JESUS CAME TO SEEK AND TO 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

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector, short, but wealthy. In the course of getting what he wanted, he became a public sinner, who was despised and hated by his people due to his dishonesty and collaboration with Rome. This Zacchaeus came to see Jesus! When he encountered an obstacle of people, he did not give up, but he climbed a sycamore-fig tree and waited to see Jesus. Did Jesus pass him by?

Jesus said, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” Jesus called him by name. Jesus knew all about him, yet he was willing to be a guest of Zacchaeus, a sinner. Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus to his home with joy. This encounter with Jesus changed his life and value system, for he was ready to share his possessions with the poor and compensate 4 times more for his cheating. It was his repentance. Jesus pronounced that he was a son of Abraham, a child of God. Jesus was happy to find Zacchaeus and save him, for he came to seek and to save the lost. Zacchaeus came to see Jesus first, but it was really Jesus who came to seek him and to save him.

Prayer: Prayer Thank you, Jesus, for seeking me a lost sinner to save me. Help me to remember your grace and willingly share the gospel with those who are lost around me.

One Word: Jesus came to seek and to save the lost