Zacchæus.

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 8
 
LUKE 19:1-101And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2And, behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:1‑10).LUK 19:1-101And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2And, behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:1‑10)
WHAT a wonderful history is that of Zacchæus, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." Whence, we ask, this amazing self sacrifice, this superhuman unselfishness? 'The answer is this, The Lord had called him by name, had singled him out from the crowd to be his host on the day: "Zacchæus," said He, "make haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house." This it was that subdued him, that changed the whole current and course of his life, that made him a new man Altogether. The Lord had taken possession of his heart, was about to enter his house, and hence he who all, his life had been oppressing the poor, and 'defrauding his neighbor, becomes both a merciful man and a just one: Zacchæus is no longer the same that he was, he is a believer, a disciple of Christ, and being such, can we wonder at aught that he does? No, let us rather wonder that we who know so much more of the Lord's mind than he knew, have so little of the spirit of self sacrifice, of devoted love to the Lord that he had. Alas.! we read the history of Zacchæus, we speak of his faith, his devotedness; we admire and wonder, but who loves the Lord as he loved Him? Who acts like Zacchæus, the publican?