Wealth
Luke 19:1-4 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
Zacchaeus had become “very rich” as a chief tax collector for Roman occupiers. It was dirty money in the eyes of the people. Jesus taught how hard a wealthy person would find entering the kingdom (Luke 18:24-25). Zacchaeus was short and despite the obvious embarrassment, he climbed a tree.
Today
Luke 19:5-6 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” 6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.
Zacchaeus’ persistence was rewarded. Jesus wanted to be his guest today. Zacchaeus was immediately responsive and filled with joy. Jesus had kingdom plans that included this “notorious sinner.” Zacchaeus is genuinely receptive and ready to embrace the values of the kingdom of God. The bigger the sinner the more thankful.
Salvation
Luke 19:7-10 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. 8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” 9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Zacchaeus was happy, the crowd grumbled, because he collaborated with Roman occupation. They could not see what Jesus saw. Zacchaeus responded to Jesus with the fruits of repentance within his heart, righting wrongs and giving to the poor. Jesus said Zacchaeus’ behavior was that of a true child of Abraham.
Zacchaeus means the righteous one. His name was a prophecy of his life as Jesus would make it. All our righteousness comes from God. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, but Jesus had already seen him, and a rich man entered the kingdom of God. Jesus can make the impossible possible.
Zacchaeus repented of his greed and began giving. Do we grumble about Jesus’ grace to those who have wronged us? Is Zacchaeus welcome in our churches? Jesus came to call the lost. Do we shut the lost out of the church? A rescue came to Zacchaeus, from greed to giving.
It is hard for a rich con man to be saved but it is possible. Salvation has come to you and me. Jesus wants to be a guest in our homes today. Is He welcome?
Readings
Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4
Habakkuk 1:1 This is the message that the prophet Habakkuk received in a vision. 2 How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. 3 Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. 4 The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted.
2:1 I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how he will answer my complaint. 2 Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. 3 This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. 4 “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.
Here ends the reading.
Habakkuk prophesied before the Exile, when the Babylonians were beginning to attack. Angry at God, he can’t understand why God would permit suffering. Is the Lord’s judgment perverted? Why is God silent? The Lord replies. The Chaldeans are carrying out God’s plan and Judah will one day be great again.
Wait patiently for God to work His plan, even if suffering gets worse. While we wait, we pray and do good. Like Habakkuk we write God’s answer down in our hearts. This vision may seem slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It won’t be delayed.
Psalm 119:137-144
Tsadhe [the 18th letter of the Hebrew alphabet] 137 O Lord, you are righteous, and your regulations are fair. 138 Your laws are perfect and completely trustworthy. 139 I am overwhelmed with indignation, for my enemies have disregarded your words. 140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested; that is why I love them so much. 141 I am insignificant and despised, but I don’t forget your commandments. 142 Your justice is eternal, and your instructions are perfectly true. 143 As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands. 144 Your laws are always right; help me to understand them so I may live.
The Word of God for the people of God.
The Psalm is a contrast to the outrage in Habakkuk. Though we may sometimes be angry at God or doubt what He is doing, the Psalmist reminds us, in the face of the stark reality around us, violence and injustice that does not seem to stop, to trust in God.
2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12
2 Thessalonians 1:1 This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 3 Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. 4 We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering.
11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. 12 Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.
The Word of the Lord.
Paul greets the Thessalonians, thankful for their growing faith and their love for one another even in the face of persecution. He assures them of his prayer that they be worthy of God's call and continue to grow in faith so that Christ may be glorified in and through them.
Paul caringly reminds them of their identity “in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul hammers home their new identity, not as Roman citizens, not as Thessalonians, but as people entirely defined by their relationship with God and Jesus. Are we defined by nationality or by God’s kingdom?
Let’s focus on that rather than any other identity? In God and Christ, we begin to act like God and Christ. We endure this world, but our identity is in God and Christ. By enduring in faith, empowered by God and Christ to His glory, can we transform the world.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Luke 19:1-10 in Rhyme
When Jesus entered Jericho
There was a man named Zacchaeus
A rich man came to see the show
Tried to get a look at Jesus
Too short to see over the crush
He climbed a tree beside the street
Jesus was coming, better rush
He looked up, Zacchaeus to greet
Jesus called Zacchaeus by name
Quick, come down! I must be your guest
Quickly a welcome was proclaimed
He took Jesus home with joy expressed
But displeased, the people grumbled
He’ll be the guest of a sinner
But, Zacchaeus stood and crumbled
The poor, I will now consider
If I’ve cheated on taxation
I’ll give them back four times as much
To this home has come salvation
A son of Abraham does such
For the Son of Man paid the cost
To seek and save those who are lost
