Luke 19:1-10 (NRSV)
Read Luke 19:1-10 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 19He entered Jericho and was passing through it. Verse 2A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. Verse 3He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. Verse 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. Verse 5When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today." Verse 6So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. Verse 7All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner." Verse 8Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much." Verse 9Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. Verse 10For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."
Devotion
Jesus came to Zacchaeus’ home and “he was happy to welcome him.” But Zacchaeus’ tax clients were not happy, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.”
Zacchaeus, despised as a Roman tax collector, had a good Hebrew name, meaning “pure.” How does that fit into the story? “Zacchaeus said to the Lord, ‘Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.’” Zacchaeus gave evidence of repentance and faith. “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham.’”
Zacchaeus, a Jew, was excluded by his people, but Jesus accepted him as a true believer. Salvation came to Zacchaeus’ family that day, sinner that he was. “For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.” Do not keep this good news to yourself.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank you for revealing to us that you came to seek and to save us from our sin. May your Holy Spirit direct us as we, in Jesus’ name, bring this good news to those who are lost, that the world might worship you, our Father in heaven. Amen.