The story of Zacchaeus is one that all Sunday school kids probably remember from the cutesy little song that we learned to commemorate the Bible story to memory:
Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he.
He climbed up in a sycamore tree, for the Lord he wanted to see.
And as the Savior passed that way, He looked up in the tree and said,
“Zacchaeus, you come down, for I’m going to your house today!”
For I’m going to your house today!
It rhymes well enough, and it’s easy to remember, but if that’s all you remember of the story – that Zacchaeus was short but randomly skilled in tree-climbing – then you’re missing so much. I’m embarrassed to admit that I didn’t quite understand this story in its entirety, but this sermon has become one that is referred to often in my household.
Jesus changes lives. – if you don’t take anything else away from this, remember that Jesus changes lives.
The Seeking Sinner
“He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.” (Luke 19:1-4)
We are first introduced to Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1. Jesus is passing through Jericho, and Zacchaeus, who we will equate to the seeking sinner wanted to see Jesus. He was a tax-collector, which in those days was a dishonest and lucrative business. Zacchaeus was probably disliked by most anyone who knew him, as was the usual sentiment held by most people against tax-collectors.
The Seeking Savior
“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.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 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.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:5-10)
So Zacchaeus, the small tax-collector has climbed into the tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus as He passes through town, just as everyone else is also trying to do. But for some reason, Jesus stops, looks up at Zacchaeus, calls him by name, and invites himself over to Zacchaeus’ house for the day. Strange, right? But because of this, we will call Jesus the seeking Savior.
Jesus inviting himself to spend the evening in Zacchaeus’ home was, at this time, the equivalent of saying that He was choosing to take on the sin of Zacchaeus as His own (2 Corinthians 5:21). And Zacchaeus was a tax-collector who cheated and lied and was dishonest, so he had a lot of sin for Jesus to take as his own. How could He do such a thing?
The Self-Righteous Grumbler
“And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” (Luke 19:7)
This is the part of the sermon that has been repeated over and over in my life since it was preached because it is so relevant and relatable. When the people of Jericho heard Jesus speaking with Zacchaeus, they grumbled because Jesus was choosing to be the guest of a sinner. Basically, they were judging JESUS because of his choices while also condemning Zacchaeus for his. There isn’t just one lost person in this story. We are so quick to condemn and judge others for their sins while staying blind to our own – becoming the self-righteous grumbler.
Self Righteous Grumblers Believe:
-They can earn standing with God by performing
-More righteous because of actions (or lack of actions)
-They’re not “that bad”
-God owes them
-Relish in people getting what they “deserved”
-Change from a self-righteous grumbler to a seeking sinner.
Does that sound familiar? We overlook our own sins, shortcomings, faults, failures, etc., but stand in line to throw stones at others for the exact same things. I am so guilty of constantly being hypocritical, judgmental, or just downright blind to my own sins while judging others for what I see, and the term self-righteous grumbler is now a staple in my household to help stay aware of our actions and outward expressions towards others. (And sometimes it’s thrown around when someone is getting a little hangry and no one will decide where we should go eat).
We are all self-righteous grumblers who need to become seeking sinners of a seeking Savior, because Jesus:
Changes us IN our circumstances.