Luke 19:1-10
Everyone Means You
The account that is before is a powerful story with much truth. Let
us examine it by looking at Jesus’ statements. They are recorded in
verses 5, 9, & 10. These statements reveal truths not only about
Zacchaeus but about Jesus and His mission as well.
I. \\#5\\ Jesus’ Knowledge - Jesus called Zacchaeus by name.
Luke 19:5 …Zacchaeus…
A. As far as we can tell, this is the first time the two have
meet; yet Jesus knew Zacchaeus’ name.
1. \\#3\\ Definitely makes it sound like Zacchaeus did not
know Jesus.
Luke 19:3 And he sought to see Jesus who he
was….
a. The implication being that Zacchaeus did not know who
Jesus was.
b. No doubt Zacchaeus had heard of Jesus. Jesus had been
through the city before.
c. Zacchaeus may have even seen Jesus before.
d. But today, Zacchaeus wanted to really see who Jesus
was. He wanted to know Him, whether He was the
Messiah or not.
2. \\#4\\ also makes it sound like the two had never met
before.
Luke 19:4 And he ran before, and climbed up into
a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass
that way.
a. Typically that is not the way you would visit with a
person you already know.
b. Typically, you would just walk up to them, knowing
that even if there was a crowd around, when you
acquaintance saw you, he would stop and greet you.
B. But even though the two had not meet before, Jesus did know
Zacchaeus.
1. Jesus called him by name.
a. How did Jesus know Zacchaeus’ name?
b. He is God. Even in human form, Jesus had access to
the mind of God and could know anything that the
Father and the Spirit revealed to Him.
2. I believe Jesus knew much more than Zacchaeus’ name.
a. I believe Jesus knew Zacchaeus was a little man with
some big sins.
Luke 19:3 …because he was little of stature.
(1) I suppose it would be improper to call someone
short today, but Zacchaeus was short.
(2) Yet, being short in size did not stop him from
having some large sins.
(3) Verse 2 describe Zacchaeus and his large sins.
Luke 19:2 And, behold, there was a man named
Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the
publicans, and he was rich.
(a) He was a publican, a Roman tax collector.
i. Tax collectors have never been loved.
ii. But the Romans occupied Israel. They
were their conquerors and they were
hated.
iii. Zacchaeus worked for the Romans. To
the Jews, that made him a traitor.
iv. Publicans also got to keep anything
over the due taxes collected. To the
Jews, that made him a thief.
v. To the Jews, a publican was about the
worse kind of sinner a person could
be.
Luke 19:7 And when they saw it (that Jesus was
going to eat with Zacchaeus), they all murmured,
saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man
that is a sinner.
(b) Not only was Zacchaeus a publican, he was a
chief publican.
i. That means he was their boss.
ii. It would be bad enough being a mere
publican for you would make plenty of
people mad on your own.
iii. But being the boss of the publicans
meant you had your finger in
everyone’s taxes.
iv. This man must have been really hated.
(c) He was rich.
i. Well, that clinched it, at least in
the eyes of the people.
ii. How would they figure he got rich? By
stealing their taxes.
b. Zacchaeus was a lonely man with no friends.
(1) Again we see verse 7.
(2) No one ate with this man.
(3) The Bible tells us that the reason he climbed the
sycomore tree was to see better because he was
short, but it might also have been because no
one else would want him standing beside them!
c. Zacchaeus was a lost man with God’s love.
(1) Jesus called Zacchaeus by name.
(2) People like to hear their name—at least if it is
used in a pleasant way.
(3) I wonder how long it had been since lonely
Zacchaeus had heard his name used in a loving
way?
(4) \\#Mark 1:40-41\\ Much like the leper who came
and bowed before Jesus, asking to be healed, and
Jesus reached out His hand and touched him.
(a) How long had been since that man had felt
the touch of a human hand?
(b) How wonderful, how loving that must have
felt?
(c) So Jesus reaches up into the branches of a
sycomore tree with His words and touches
this man.
II. Jesus’ Plan - Jesus was going to visit in Zacchaeus’ house that
day.
Luke 19:5 …Zacchaeus, make haste, and come
down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
A. God had a rendezvous with Zacchaeus that day. It sounds like
it was preordained, does it not?
B. It reminds me of John’s statement.
Joh 4:4 And he must needs go through Samaria.
1. Why did John make that kind of statement? Probably
because he heard Jesus make that kind of statement.
2. In both of these passages, Jesus "needed" to go to these
places.
3. In John 4, many unusual things occurred in relation to
Jesus fulfilling His need.
a. Jesus took an unusual route going through the land of
the Samaritans, a people not well liked by the Jews.
b. An unusual event happened when Jesus came to a certain
city. He stayed at the well to rest, alone, while
all the other disciples went into town to get lunch.
(1) What? Was no one else tired?
(2) Did no one want to stay to keep Jesus company?
(3) It took twelve men to bring back a little lunch?
c. An unusual conversation took place between Jesus and
a woman of Samaria. Men and women did not strike up
conversations in those days, but Jesus struck up one
with her.
d. And an unusual outcome. The woman was saved and she
had a part in introducing Jesus to her entire city.
4. So Jesus’ need in John 4 resulted in someone needing
a Savior.
5. In Luke 19, there is lonely, sinful, short Zacchaeus and
he needs a Savior too.
6. Could it be that was Jesus’ plan?
III. Jesus’ Declaration - Jesus declared salvation had come to
Zacchaeus’ house.
Luke 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is
salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he
also is a son of Abraham.
A. That is an interesting statement.
1. The Bible never tells us when Zacchaeus got saved.
2. As it matter of fact, some would argue he might not have,
but I see in this declaration of Jesus a sure sign that
he did.
B. Luke has only recorded a small portion of the events of that
day.
1. For example, Luke doesn’t record that Jesus even actually
went to Zacchaeus’ house, but Jesus said He was going to
and I know He did.
2. Luke has just given us the highlights.
3. Sometime during the course of Jesus and Zacchaeus’ time
together, Jesus made the statement, publically, to the
crowd.
4. I believe it was Jesus’ way of assuring the people that
anyone, no matter how great a sinner or how hated, can be
saved.
C. But we need to understand that salvation was not automatic
for Zacchaeus.
1. He had to do the same things to be saved as you and I.
a. He had to believe that Jesus was the Savior.
b. He had to repent of his sins and the best he knew how,
surrender himself to Jesus.
Luke 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the
Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give
to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from
any man by false accusation, I restore him
fourfold.
2. The fact that all of that is not recorded in the Bible
does not mean it did not happen.
3. There are some facts we need to get firmly planted in our
spirit:
a. There is only one Savior.
b. Everyone must come to Him alike.
c. No one who comes will be turned away.
Ro 10:12 For there is no difference between the
Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is
rich unto all that call upon him.
IV. Jesus’ Invitation - Jesus invited Zacchaeus because he was one of
Abraham’s children.
Luke 19:9 … forsomuch as he also is a son of
Abraham.
A. Jesus was essentially saying that anyone who was a son of
Abraham was welcomed to come and be forgiven.
1. Jesus was standing in Jericho, a Jewish city, filled with
children of Abraham. All Jews are children of Abraham.
2. It would take too much time to explain it now, but God’s
gift of salvation was opened up to a much wider audience
in Acts 10.
B. There was opened up to any who are sons or daughters of Adam.
1. That is you and me.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not… willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to
repentance.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
Re 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.
And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him
that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him
take the water of life freely.
2. Zacchaeus may have been a little man with some big sins,
but he had the good sense to come to Jesus Christ when
Jesus opened the door for him to do so.
V. Jesus’ Mission - Jesus clearly and plainly stated one of His
purposes in coming to the earth.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek
and to save that which was lost.
A. Considering Jesus’ statement mission, I would have to say that
it was no accident that Jesus passed through Jericho that
day.
B. It was no accident that He walked down whatever road the
sycomore tree was along.
C. He was no accident that Jesus stopped, looked up into that
tree, and called that man by his name.
D. No, Jesus was on a search and rescue mission that day.
1. He still is.
2. He brought you to this place this morning to hear this
message.
3. If you are a son of Adam and unsaved, would you come
today?
<OutlineIndex>
<Close Window>
