2/28/10 Luke 19
Greed Stopped
Here we meet a chief tax collector named Zaccheus. Tax collectors were hated and despised by their fellow countrymen. They were looked at as traitors. They gained wealth rapidly and were often very rich. The obtained their wealth often through dishonest means. If you remember back in Luke 3 a group of tax collectors asked John the Baptist what must they do following baptism? John tells the group of tax collectors that they are not to collect more than has been ordered. It was common practice for tax collectors to collect extra and the extra was placed directly in their pockets.
Here Zaccheus like the rich ruler form Luke 18 is wealthy, but their responses are diametrically opposite. Here Zaccheus also indicates that he has a longing heart for something more than worldly wealth with his desire to see Jesus. He had respectable amount of courage and is not going to let his small stature, nor the public scorn he faced, keep him from seeing Jesus whom he had probably heard often visited with tax collectors.
When Jesus passes by the tree that Zaccheus had climbed to get a look, Jesus stops and tells Zaccheus to come down and that he was going to stay at his house. Zaccheus quickly came down and greeted Jesus, to the crowd’s great disapproval. Zaccheus immediately confesses his greed and states to Jesus and all that could hear that he was going to give half of his possessions to the poor and that he would use the other portion to repay anyone who he had defrauded four times as much. Jesus says, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a Son of Abraham.” Notice again that salvation is not a right that based on heritage or is it inherited. Although he was a son of Abraham (Jew) he was in need of salvation.
Before Jesus was able to confront him about his greedy and sinful heart, Zaccheus stopped, openly confessed, and was willing to right all wrongs. This response was very different from the ruler in Luke 18. When we come into the presence of Jesus we are wise to confess the sin which is in our hearts. Stop the greed and allow Jesus to stay at your house.
Prayer: Dear Generous Father, Take my life and protect me from greed and robbery. Give me Your heart of generosity. Thank You for the Lord Jesus who is willing to meet with those who are outcast of the majority of society. Show me where I can emulate this characteristic of Jesus. Open my eyes to the poor and needy. I wait for Your direction in the day ahead to live like Jesus, in His great name. Amen.