Zacchaeus Standing in a Tree at JerichoBible World
19:3Luke 19:3
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
Jesus was entering and passing through Jericho on the way to the feast, and crowds had gathered eager to see and honor Him because news had spread that He had brought Lazarus back to life. Jericho itself was a busy center of trade and customs collection, inhabited by priests, Roman officials, soldiers, strangers, and many tax collectors.
Zacchaeus was a wealthy chief tax collector regarded with contempt by others. In the eyes of others he was one going astray who was sick and hopeless.
He had heard reports of Jesus' merciful works and wonderful teaching and longed for more, and those reported words took deep hold of his heart. They awakened hope in him and desire to know more of His principles and doctrines, so he sought for himself to see who Jesus was with eagerness and determination.
His longing to see Jesus arose together with conviction that his life was wrong and a deeply felt need for repentance, reform, and restitution to those he had unjustly taxed at exorbitant rates. He had already begun to turn from wrongdoing and make restitution while facing the bitter results of sin and the difficulty of making things right when others met his efforts with suspicion. His desire to see Jesus proved that the seed of truth had already been sown and nurtured in his heart and was about to bring forth a harvest to the glory of God.
He could not see Jesus for the press of the crowd because he was little of stature and short. No one made way for him to see over the people on the crowded street. His desire led him to find another way to see Him by running ahead and climbing a tree so he could see Jesus as He passed.
The tree he climbed to see Jesus as He passed was a sycamore tree, after which he joyfully received Jesus into his house. In one telling the tree he ran ahead and climbed to watch Jesus pass after no one made way is described as a fig tree.
Jesus noticed and welcomed him rather than judging him by outward standing or occupation. He did not cut him off and leave him in the hands of Satan or build barriers between God and his soul, but brought him with cords of love where he could be prayed for and led and guided. That tender and merciful dealing drew faultfinding from the Pharisees.
His seeking and reception of Christ was one of the bright spots in the journey through Jericho. It stood against anguish over the unbelief of Jesus' own family who lost precious opportunities to become acquainted with Him and receive His lessons of truth. It stood also against rejection by scribes and Pharisees and chief priests and religious leaders whose teaching did not harmonize with His, who would not accept one unrecognized by rabbis and scribes teaching as one having authority, and who could not bear His love and mercy shown to outcasts and sinners.
His story shows that when Christ enters a person's heart the person abandons unrighteous practices and proves sincerity by making restitution. It shows what to do with objectionable characters by putting forth extra effort for them to seek and save that which is lost.
Jesus was entering and passing through Jericho on the way to the feast, and crowds had gathered eager to see and honor Him because news had spread that He had brought Lazarus back to life. Jericho itself was a busy center of trade and customs collection, inhabited by priests, Roman officials, soldiers, strangers, and many tax collectors.
Zacchaeus was a wealthy chief tax collector regarded with contempt by others. In the eyes of others he was one going astray who was sick and hopeless.
He had heard reports of Jesus' merciful works and wonderful teaching and longed for more, and those reported words took deep hold of his heart. They awakened hope in him and desire to know more of His principles and doctrines, so he sought for himself to see who Jesus was with eagerness and determination.
His longing to see Jesus arose together with conviction that his life was wrong and a deeply felt need for repentance, reform, and restitution to those he had unjustly taxed at exorbitant rates. He had already begun to turn from wrongdoing and make restitution while facing the bitter results of sin and the difficulty of making things right when others met his efforts with suspicion. His desire to see Jesus proved that the seed of truth had already been sown and nurtured in his heart and was about to bring forth a harvest to the glory of God.
He could not see Jesus for the press of the crowd because he was little of stature and short. No one made way for him to see over the people on the crowded street. His desire led him to find another way to see Him by running ahead and climbing a tree so he could see Jesus as He passed.
The tree he climbed to see Jesus as He passed was a sycamore tree, after which he joyfully received Jesus into his house. In one telling the tree he ran ahead and climbed to watch Jesus pass after no one made way is described as a fig tree.
Jesus noticed and welcomed him rather than judging him by outward standing or occupation. He did not cut him off and leave him in the hands of Satan or build barriers between God and his soul, but brought him with cords of love where he could be prayed for and led and guided. That tender and merciful dealing drew faultfinding from the Pharisees.
His seeking and reception of Christ was one of the bright spots in the journey through Jericho. It stood against anguish over the unbelief of Jesus' own family who lost precious opportunities to become acquainted with Him and receive His lessons of truth. It stood also against rejection by scribes and Pharisees and chief priests and religious leaders whose teaching did not harmonize with His, who would not accept one unrecognized by rabbis and scribes teaching as one having authority, and who could not bear His love and mercy shown to outcasts and sinners.
His story shows that when Christ enters a person's heart the person abandons unrighteous practices and proves sincerity by making restitution. It shows what to do with objectionable characters by putting forth extra effort for them to seek and save that which is lost.