Zaccheus

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Zaccheus

• Luke 191-10

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The historical context

• Date About 2 weeks before the crucifixion
• Publican a tax collector
• Paid a fixed amount for right to collect taxes
• Excess taxes collected became extra income
• Chief publican
• Owner of tax gathering company
• Controlled taxes for the region

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The historical context

• Location Jericho
• Controlled land trade routes to and from Arabia
  and the Jordan valley
• Main source of dates and balsam for Rome
• Extremely expensive tax obligations
• Rome required much for right to tax there

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Zaccheus

• Hebrew name, a Jewish man
• Working for the Romans
• Considered unclean by Pharisees
• Extremely wealthy
• Most wealth probably gained by overtaxing
• Hated
• Considered a traitor, extortioner, sinner
• No better than a prostitute (Mt 2131)
• Short in physical height

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Zaccheus curiosity

• Wants to see who Jesus was
• An intense interest in Jesus
• The opposite kind of person
• Imagine
• The richest, most hated man in town
• Running to get ahead of the crowd
• Climbing a tree and sitting on a limb
• Just to catch a glimpse of a passing stranger
• Not trying to be seen

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Jesus reaction

• Calls attention to Zaccheus
• Probably just what he didnt want
• Invites Himself over to Zaccheus house
• Bold move to bring gospel to the lost
• Hurry
• Not much time left for Jesus
• But still even one sinner was important

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Zaccheus reaction

• Joyful
• Probably never imagined he would be accepted by
  Jesus
• Had gotten used to being despised
• Unbelievable that the much loved Jesus wanted to
  talk to him and enter his home

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Disciples reaction

• Grumbling
• All even including the apostles
• No one liked the tax man
• gone to be the guest of a sinner
• Jesus left us for him
• In essence
• He wont change, dont waste your time
• Do we ever make similar judgments?

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Zaccheus repentance

• 50 of my possessions to the poor
• Law only required 10 (Deut 1422)
• 2 penalty for having kept back the tithe (Lev
  2730)
• Admission of wrongdoing
• 400 return for fraud
• Law only required 120 (Num 56-7)
• Self-imposing the penalty for theft (Ex 221)

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Jesus blessing

• Salvation
• Already a son of Abraham physically
• Now a son of Abraham spiritually
• Faith and trust in God
• Not seeking earthly treasures
• A foreshadowing of Jesus mission
• To seek and save the lost
• Jesus would do anything to save the lost
• Even die on the cross

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Application

• No one is too sinful for God to save
• Many unlikely people want to know God
• Who do you think unlikely?

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Application

• No one is too sinful for God to save
• Many unlikely people want to know God
• There are obstacles to knowing God
• Physical deficiencies
• Wealth
• Business concerns
• Past behavior
• Reputation

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Application

• No one is too sinful for God to save
• Many unlikely people want to know God
• There are obstacles to knowing God
• Curiosity by a sinner should be welcomed
• Never can tell where the opportunity will be
• A loving response can be the difference

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Application

• No one is too sinful for God to save
• Many unlikely people want to know God
• There are obstacles to knowing God
• Curiosity by a sinner should be welcomed
• Sincere repentance can change a life

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