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Zacchaeus
"Zacchaeus expresses his appreciation of Jesus’ acceptance of him by declaring his intent to be a different man. Because of his new relationship with God, he will do two things: Half of his possessions will now go to the poor, and those he has wronged will receive restitution at four times the amount taken. He is aware of his sin and desires to right the wrongs he has done. Both actions stand out in light of cultural expectations. If later Judaism is any guide, it was considered generous to give away twenty percent of one’s possessions. And the restitution Zacchaeus notes is better than the highest standard set by the law (Lev. 5:16; Num. 5:7). He actually penalizes himself with the standard required of rustlers (Ex. 22:1; 2 Sam. 12:6). As Ellis notes, this is the “thank offering of a changed heart.” In Zacchaeus’s changed heart, love for God expresses itself in love for others." [1]
Jesus changes people. There are a lot of different things going on in the book of Luke and some important themes to notice, but don't miss this one! People who meet Jesus are changed. Notice that Zacchaeus understands something that quite often escapes us: he doesn't do what he does to earn the favor of Jesus - rather he realizes that he has been changed by Jesus and therefore his actions must change as well. He was lost, but has been found. He is known.
Does anyone have or know a similar story? Sometimes in suburbia it seems like we don't see many stories as drastic as that of Zacchaeus, but know this: they do happen. Jesus CHANGES people. He FINDS people. Being found by Jesus changes everything.
Zacchaeus
"Zacchaeus expresses his appreciation of Jesus’ acceptance of him by declaring his intent to be a different man. Because of his new relationship with God, he will do two things: Half of his possessions will now go to the poor, and those he has wronged will receive restitution at four times the amount taken. He is aware of his sin and desires to right the wrongs he has done. Both actions stand out in light of cultural expectations. If later Judaism is any guide, it was considered generous to give away twenty percent of one’s possessions. And the restitution Zacchaeus notes is better than the highest standard set by the law (Lev. 5:16; Num. 5:7). He actually penalizes himself with the standard required of rustlers (Ex. 22:1; 2 Sam. 12:6). As Ellis notes, this is the “thank offering of a changed heart.” In Zacchaeus’s changed heart, love for God expresses itself in love for others." [1]
Jesus changes people. There are a lot of different things going on in the book of Luke and some important themes to notice, but don't miss this one! People who meet Jesus are changed. Notice that Zacchaeus understands something that quite often escapes us: he doesn't do what he does to earn the favor of Jesus - rather he realizes that he has been changed by Jesus and therefore his actions must change as well. He was lost, but has been found. He is known.
Does anyone have or know a similar story? Sometimes in suburbia it seems like we don't see many stories as drastic as that of Zacchaeus, but know this: they do happen. Jesus CHANGES people. He FINDS people. Being found by Jesus changes everything.
[1] Darrell L. Bock, The NIV Application Commentary: Luke (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 479.
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