May 18 2025

Sunday May 18

Luke 19:1-10 - The Story of a Little Big Sinner

1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." 9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Today we are looking at one of the most exciting stories in the New Testament. I like to call it the story of a little big sinner. That's the story of Zacchaeus, a man who comes seeking Jesus as Jesus is seeking him. What a wonderful story. This is probably one of the favorite stories of little children in Sunday school growing up, with the great song, "Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he. And one day, Jesus passed his way.”

In Luke 19:1, Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now remember, Jericho was the Las Vegas of Christ's day. It was the place where gambling, prostitutes, and where the mafia had their headquarters, so to speak. It was a bad place, and Jesus entered and passed through. Jesus is ready to pass through your place, no matter who you are or where you are. Jesus is seeking sinners, as we’ll see in the first 10 verses of this chapter.

Behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, and he was rich. Zacchaeus was Jewish, and his name means "righteous one," but he was anything but righteous. He was not only a tax collector but the chief tax collector, maybe even Matthew’s boss at one time. Perhaps after Matthew became a follower of Christ, he was burdened for Zacchaeus and prayed for him. Now Zacchaeus has a prepared heart. He was rich, from collecting taxes for the Roman government while cheating people and taking more than he was supposed to. But his wealth did not bring him satisfaction or peace.

He sought to see who Jesus was but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. He was a little guy, not very tall. Because of the crowd, he couldn’t get to Jesus. That’s true today—many people are kept from Jesus because of the crowd leading them the wrong way, telling them the lies of the world. My friend don’t let the crowd keep you from Jesus. Don’t follow a multitude to do evil. Zacchaeus couldn’t see over the crowd or well enough to see who Jesus was and what He was doing. He was curious, so he ran ahead and climbed into a sycamore tree to see Him, knowing Jesus would pass that way. I like to say that Zacchaeus put himself “in the way of Grace”.

Jesus would like to pass your way if you’re looking for Him. Zacchaeus, a man, becomes like a child. In the days of Christ, and even today, rich men don’t run—they walk with dignity and pride. But this man humbles himself. Not only was he small in stature, but he humbled his heart and became small in his own sight. Remember in Luke 18, Jesus said, “Unless you become like a child, you can’t enter the kingdom of God,”

When Jesus came to the place, He looked up, saw him, and said, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste, came down, and received Him joyfully. This chapter illustrates Ephesians 2:8-9 as well as anywhere in the Bible: “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.”

The one thing that keeps people from coming to Jesus is pride. A seeking sinner will always find a seeking Savior. I don’t fully understand how Jesus seeks us while something happens to humble our hearts, and we begin to seek Him. But I know that it is the work of God’s marvelous grace, which only takes place when we humble ourselves. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Only by grace can you be saved and begin to have a heart that seeks Jesus.

Here’s a rich man who has need of nothing, but he’s lonely inside, has no friends, and people don’t like him. He’s a sinner, but Jesus loves sinners. What a great story. Today, I don’t know who you are, where you’re at, or what’s going on in your life, but Jesus, by His grace, is ready to pass your way.

Are you looking for Him? If you’re looking, you will find Him, and He’ll find you.

God bless!