Luke 19:1-10

6. Zaccheus’ ideal response to Jesus 19:1-10

This section in Luke’s long narrative of Jesus’ ministry as He traveled to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51 to Luke 19:27) is climactic. It is a choice example of Jesus offering salvation to a needy person. Zaccheus accepted Jesus’ offer and responded appropriately with joy and the fruits of repentance. He also gave an excellent example of how disciples should use what wealth they have. The section closes with a summary of Jesus’ ministry that is really the key verse in this Gospel.

Zaccheus displayed traits of the tax collector in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14). They shared the same despised occupation, the same sense of personal need, and the same childlike humility and receptivity toward God. He also resembles the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-23). He, too, had wealth, but his response to Jesus was precisely the opposite of that other rich man. His salvation is a great example of the truth that with God all things are possible (Luke 18:25-27). Zaccheus, moreover, demonstrated the same faith in Jesus and consequent insight into his responsibility to follow Jesus and glorify God that the blind man did (Luke 18:35-43). His story brings together many themes that Luke interwove in this section in which he stressed the recipients of salvation (Luke 18:9 to Luke 19:27).

"The incident contains several primary Lukan features: the universal appeal of the gospel (Luke 19:2-4); the ethical problem of wealth (Luke 19:2); the call of a ’sinner’ who was in social disfavor (Luke 19:7); the sense of God’s present work (Luke 19:5; Luke 19:9); the feeling of urgency (’immediately,’ speusas, Luke 19:5), of necessity (’must,’ Luke 19:5), and of joy (Luke 19:6); restitution, with goods distributed to the poor (Luke 19:8); and, above all, salvation (Luke 19:9-10)." [Note: Liefeld, "Luke," p. 1007.]