Bible Stories for Adults

Zacchaeus

Luke 19:1-10

Next Week - Jesus Heals a Man Who Is Blind (Mark 10:46-52)
Bible Words to Remember:
Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

Where did Jesus go after He first left Galilee and with whom? = John baptized at Bethany
Matthew 3:13, 4:1 = Across the Jordan, into desert with Spirit = John 1:28
Where did Jesus go after He last left Galilee and with whom?
Matthew 19:1-2 = Across the Jordan, large crowds followed Him

What was one reason that Jesus went away from the main cities at the end of His ministry?
John 11:47-48, 53-54 = Warrant out for His arrest, withdrew to Ephraim
Did the large crowd remain with Jesus the whole time He was in Ephraim?
John 11:55-57 = Many went to Jerusalem to prepare for Passover
When Jesus finally left for Jerusalem, did He first calm the fears of His disciples?
Luke 18:31-34 = No, He told exactly what would happen, they didn't understand

Who did Jesus meet on His way to Jerusalem? = as Jesus approached Jericho
Luke 18:35, 42-43 = Bartimaeus (Mark 10), received sight, next week's topic
Did it appear that Jesus intended to stay in Jericho?
Luke 19:1-2a = No, He was passing through
Had He actually planned to stay or pass through?
Luke 19:5 = He had specific plans to stay the night with Zacchaeus
Would Jesus really have intended to pass through Jericho?
Luke 10:30 = No, Jericho to Jerusalem road was dangerous, 6-hr 2400ft ascent

Are there other examples where Jesus looked like He would pass by where He was needed?
Mark 6:48 = He was about to walk by the disciples trying to row against the wind
Luke 24:13, 28 = Acted like he'd go further before disciples recognized Him
How could Jesus just pass by someone who needs Him? = Others not His sheep
John 10:25-27 = Jesus calls, He knows His sheep & they hear His voice and follow

Jericho controlled the strategic ford of the Jordan to the ancient Eastern trade routes
Key roads from Jericho = N to Bethel & Shechem, W to Jerusalem, S to Hebron
On main road for Jews traveling to & from Galilee (bypass around Samaria)
Strong customs and excise collection in this trade center
Who was in charge of the powerful tax office in Jericho?
Luke 19:2 = Zacchaeus .. he was chief tax collector
As such a wealthy man, how respected would Zacchaeus have been? = scum of society
Matthew 18:17 = Treat the unrepentant like a pagan or tax collector
Matthew 5:44, 46 = Even the tax collectors love those who love them
= Jewish traitors (collected for Rome), Forced more than required (profit)

How well did Zacchaeus know Jesus?
Luke 19:3 = He didn't, He wanted to see who Jesus was
What problems did Zacchaeus have to be able to see Jesus?
Luke 19:3 = Being short, he couldn't see over the crowd
Leviticus 22:3 = Unclean are to stay away from the Lord, TCs considered unclean
How earnestly did Zacchaeus want to see Jesus?
Luke 19:4 = He ran ahead and climbed a tree, unbecoming for chief publican
Sycamore-fig = Inferior to ordinary fig, Widespread low branches, Along roads for shade
What promise had God made that fit Zacchaeus' situation?
Deuteronomy 4:29 = You'll find God if you look for Him with all your heart & soul

Was Zacchaeus able to see this Jesus like he so eagerly wanted?
Luke 19:5 = Yes, and much moreso; He not only saw Jesus, Jesus saw him
Isn't it amazing that Jesus called Zacchaeus by name?
John 10:2-3, 14 = Jesus is the Great Shepherd who calls His own sheep by name

Was Jesus' call to Zacchaeus just for him or also for us?
Revelation 3:20 = If anyone hears my voice & opens the door, I will come in
What does Jesus' call of Zacchaeus tell us about His call to us?
Gracious = He might have passed by (verse 1)
Personal = He called Zacchaeus by name
Urgent = He told him to come down immediately
Humbling = He told him to come down
Affectionate = Stay at your house (friendly)
Assuring = I must
Effective = He came down at once

How did Zacchaeus respond to Jesus' call?
Luke 19:6 = Enthusiastically - He came down at once, welcomed Him gladly
Did Jesus expect this kind of welcome?
John 10:4 = Yes, His sheep follow Him because they know His voice

Did Jesus' call really change Zacchaeus' life?
Luke 19:8 = Yes, showed faith by giving half to poor, pay back wrong 4 times
What example of giving to the poor had been commanded on Mount Sinai?
Exodus 23:10-11 = Leave ground fallow on 7th year & let poor glean food from it
What was the command for making restitution for wrongs against another?
Numbers 5:6-7 = Repay wrong plus a fifth (120%)
What class of crime did Zacchaeus accept by paying back four times?
Exodus 22:1 = Theft, Pay back 4 sheep for one stolen sheep

How did Jesus respond to Zacchaeus' comment?
Luke 19:9 = Announced that Zacchaeus has received salvation
Was Zacchaeus saved because he gave to the poor and made amends for his cheating?
Luke 18:18-22 = To earn salvation requires perfect lifetime obedience & giving all
Why was Zacchaeus saved?
Luke 7:48, 50 = Your sins are forgiven...your faith has saved you.
Why did Jesus say Zacchaeus was saved because he was a son of Abraham?
Galatians 3:29 = If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, & heirs...

Known as the oldest walled town in the world = First settled before 9600 BC
Walls built by 8000 BC = 6000 yrs before Abraham
Where were the Israelites when their wanderings officially ended and their calling began?
Joshua 5:10-12 = Camped by Jericho; Jesus ended travels & began calling
Where did the Israelites first receive part of the Promised Land after crossing the Jordan?
Joshua 6:1-2, 20-21 = Jericho; Zac 1st got promised land, devoted goods to Lord
Note: Archaeologists in 1930s found double walls (12 & 6 ft thick) violently destroyed
Layers of ash & volumes of charred grain confirm destruction recorded in Joshua

What caused the walls of Jericho to tumble down?
Hebrews 11:30 = Faith of the people
What caused the walls of Zacchaeus' sinfulness & greed to tumble down?
Luke 19:8-9 = Repentance and faith

Zacchaeus is Greek form of Hebrew word for pure = Greek is Zakchaios, Hebrew is zakkay
How pure was Zacchaeus in the eyes of those who felt they knew about righteousness?
Luke 18:11 = Tax collectors were as impure as you could get
How did the people of Jericho feel about Jesus' outreach to Zacchaeus?
Luke 19:7 = They felt it was wrong for Him to fellowship with a Sinner
How does Zacchaeus' name become fitting when he is chosen by Jesus?
Ephesians 1:4-7 = Chose us to be holy & blameless by redemption thru His blood

Shouldn't Jesus have gone to stay with a church leader or scholar instead of a chief sinner?
Luke 19:10 = The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost
What kinds of people does God count as lost sinners?
Psalm 14:2-3 = All have turned aside...there is no one who does good...

Were there other examples where Jesus sought out sinners as great as tax collectors?
Luke 5:27-28 = He called Levi (Matthew) from his tax booth to be an apostle
How did the church leaders and scholars respond to Jesus' fellowship with this sinner?
Luke 5:29-30 = They complained that it was wrong
How did Jesus respond to their complaints?
Luke 5:31-32 = I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance

How long had Jesus' mission to save lost sinners been revealed?
Matthew 1:21 = Angel told Joseph that Jesus will save his people from their sins

What parable did Jesus tell to explain why He was called to seek the sinners?
Luke 14:16-17 = A man invited many guests to the banquet (kingdom of heaven)
How did the chosen reply to the invitation?
Luke 14:18-20 = Made excuses for not coming (church leaders & scholars)
What did the host do to fill his banquet hall?
Luke 14:21-24 = Invited those who didn't appear to be worthy

What other parables did Jesus speak to point out His calling to save the lost?
Luke 15:3-7 = The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Luke 15:8-10 = The Parable of the Lost Coin
Luke 15:11-32 = The Parable of the Lost Son (Prodigal Son, Forgiving Father)