TO SEEK AND SAVE THE LOST

Passage: Luke 19:1-10

Key verse: 10

NIV

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

19 Jesus entered Jericho(A) and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig(B) tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.(C)

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”(D)

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord,(E) “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything,(F) I will pay back four times the amount.”(G)

9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.(H) 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”(I)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus and Zacchaeus

19 (A)He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And (B)he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into (C)a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for (D)I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and (E)received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all (F)grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods (G)I give to the poor. And if I have (H)defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it (I)fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since (J)he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For (K)the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. The man who wanted to see Jesus (1-4) As chief tax collector, Zacchaeus had reached the top. But in order to get there, he had crushed many poor people, and he had collaborated with the oppressors of his people. He was short in stature, but aggressive and able. He got what he wanted. But his success had not brought him peace or filled the emptiness in his soul. He had heard that Jesus did not despise sinners and tax collectors, and he wanted to see him. The people of Jericho showed their dislike of Zacchaeus--for no one helped him to see Jesus. So he ran ahead and climbed a tree by faith to see Jesus. 2. "Zacchaeus, come down immediately" (5-1 ) Our Messiah Jesus saw Zacchaeus and his small mustard seed of faith. Jesus knew Zacchaeus' name and all about him. He invited himself to Zacchaeus' home. Zacchaeus welcomed him. He was thankful for Jesus' grace and he repented. His repentance was life-changing. Salvation came to his house, for he received Jesus' love and grace by faith. Jesus restored him as a true son of Abraham. This is why the Son of Man had come, to seek and save the lost like Zacchaeus. Likewise, Jesus knows all our selfishness and wickedness, but he does not despise us. Rather, Jesus is seeking all the lost children of God to bring them back to his kingdom.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for seeking a lost sinner like me. Help me to live as a repentant sinner, saved by your grace.

One Word: Jesus came to seek and save the lost