ZACCHÆUS—"pure," "innocent." What a name! Yet a name which the Jews deemed very inappropriate to the chief among the publicans.
We find him in a hated class. Zacchæus had sacrificed his spiritual privileges, his religious character, and all that the Jew held most sacred, to his love of gain. A lost Israelite—a lost sinner. Mark the contrast between his name and character. Instead of being "pure and innocent," he was corrupt and sordid. In him we see how sin degrades, brings men into contempt, and gains a terrible power over them, so that they will sacrifice anything to gratify sinful passions.
But we find him seeking Jesus, and Jesus was seeking for Zacchæus. It may be that Zacchæus was prompted by that universal feeling which leads men to seek a sight of those who, no matter how, have attracted a large amount of public attention. It has been said that "curiosity carried Zacchæus up, but love to Christ brought him down." There is a reason to believe it was more than mere curiosity which prompted him to climb up into a sycamore tree to see Jesus. Doubtless he desired in his heart to know Jesus personally, or Jesus would hardly have declared7His intention of going to his house.
Zacchæus "sought to see Jesus," and he gets a visit from Him. So Jesus always gives more than is expected.
It could not have been possible for Christ to fail to see Zacchæus, for He could never overlook any man with such a desire. Zacchæus had said in his heart, "I must see Jesus," and Jesus responded to that: "I must abide at thy house." Note those two "musts." When the faith of man says, "I must," then the love of God says, "I must." And Christ, facing the prejudices of the people, for Zacchæus was "chief" among the dishonest rich, goes "to be guest with a man that is a sinner."
Zacchæus, realizing that Christ had chosen him, is touched in his inmost heart by Christ’s great love and pity for him. Nothing swerved Christ in the work of saving this lost "son of Abraham," and this soul is given to Him as an earnest of the fruits which were to follow His agony and death to which He was hastening.
His purpose to visit Zacchæus had a definite object, and by it He reproved the pride of those who despised him, and showed that He had come "to seek and to save that which was lost." Zacchæus is won to his Guest, who was in fact, tho not in name, "pure and innocent." He is led to penitence, and we find him proving its genuineness by his deeds and devoting himself to the service of God. The love of Jesus had melted his heart, and in his humility and penitence he promises to exceed the requirements of this law in making restitution.
If only the men of wealth to-day would hear the words of Christ with like result. The best thing that had ever entered Zacchæus’ house was that salvation which entered it "this day." It meant his restoration to the favor and service of God. And "this same Jesus" will "this day" abide in any man’s house who desires Him. He is as ready to save the poor outcast as the man of wealth, and we ought to be as ready to win the one as the other.