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his income because of his gratitude to his Lord and Saviour. I f I have wrong fully exacted. No doubt is implied. “If” may be translated “since.” The law re quired restitution of the principle and an added one-fifth in the case of trespass (Num. 5:6, 7). There seemed to have been some exception to this general rule (Ex. 22:1). Perhaps Zacchaeus imposed on himself the fine that was placed upon a thief who was caught in the act. V. 9. Today is salvation come. The transformation of Zacchaeus was sudden and complete. He was not saved because of his promised gifts or his restitution, but because he had received Jesus Christ as His- Lord and Saviour. These words were not addressed to Zacchaeus alone but were meant to be an answer to the murmurs of the critics. A son of Abra ham. This may mean that he had become a “son of Abraham” in a spiritual sense (cf. Gal. 3:29). More likely, it was a thrust at the scribes and Pharisees who ostracized and excommunicated every Jew who became a servant of Rome and an oppressor of his own people. Jesus boldly 1braved further hatred from those who were already seeking to destroy Him. This house. Blessing had come not only to Zacchaeus but to every member of his household. IV. The Saviour’s Method (10). Son of. man is come to seek. Zacchaeus had wandered from God and, by his con duct, had become an enemy of his own people.1 The Lord Jesus welcomed him ¡sack to the Father’s house and restored him to his nation, a transformed and use ful member of the commonwealth. Jesus had always shown His eagerness “to seek and to; save” the lost outcasts of society in spite of the ill will that such an atti tude aroused in the hearts of His en emies (cf. 5:30-32; 7:34-50; 15 :1-7). At the moment when the throngs were ren dering Him homage and looking upon Him as Israel’s long-expected Deliverer, He might have been tempted, if ever, to curry favor by neglecting “sinners.” In stead of compromising in the slightest ‘degree) He persisted in His usual course by showing special attention to a chief of the publicans, whom both leaders and common people hated and despised. * * * L esson Q uestions V. 1. To what city did Jesus come? To what place was He journeying? V. 2. What is the meaning of the word “Zacchaeus” ? What was Zacchaeus’ oc cupation? Did this business make him popular among his fellow citizens ? Vs. 3, 4. What did he seek to do?- What made him so eager? What handi cap did he have ? What- method did he use to overcome his handicap ?-Does this teach the lesson that any one can find Jesus who will earnestly seek Him? V. 5. When Jesus reached the place, what did He first do? Was there any spe cial significance in His “look” ? What did He say to Zacchaeus? Why did He want to go to the house of Zacchaeus? V. 6. How did Zacchaeus respond? Was he surprised? What made him joy ful? V. 7. What was the feeling of the by standers ? What did they say ? •Why did they call Zacchaeus “a sinner” ?
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with Christ, hatred by the world—all these, seen in Zacchaeus, Comprise a truly Chris tian life. * * * G olden T ext I llustration A Christian friend, looking from a Sixth Avenue elevated Car, saw a sign, at a height of many stories, on which were painted the words; “Boy wanted.” The boys were in the street, and the sign was too high for them to see it. Many preachers and teachers, in their addresses, place the truth far beyond the reach of their audience's. The greatest Teacher put the grandest, truth in words of one syllable: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk 19:10). Follow His example. * * * Jesus Makes a Bad Man Good Luke 19:1-10 Memory FíTseH-“Depart from evil, and do good” (Psa. 34:14). Approach. —You rem em ber that our story last week was about a Pharisee and a publican who were praying. Although is about another publican. Lesson Story. —In this story we find Je sus coming into the city of Jericho. All of the people in the town had heard about the wonderful Jesús, and the streets were full o f ,crowds of people trying to catch a glimpse of Him. Now in Jericho there lived a man named Zacchaeus. He was a publican, and he had been a wicked one too. But he wanted to see Jesus. He was not a very tall man; in fact, he was so short that he couldn’t see over the heads of the people. But he did want to see Jesus. He said to himself, “I’ll never see Him if I stay here.” So he thought of a plan. Farther on, beside the road, there stood a sycomore tree- In that country, such trees had low-hanging branches, so that even a man as small as Zacchaeus could reach them and climb up into the tree. Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed the syc omore tree, and there he was when Jesus passed by. He didn’t even care if people thought it strange that he should climb up into a tree. And, do you know, Jesus saw him up there 1 He not only saw him, but He knew all about him. He knew that he was a bad man who wanted to be good. So Jesus helped him. He called him down from the tree and went to his house for dinner. And while He was there, Jesus showed him that He was his Friend. This made Zacchaeus sorry that he had taken too much money from the people. He promised JesuS that he would give it back to them, and he promised also to give to the poor half of all that he had. That must have made Jesus very happy the publicans were usually bad men whom people didn’t like, this publican in our story prayed a prayer which pleased God better than the prayer of the Phari see because the pub lican was sorry for his wickedness and wished to be forgiv en. Today’s lesson
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V. 8. In what spirit did Zacchaeus face the murmurers? What statements did he make that showed genuine repentance? What promises did he make that showed he had a new heart? V. 9. In what way did Jesus acknowl edge Zacchaeus as a saved sinner? Was Zacchaeus saved .because he promised to give some money to the poor? In what sense was he a “son of Abraham” ? Was it possible to be a natural “son of Abraham” and not be a true “son of Abraham,” ac cording to Jesus’ meaning? V. 10. What does the title “Son of man” signify? How many great facts about the gospel can you find in this short verse ? * * * P ractical P oints 1. The Lord Jesus knew the value of a single soul. Do we? If He could inter rupt a journey and spend a day to gain a Zacchaeus, should we count the time lost if called upon to step aside from ordinary tasks to win a soul for Christ? 2. It is hard but not impossible for a rich man to be sáved. When he ceases to “trust in riches” salvation is near (cf. Lk. 18:26, 27). ' 3. There was hope for Zacchaeus when he “sought to see Jesus,” even though he may have been prompted largely by curi osity. There is always “life in a look at the Crucified One” (cf. John 3:14, 15). 4. Jesus is always looking for sinners. He. knows every ;sinner by name and where to find him., 5. There was wondrous meaning in the word of Jesús to Zacchaeus: “Today I must abide at thy house.” It speaks of urgency—there was danger in delay. The morrow would have been too late. Comr pelling love stands out in the little word “must.” The word “abide” tells of the privilege of the believer to have intimate and happy fellowship with the Lord Jesus (cf. Rev. 3:20). 6. The promptness of Zacchaeus to re spond to the call of Christ is a fine ex ample. How slow and stubborn most sin ners are! 7. Joyful fellowship with Christ does not exempt one from tribulation (cf. John 16:33). The follower of Christ is hated because he is like his Lord (Matt. 10:22), 8. The new life in Christ made Zac1 chaeus a completely transformed man. He no longer lived to accumulate and tq> hoard, but to give away his goods for the glory of God. He did not live for self but for others, 9. Those who put their goods in the Lord’s hands will have every need sup plied and will accumulate treasure iii heaven (Lk. 12:33). 10. Renunciation of sin, consecration of self and of possessions, joyful fellowship
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