Luke’s gospel tells us that Zacchaeus was a tax collector. In Roman-occupied Judea, tax collectors were regarded as collaborators with the enemy…among the dregs of society—“God I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector” (Luke 18:11). But Zacchaeus was not just any old tax collector…he was a CHIEF tax collector…head honcho of the hated. Luke also tells us that Zacchaeus was not just a person of means…not just a high roller…he was wealthy (strike two). The wealthy don’t get much good press in the Bible, either…“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle that for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 19:24; Mark 10:25; Luke 18:25)
So, Zacchaeus was chief tax collector AND a wealthy man, but here’s the real kicker…he was a short man. No other person in the Bible is described as “short.” Strike three! Ooooh! Can’t you hear that Randy Newman song in your head?
Short people got no reason
Short people got no reason
Short people got no reason
To live
Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, but with the large crowd he could not because he was “a short man”. So what does Zacchaeus do? He runs ahead and climbs a sycamore-fig tree so he can see Jesus. What happens next is remarkable. When Jesus reaches that spot, Jesus looks up and says, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” No prior introductions by a mutual acquaintance, no presumptuous invitation by Zacchaeus….Jesus just walks up and invites himself to Zacchaeus’ house. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.
They got little hands
Little eyes
They walk around
Tellin’ great big lies
They got little noses
And tiny little teeth
They wear platform shoes
On their nasty little feet
Well, I don’t want no short people
Don’t want no short people
Don’t want no short people
‘Round here.
Luke doesn’t say that Zacchaeus repented, but clearly his life was transformed (verse 8). Jesus’ point is short and sweet: like Zacchaeus, no matter where we are on the social, economic, or popularity scale, the Son of Man is prepared to act to save the lost (we don’t have to do anything), and our lives (all lives), too, can be transformed. The only thing we need to remember is (like Zacchaeus) we must always be ready to accept Christ’s invitation to make a difference in our lives….AND that no matter who we are or what we do, in God’s eyes we are no better (or worse) than anyone else.
Short people (tax collectors, wealthy, poor, black, Muslims, etc) are just the same
As you and I
(A fool such as I)
All men are brothers
Until the day they die
(It’s a wonderful world)
Yes, it is!
Luke 19:1-10
Jesus and Zacchaeus
19He entered Jericho and was passing through it. 2A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax-collector and was rich. 3He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycomore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. 5When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.’ 6So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. 7All who saw it began to grumble and said, ‘He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.’ 8Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.’ 9Then Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.’
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