483
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
October 1930
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 o f the by standers? What did they say? Why did they call Zacchaeus “a sinner” ? 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 tjie poor? In what sense was he a “son o f Abraham” ? Was it possible to be a natural “son of Abraham” and not be a true “son o f 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 interrupt 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 saved. 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 Jesus 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. Com pelling love stands out in the little word “must.” The word “abide” tells o f the privilege o f 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 1 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 Zac chaeus a completely transformed man. He no longer lived to accumulate and to hoard, but to give away his goods for the glory o f 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 in heaven (Lk. 12:33). 10. Renunciation of sin, consecration of self and of possessions, joyful fellowship with Christ, hatred by the world—all these, seen in Zacchaeus, comprise a truly Chris tian life, —o— G olden T ext I llustration One Sunday Dwight L. Moody preached in a big circus tent near the Columbian
BLACKBOARD LESSON luysre*,, ^ O n \V> hat . ^oicut>v 11/43 1^===^ 2TACCHEU5? CA3É
to Jerusalem. He took time to tarry at Jericho long enough to save a lost soul. V. 2. A man called
by name Zacchaeus. His name me a n s “pure.” It scarcely fitted a man o f his nature and business. A chief publican. Because Jericho had a large trade,' the
First O.T. Question. "M ere Art Ti\ov?" G od (7EEKINQ TO \ AVE" /JlNNERS '
first NT. Question "\ihere is He ?" B fe (7 0 Nl . \ AVES the /J EEKER5.
tax gatherers, o f whom Zacchaeus was chief, must have had abundant opportun ity to get wealth. These publicans did not have fixed salaries; there was room for dishonest extortion from tax payers. The whole system was. so oppressive and un just that tax gatherers became univer sally hated and scorned. V. 3. Sought to see Jesus. Perhaps Zacchaeus has been painted blacker than he deserves. It is evident that there was in his heart a longing for a peace that he did not possess. He must have often heard o f Jesus as a teacher and miracle worker, and also o f His kindness to pub licans and sinners. Little o f stature. This handicap did not discourage him. Being a man of determination he overcame the difficulty. V. 4. Ran on before. This rich official of the city forgot his dignity because of his earnestness. He may have become an object of ridicule to bystanders, but he was willing to endure even that. Climbed up into a sycomore tree. This tree is not to be confused with the modern sycamore. It grew to large size. It had low spread ing branches, easily ascended. He was to pass that way. This means simply that He was on the regular route through the city, leading to Jerusalem. But it is very easy to read into the story, the lesson that Jesus “was to pass that way” because He would find there a sinner who needed Him and sought Him. II. A Seeking Saviour (5). He looked up. It is not necessary to at tempt to decide whether Jesus’ attention had been called to Zacchaeus in some natural way or whether His supernatural knowledge told Him that a seeking sinner was in that peculiar place (cf. John 1 :48). Make haste, and come down. To a man who probably heard very few kind words from his neighbors, such an invitation was very welcome. Today I must abide at thy house. He not only spoke kindly to Zac chaeus, but actually asked for his hos pitality—a very great and unexpected honor. The crowd o f onlookers must have been as much amazed as was Zacchaeus that Jesus had the courage to be a “ friend of sinners.” III. The Saved Sinner (6-9). V. 6. He made haste. His prompt re sponse showed readiness to accept the Lord’s invitation. Received him joyfully. Surprise that he was noticed at all changed to delight when he found that he was thus highly honored. V. 7. They all murmured. We are not told specifically whether the disciples were among those who found fault. They had frequently seen the willingness of Jesus to mingle with despised sinners (cf. S :20; 7:34, 39; 15:2). V. 8. Zacchaeus stood. Although he may not have directly faced the murmur- ers who attacked his honor, the words which follow were evidently inspired by the murmurings he must have heard. He
arose before all with firmness And dignity to state his attitude toward the Lord. The half of my goods I give. That is, not only the half of what he may have gained by dishonest methods, but the half of his future income was to be used for the ben efit of the poor. I f I have wrongfully ex acted. The fact that Zacchaeus did not admit in so many words that he had been dishonest and unjust has caused some commentators to believe that he had been honest. It seems hardly possible to im agine, however, that one in his position could have been much different from others o f his class. I restore fourfold. The Mosaic law demanded the restoration o f a fifth part beyond the principal in case o f any dishonesty (Num. 5:6, 7). Zacchaeus went beyond this requirement. V. 9. Today is salvation come. He was not offered salvation because of his prom ised gifts or restitutions, but because he admitted the Christ into his life and made Him head of his business. These words were not addressed to Zacchaeus alone, but to the whole company, with special reference to the murmurers. A son of Abraham. Although a Jew, he was ostra cized and excommunicated because he was a servant o f the hated Romans and an op pressor o f his own people. Now, by the verdict o f the Lord Jesus, he is to be looked upon as a true “son of Abraham,” no longer a “sinner.” This house. The Lord Jesus foresaw that the blessing would come not merely to Zacchaeus, but to his family whom he would henceforth guide in the ways o f truth. Salvation had come in the person o f Christ, the Saviour. IV. The Saviour’s Method (10). The Son o f man. The Lord Jesus loved this title. It asserts His relation to man, for He is the “mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.” The title was in the Old Testament referred to Messiah. Came to seek and to save. The whole mission o f Christ is here summed up in a few words. They state that man kind is “lost” ; that Christ came from the glory to seek the lost ; and that He is able to save every soul that receives'Him. * * * 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
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker