Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
3/5 Reading Portions: Exodus 16; Luke 19; Job 34; 2 Corinthians 4
Luke 19:9
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.”
GRACE
Although this is an account of historical fact as accurate as any record of an immediate yesterday, the salvation of Zacchaeus is as blessed a gospel illustration as any given within the pages of Scripture. Of this episode, Dr. Hawker calls it a…
…wonderful display of grace. Robert Hawker, The Poor Man’s Commentary
Of this episode, Spurgeon preached,
“…the case of Zaccheus [is] a great illustration of the doctrine of effectual calling.” C. H. Spurgeon, The New Park Street Pulpit, Sermon #73
A chief tax collector, a superintendent above other local publicans, Zacchaeus certainly heard of Jesus by this time in the Lord’s ministry— as anyone must hear of Christ (Rom 10:17) before they can come to Christ (Rom 3:11). His stature was small, illustrating the spiritually small condition of our sinful lives before meeting Christ. So small, in fact, the corrupt world, indicated by the crowds (Luke 19:3), keeps us from seeing Jesus. Zacchaeus must climb the sycamore tree to see Jesus (Luke 19:4), just as we all must scale the truths of Calvary’s cross to get a glimpse of Christ. As Jesus looked directly at Zacchaeus and called to the chief publican (Luke 19:5), Jesus must also look directly at us, call us by name, and make alive the truth that He must enter the abode of our souls. Just as Zacchaeus could not forcefully make Jesus sup with him, it must be by our Lord’s command that He abides with us. Zacchaeus responded with haste and received the Lord with joy (Luke 19:6), just as we responded to Christ’s gospel command to repent and believe with joy. The unbelieving world hates the sinners’ call to the gospel, just as the crowd grumbled over Zacchaeus (Luke 19:7). Zacchaeus experienced newness of life, as money was no longer his idol, for Jesus was His Lord (Luke 19:8). We, too, became new creations in Christ (2 Cor 5:17), when Jesus declared our salvation (grace) through faith (he also is a son of Abraham). Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Zacchaeus was a wee little man,
Which show’d his sinful plight;
Yet, he receiv’d God’s gracious plan
As Christ makes sinners right.
