was a tax collector (considered to be one of the most sinful of people because that they collected more tax than they should in an attempt to become rich), he gave half of his goods to the poor and professed to not have taken anything from anyone falsely.
Jesus stated that salvation had come to Zacchaeus’ house because He had come to save that which was lost (Luke 19:9-10).
This is a promise of salvation to all who will receive Jesus, even the worst of sinners.
Zacchaeus was considered unworthy of salvation because he was classified as one of the worst of sinners in being a tax collector. But God’s ways are not the ways of man, and God does not think like man thinks (Isaiah 55:8-9). Jesus came to save those who are lost; because of sin we are all lost (Romans 3:23). But we might ask, “How did Zacchaeus receive salvation?” It is because he received Jesus; not just into his household, but into his life.
Dear Lord,
Please help us to see the importance of receiving Jesus into our lives and into our homes as we accept Him and salvation that only comes through Him (John 14:6). In Jesus name I pray, amen.