ADULT STS LESSON 127 THE CONVERSION OF ZACCHAEUS
MEMORY VERSE: “And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham” (Luke 19:6,9).
TEXT: Luke 19:1-10
As Jesus continued His eventful journey to Jerusalem, He came to Jericho where He met Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector. Prior to meeting Jesus, he had taken the advantage of his exalted position to enrich himself at the expense of others. Though he was deep in the mire of sin, however, Zacchaeus’ experience confirms that Jesus came to seek and save sinners who respond to His message of salvation. When Jesus entered Jericho, a multitude of people followed Him. Zacchaeus, having heard of His fame, was eager “to see Jesus who he was“. However, he had to contend with a combination of some serious natural, physical and psychological barriers to accomplish his goal.
One, his profession made him notorious and unpopular as the children of Israel cast aspersions on publicans because they served the interest of the colonial Roman government.
Two, Zacchaeus was of a small stature, which inhibited his view of Christ because of the crowd. Three, he was rich, and riches often make men self-conceited, pompous and complacent in seeking after God. He, however, did not allow any of these to hinder him from seeking the Saviour. No sinner should allow religious background, social status, personal ego, language and cultural barriers, tradition, occult covenant, peer group pressure or fear of people to constitute a hindrance to getting saved (John 9:22;12:42,43). “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
1.THE SAVIOUR’S INVITATION AND GENUINE REPENTANCE
Luke 19:1-5; Matthew 11:28; Revelation 22:17; Isaiah 55:1; Mark 1:14,15; Acts 17:30,31; 4:12
In the narrative, Zacchaeus climbed up a sycamore tree to enable him see Jesus. But considering that he was a rich man, this action was a pointer to his earnestness and determination to get saved. “And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house” (Luke 19:5). Jesus could not but respond to the sincerity with which Zacchaeus sought him. God says, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD…” (Jeremiah 29:13,14). Like Zacchaeus, every sinner must seek the Saviour with humility and sincerity of heart and trust in His unfailing mercy and love for their salvation. Civilization, culture or refinement of a person cannot change the universal truth that “all have sinned“.
Until a sinner repents, he or she remains outside the kingdom of God. Christ’s invitation to Zacchaeus was personal (Isaiah 51:2), unexpected and undeserved; it was divine as He never met him before but called him by name. The invitation was also purposeful: to save him from sin. Moreover, it was urgent as He told him to make haste and come down. Just as Christ invited Zacchaeus, He invites every sinner to repentance and backslider to restoration of grace (Matthew 11:28; Isaiah 55:1,2). Zacchaeus’ response to Christ’s invitation was impressive: he made haste, came down and received Jesus joyfully. His response was prompt, exact and cheerful, accompanied with repentance, open confession expects every sinner to respond to His call to salvation. and determination to make restitution.
This is how God expect every sinner to respond to His call to salvation. Like Zacchaeus, every sinner must acknowledge and confess their sins (Romans 3:23; Psalm 51:3; I John 1:8,9); forsake and renounce sinful attitude, behaviour and practice in every area of life; exercise faith in Jesus and accept Him as Lord and Saviour. Zacchaeus called Jesus “Lord” (verse 8). Again, he was prepared to make necessary restitution and straighten out his past life as much as possible. A truly repentant person will prove it by the readiness to make amends of past misdeeds. The Lord Jesus bore testimony to the genuine conversion of Zacchaeus. He declared, “This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham” (Luke 19:9). A backslider must seek restoration of the joy of salvation by forsaking all sins and re-establishing relationship with Jesus as Lord and Saviour (Psalm 51:10-12).
2.REACTION OF CENSORS AND FRUITS OF GENUINE CONVERSION. Luke 19:7-9; 5:27-32; Matthew 3:5-10; 23:13; 3:9,10; John 8:33-39; Acts 24:16; Ezekiel 33:14- 16.
Instead of learning from God’s ability to transform the vilest of sinners and taking advantage of it to seek their own salvation, the crowd chose to be narrow-minded and censorious. They murmured aloud and condemned the decision of Jesus to enter the house of “a man that is a sinner“. They became self-appointed judges of the pious actions of Christ. Believers must take heed not to judge others on the scale of personal biases and limited perspective. It is ungodly to write off anyone from the enjoyment of God’s matchless grace and salvation. God wants all people to repent; this should also be our desire and pursuit. Jesus responded by telling His hearers that He came to save Zacchaeus, a “son of Abraham” from being lost.
Describing Zacchaeus as a “son of Abraham” must have jolted the self-righteous and critical Jews who felt that they were the only scion of Abraham (John 8:33-39; Matthew 3:9,10). A person is neither saved by a good heritage nor condemned by a bad one. Repentance and faith in Christ are far more important than genealogy. “And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold” (Luke 19:8). Here, there is clear evidence of genuine conversion in the regenerated life of Zacchaeus.
For the first time, he addressed Christ as “Lord“. After his conversion, he immediately decided to straighten his dubious past; otherwise his salvation would have amounted to mere profession without the accompanying fruits of righteousness. He demonstrated inward change through outward action. It is not enough for a person to profess followership with Jesus; he or she must show it by a new lifestyle.
A songwriter says, “If you say your sins are forgiven and gone, then, prove it by the life you live”. Zacchaeus was sincere by acknowledging the crooked means by which he acquired his wealth. He admitted that he had deprived other people by false accusation and therefore promised to make full restitution. He neither swept his past under the carpet nor covered it with religion. His obedience earned him the Lord’s approval: “This day is salvation come to this house”. After conversion, people must look back at their past life and identify areas where they need to make amends.
Restitution is one of the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith. It is the act of restoring things or persons to their rightful owners; making amends for wrongs done in the days of ignorance; confessing crimes, lies and ungodly acts; paying back just debts and such like with the motive of having “a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men” (Acts 24:16). Zacchaeus must have been familiar with the doctrine of restitution as it was taught during the Old Testament dispensation (Deuteronomy 6:2-5; Exodus 22:3,5). He therefore, made a prompt decision to make his restitution. God gives grace to all who want to obey His word.
No matter how tough any restitution may seem, it can be done with absolute dependence on the promises, of God. He has said, “My grace is sufficient for thee” (2 Corinthians 12:9). He will grant every believer who is willing to obey His word the courage, wisdom and mercy needed to do it. The Lord who granted Zacchaeus the grace to settle his past misdeeds is still the same. Restitution must be done with a deep contrition and sobriety, in total obedience to God because one is not doing the beneficiary any favour, but for one’s eternal destiny. Some people argue against the teaching of restitution as a New Testament practice.
They suppose that the demand to make restitution after conversion is a relapse to legalism or seeking salvation by works. But they err. Restitution is a timeless practice and it cannot be separated from genuine repentance. Though making restitution without genuine repentance does not save a sinner, it is necessary after repentance so as to have a conscience void of offence before God and man. It is also to convince the people whom we have wronged that we have truly changed.
In the Old Testament, people made restitutions before the law, under the law and in the time of the prophets. Abimelech and the children of Israel under Ezra made restitution (Genesis 20:7,14; Ezra 10:10-18). In the New Testament, Zacchaeus and Paul the apostle made restitution (Luke 19:8; Acts 23:1-5). Therefore, the practice of restitution cannot be confined to a particular dispensation. It is however important to note that there is need for godly counsel from mature church leaders when making restitutions that are complex or sensitive.
3. REVELATION OF THE MISSION OF CHRIST . Luke 19:10; Matthew 18:11-14; 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 5:18- 20.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Christ here reveals His purpose of coming to the world: He came to reconcile humans to God. It is for the same reason the Church is still in the world. All those who have been redeemed from sin are given this ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). Winning the lost for Christ is every believer’s ministry. The story of Zacchaeus pulsates with vital lessons.
One, there is no sinner that Jesus cannot save.
Two, the rich can be genuinely saved, if only they cease to trust in riches and exercise faith in the Saviour. The rich young ruler was hindered by his trust in his riches (Luke 18:22-24). Zacchaeus was also rich but got saved.
Three, the salvation of Zacchaeus, a publican, shows that we can work in any legitimate profession and at the same time be Bible-believing Christians. Lawyers, customs officers, soldiers, journalists, doctors, engineers and police officers can all walk with God while discharging their legitimate duties in the fear of God.
Four, repentance and faith in Christ are necessary requirements for genuine conversion but restitution is one of the first evidence of its reality.
Five, gospel preachers must be willing to reach out to those who are despised by others in the society. Men like Zacchaeus, whom the religious considered unworthy of their association are often more predisposed to accept the gospel.
Six, believers must, like Christ, be busy spreading the gospel message and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit in order to identify those whose hearts are yearning to experience God.
Seven, when someone is saved, the Lord also goes ahead to touch their entire household (Luke 19:9).
The Bible is replete with examples of God’s offer of salvation to the entire household. Joshua said: “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15); The Philippian jailor was told to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31). Lydia did not only get saved, members of her family were also saved (Acts 16:14,15). Back in the Old Testament, Rahab the harlot was saved with her father’s household. “And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho” (Joshua 6:25).
These clouds of witnesses teach us that every believer can pray through and claim God’s promise for members of their families. Believing husbands can claim the salvation of unbelieving wives in prayer; believing wives can pray their husbands into the Kingdom. Children who are born again can travail in prayer until Christ is formed in their parents, while born again parents can plead God’s promises in prayer until all their children come into the Kingdom. With God, all things are possible.
Questions for review:
1. What barriers did Zacchaeus have to overcome to see Jesus?
2. Mention some obstacles that can hinder people from coming to Jesus.
3. Describe Christ’s invitation to Zacchaeus and the vital lessons to draw from it.
4. Point out the steps that a sinner or backslider must take in order to get saved or be restored.
5. What should be our attitude to the penitent?
6. What is restitution? Point out specific areas where a converted person can make restitutions.
7. Point out some basic lessons from the account of the conversion of Zacchaeus.
