Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

 

Erie Mission Devotional

No one likes paying taxes, or paying someone lots of money to do your taxes because they are so complicated. Tax collectors are not the most popular people today as in Jesus’s day. But when Jesus lived it was even worse. Tax collectors were hired by the Roman government to collect as much as they could. They could take Roman soldiers with them and take away money, food, and land, from the poorest people, even widows who had no one to take care of them. The common people hated the tax collectors, not only because they were cruel and greedy, but because they worked with their Roman oppressors. The religious leaders hated them because they had an openly sinful lifestyle, as they hung around with thieves, prostitutes, and drunkards. There was one word that summed them up. They were “sinners”.

But Jesus did not reject the tax collectors and sinners. In fact, he ate and drank with them. He did not condone their lifestyle, but he loved them and forgave them,, and taught them how they should live. In fact, one of Jesus’ own disciples had been a tax collector. His name was Matthew, and he was also called Levi. When the religious leaders saw that Jesus accepted “those kinds of people” they were offended. They did not think that Jesus could truly be a teacher or a prophet if he hung around with sinners. In the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus taught to show that God loves, accepts, and forgives anyone, no matter what they have done. The story of Zacchaeus the Tax Collector tells us the same thing.

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector:   Luke 19:1-9

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 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.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

“The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost”. Book of John chapter 3 says that Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. Zacchaeus had never met Jesus, but he had heard about him. He wanted to see him, but the crowds were blocking his way and he was a short man. So he ran ahead and climbed into a sycamore-fig tree. Jesus saw him and knew he had faith. 

What will you do to meet Jesus? We can’t see him face to face but we can hear about him from the Bible. Do you want to meet Jesus through his word? Do you believe that if you come to Jesus through prayer, He will hear you and answer your prayer. What kind of prayers do you bring to Jesus? The next scripture talks about two very different kinds of prayers. Does God answer all prayers? No, He does not. He only answers prayers that are offered in faith and humility.

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector:  Luke 18:9-14

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Zacchaeus was a tax collector. But he knew he was a sinner. He came to Jesus for mercy and forgiveness. And when he had received it, he said he would give half his possessions to the poor, and if he had cheated anyone he would repay four times. Jesus said salvation had come to this house because of the changes Zacchaeus was willing to make. Salvation involves a changed life. Jesus said we must be born again. If we are born again, we are no longer the same people we were before. “If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, old things have passed away, and behold, all things have become new.”

Jesus came to the earth as a little baby. He lived in human flesh, but unlike the rest of us, he committed no sin. He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. If we will believe in his death and resurrection, we can be saved from our sins, just like Zacchaeus. Are you born again? Have you been forgiven of your sins? Pray with me:

“Lord I know I am a sinner. No matter how hard I try, I can’t stop sinning. Please forgive me of my sins. Please send your Holy Spirit to live in my life so that I would have the power to stop sinning. I trust in your death on the cross which paid for my sins, and in your resurrection from the dead which gives me victory over sin in this life, and eternal life in Heaven with you.”

In Jesus' Name Amen.”