SEEKING THE HEART OF JESUS: A Heart That Transforms - Jesus and a Tax Collector - August 11, 2019
Video - Easy Worship
Prayers
INTRODUCTION
Growing up big - a land of Giants
Short people
"Zacchaeus was a wee little man"
I. A POLARIZED COMMUNITY - Jericho
“Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.”
Luke 19:1 NIV
A. Healing of Blind Bartimaeus on the outskirts of the city
B. Substantial City
1. 100,000 people
2. Controlled river crossing Jordan River on the road to Jerusalem
3. Substantial wealth and a highway of commerce
4. Fertile soil with highly productive farming
C. Ancient Times
1. Joshua destroyed it and cursed anyone who rebuilt it
“At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: “Cursed before the Lord is the one who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho: “At the cost of his firstborn son he will lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates.””
Joshua 6:26 NIV
2. City was rebuilt in the days of Ahab
3. Marc Antony gave Jericho to Cleopatra
4. Herod enlarged the city
a. Winter palace
b. Theater
c. Hippodrome
d. Leading resort community for the wealthy
e. Las Vegas of first-century Israel
II. AN IRONIC MAN
“A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.”
Luke 19:2 NIV
A. Brief description of Zacchaeus
1. "Tax collector" (Publicans)
a. Worked for Rome
b. Local quotas
c. Extortion was permissible
2. "Rich"
a. Other people's money
b. Banned from worship
c. Talmud allowed you to lie to thieves, murderers, and tax collectors
B. The man
1. An outcast
Leper was a victim. Tax collectors were volunteers.
“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.””
Luke 18:9-14 NIV
2. The chief tax collector
3. His name comes from the word, sacai, meaning "pure"
“Then he (Jesus) said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.””
Luke 12:15 NIV
III. A HEART'S DESIRE
“He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.”
Luke 19:3-4 NIV
A. A glimpse of Jesus
1. Parades in Farmington
2. Sycamore fig tree
a. Slick bark
b. Low branches
3. Why?
a. He heard about Matthew - a tax collector follower of Jesus
b. He heard about the feast Matthew threw for Jesus and how He had come to care for the needy
c. Perhaps he was the publican of Luke 18
““But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’”
Luke 18:13 NIV
B. CEO of a large corporation climbing a tree to see a passing prophet
IV. A SHOCKING FELLOWSHIP
“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.””
Luke 19:5-7 NIV
A. He gets his glimpse of Jesus
B. Jesus calls him by name
1. Jesus omniscience
2. Source of Luke 18 parable
C. Invitation to a dinner at his own house
1. "Friend of sinners"
2. Jesus entered his home
3. Jesus ate his food
V. A CHANGED HEART
“But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.”
Luke 19:8-9 NIV
A. Commitment of half his money to the poor
1. Piety to give to the poor
2. Contrast to rich young ruler
“When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy.”
Luke 18:23 NIV
B. Commitment of repaying those he had defrauded
1. Mosaic law restitution was 2x offense
““Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep. “If a thief is caught breaking in at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed; but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed. “Anyone who steals must certainly make restitution, but if they have nothing, they must be sold to pay for their theft. If the stolen animal is found alive in their possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—they must pay back double.”
Exodus 22:1-4 NIV
2. Pronouncement by Jesus
1. "Son of Abraham"
“Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.”
Luke 19:9 NIV
2. Part of the family of faith
“So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.”
Galatians 3:6-7 NIV
VI. A CALL TO MERCY
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.””
Luke 19:10 NIV
A. Jesus' mission
B. A call to everyone
1. The worst sinner
2. The most self-righteous religionists
Charles Wesley, 1740
Depth of mercy! Can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear,
Me, the chief of sinners, spare?
I have long withstood His grace,
Long provoked Him to His face,
Would not hearken to His calls,
Grieved Him by a thousand falls,
Kindled His relentings are:
Me He now delights to spare;
Cries, "How shall I give Thee up?"
Lets the lifted thunder drop,
There for me the Savior stands,
Holding forth His wounded hands;
God is love! I know, I feel;
Jesus weeps and loves me still.
CHALLENGE
Join in the mission with Jesus.
Search out for short people.
Reach out to the lost.
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