Luke 19:1-10

A little man but not little in Character !

Jericho Main trade route Winter home of Herod Beautiful city

Roman Empire

Tax System Man for certain area Amount of money set Publican - tax collector

Raise enough money to pay his wages and then give the government their share!

Luke 19:1-2 1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.

Zacchaeus was a Jew

Name means “pure”

He worked as a tax collector

He had riches but something was missing from his life !

Luke 19:3 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.

Had some knowledge of Jesus

Desired to see Jesus - indicates he was a good man

People who do not want to learn about Jesus have something lacking in their character!

Luke 19:44 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.

He was a rich man but wanted to see Jesus

Because he was short he could not see over the crowd of people

He climbed up into a tree

Luke 19:55 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.

Zacchaeus only expected to see Jesus

Heard his name

Jesus said “I am going to your house”

Zacchaeus I am coming to your house !

Luke 19:6 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.

He got down faster than he went up the tree

“Joyfully” = to be cheerful

He was happy to have Jesus at his house

IF JESUS CAME TO YOUR HOUSE

If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two, if He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do? Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room to such an honored guest, and all the food you'd serve to Him would be the very best.

And you would keep assuring Him you're glad to have Him there, That serving Him in your home is joy beyond compare.

But when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door, with arms outstretched to welcome in your heavenly visitor?

IF JESUS CAME TO YOUR HOUSE

Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in, or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they'd been? Would you turn off the radio and hope He hadn't heard, and wished you hadn't uttered that last loud nasty word.

Would you hide your trashy music and put some hymn books out? Could you let Jesus come right in, or would you rush about? Oh, I wonder if the Savior came to spend a day with you, would you just go on doing all the things you always do?

IF JESUS CAME TO YOUR HOUSE

Would you go right on saying the things you always say? Would life for you continue as it does now day to day? Would our family conversation keep up it's usual pace, or would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?

Would you sing the songs you always sing and read the books you read, and let Him know on which the things your mind and spirit feeds? Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you planned to go, or would you maybe change your plans, for just a day or so?

IF JESUS CAME TO YOUR HOUSE

Would you be glad to have Him meet with all your closest friends, or would you hope they'd stay away until His visit ends?

Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on, or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?

It might be interesting to know the things that you would do, if Jesus came in person to spend the day with you!

Luke 19:7 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner."

The reaction of the crowd was the opposite of that of Zacchaeus

Murmured = complained

Called Zacchaeus a sinner

Luke 19:88 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.

Give half to poor

Restore fourfold

He was doing this now !

Luke 19:9-10 9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham. 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

He was a sinner = he needed salvation

This was the purpose of Jesus coming

All of us are lost without Jesus!

His need of salvation

Success [riches] does not equal salvation

Matt. 16:26 “what will it profit a man”

Sin is the common curse of mankind Rom. 3:23

Salvation is provided by Jesus

Hindrances He Overcame

His Wealth - often lead to indulgence and indifference

His Occupation - most expected a publican to be evil

His Physical Limitations - Jesus looks at the heart

1. Rich ------------------------------- Poor

2. Poor ------------------------------- Rich

3. Poor ------------------------------- Poor

4. Rich -------------------------------- Rich

“So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:21

Worldly goods God

Blessings he Received

Salvation - deliverance from penalty of sin

Fellowship with the Lord

Same is available for all

Blessings he Received

“ [God] who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

1 Tim. 2:4

Blessings he Received

“Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him”

2 Jn. 9-10

He was not little in Character He was a big man in the eyes of God

It is not the physical stature but the inward man by which God measures.

Confess Matt. 10:32-33

Confess Matt. 10:32-33

RepentLk. 13:3RepentLk. 13:3

BelieveJn. 8:24BelieveJn. 8:24

BaptismActs 2:38BaptismActs 2:38

FaithfulRev. 2:10Faithful

Rev. 2:10