to save that which was lost.
Luke 19:10
And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. Luke 19:1-6.
There were three statutory Roman government taxes. The "ground tax" required a man to pay 1/10th of his grain and 1/5th of his fruit and vine harvests either in money or in product. The "income tax" required 1% of a man's income. The "poll-tax" had to be paid by every male from 14 to 65, and every female from 12 to 65. The "tax collectors" (publicans) could not increase or use any part of these three taxes for personal profit.
However, there were all kinds of other taxes. There was one (from 2.5% to 12.5%) on all goods, import and export and another for crossing bridges, entering market places or harbors. There was one for each pack animal and another on the wheels and axles of carts.
Tax collectors were universally hated by the Jews because
- They were serving their country's conquerors against their own people;
- They amassed their fortunes at the expense of their own people, and
- They were notoriously dishonest, such as in accepting bribes from the rich so they wouldn't have to pay any taxes.
But then there came that particular day when Jesus passed through Jericho. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. Zacchaeus was a little short guy--he couldn't see through the crowd. But we already know from the scripture that he was not easily intimidated OR discouraged. Remember, Zacchaeus had attained the rank of "CHIEF tax man", and he was courageous enough, despite his size or his reputation, to do whatever it took to satisfy his own curiosity about the man, Jesus.
He saw what direction Jesus was headed. He ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree. Not only did it get him head and shoulders above the crowd, but it got him out of the reach of those who were only too willing to take advantage of an opportunity to kick or punch or shove a "tax man". I want you to notice what the scripture tells us: And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him... Don't you think for a moment that Jesus was surprised to see him there, or that the meeting of these two men was in any way mere coincidence. It wasn't! Zacchaeus positioned himself directly over Jesus' route. He WANTED something, even if all he knew about it was that he "wanted to know" about Jesus. There was a HUGE gulf in his life, and he was about to meet the Bridge Builder.
And here's another news flash for you: Jesus knew EXACTLY who it was He was looking at, warts and all!! He knew not only that Zacchaeus was rich, but how he had gotten wealthy. Jesus KNEW exactly who He was looking at, and all that he had ever done, when He addressed short little Zacchaeus by name: And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus... Now I want you to get this point: Zacchaeus was willing to do whatever it took to learn more about Jesus, even when it meant climbing a tree. He had some CONVENIENT CRUTCHES available: "Well, I'm a little short guy; I can't see over the crowd..." or "Well, I'm a tax man and everybody hates me..." but he made a CONSCIOUS decision to not use either one of them, and up the tree he went.
Perhaps it wasn't the first time Zacchaeus had climbed a tree to see over a crowd. The scriptures don't tell us. But whether it was or not, he was certainly climbed one that day, Amen? So Zacchaeus found himself up a tree, both figuratively and physically. Both were where he had put himself; one because of his chosen profession and the other because he wanted to satisfy his curiosity about the man, Jesus. Yet Jesus didn't leave him up a tree, either way, did He?
And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. Don't you know it was joyfully, indeed? It had to have been an awfully long time since anyone had been a guest in his house, and probably even longer since anyone had said a kind word to him. Jesus said to him, "Come down quickly, I am going to your house today." Scripture tells us Zacchaeus DID "make haste and came down", thrilled to know Jesus was going to his house.
Now notice this: just as Jesus knew who Zacchaeus was, Zacchaeus know Who his guest that day was: 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. Luke 19:8. (Both uses of the word Lord in that verse are kurios, and mean "supreme in authority".)
Zacchaeus went far beyond what was required by Jewish law. Only if theft was a deliberate, violent act was a fourfold restitution required (Exodus 22:1). If ordinary theft, and the original goods could not be restored, one had to repay double the value (Exodus 22:4,7). If a person voluntarily confessed and made restitution, only the value of the original goods plus 1/5th had to be paid (Leviticus 6:5; Numbers.5:7). Zacchaeus was determined to do far more than the law demanded. He showed by his deeds that he was a changed man. It is not a merely a change of words which forgiveness of our sins through Jesus Christ brings, but a change of life. Not just "talk the talk", but "walk the walk".
Going back up to verse 7 of this chapter, we read: And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. Well, duh, like that was anything new for them to say about Jesus. What had Jesus already said about that?
And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, And followed him. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. Matthew 9:9-12. (Just so you will know, Matthew was ALSO a "tax man", by the way.)After Zacchaeus made his declaration of what he would do to make things right with his fellow man, Jesus said to him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:9,10. Zacchaeus was not up a tree, figuratively or physically, for any reason, any more.
Sometimes, we choose to do things that put us up a tree. Or at least we might as well be up one, for what some of our decisions cost us, Amen? But we don't have to stay up a tree, my friends. Let me tell you, Zacchaeus could have stayed in that tree, that day. Oh yes he could have. His ego could have said to Jesus, "Nah, I don't think so." His pride could have said to Jesus, "Maybe next time..."
Just as Zacchaeus surrendered to the invitation Jesus made him, "Make haste and come down", why don't you surrender to the same invitation today? Make haste and come down out of your tree--Jesus wants to spend some time with you. He IS what you've been searching for. He wants to have a one-to-one, personal relationship with you. Don't spend any more time up a tree, whatever kind it is. It might be a tree of isolation, a tree of hurt, a tree of loneliness, a tree of bitterness, a tree of pride, a tree of fear. Make haste and come down and walk with Jesus. He's the answer for whatever's keeping you up a tree, I promise, just as He was to Zacchaeus. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Hebrews 13:8.
If you don't know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, come on down out of your tree: For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10. If you do know the Lord, but something in your life has put you up a tree, come on down--Jesus is Lord Over ALL. He is the Problem Solver. He is the Peace Giver. He is the Change Maker. He wants you to have peace (that passeth understanding) and joy (unspeakable and full of glory) in your life.
"Up A Tree" Copyright © 2002 by Patricia Sikes.
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