Luke
By Joyce Webb 2021
Chapter 19 Verses 1-27
Verse 1 Jesus came into the town of Jericho.
A man, named Zachaeus, heard that Jesus was coming. He wanted very much to see Jesus.
Zachaeus was a short man. He could not see over the people who lined up along the road.
He decided to climb into a sycomore tree—-so he could see.
When Jesus came along the road, he came to the tree. He stopped and looked up in the tree and saw Zachaeus there.
He said to Zachaeus, Come down, I will come to your house.
Zachaeus was a person who collected tax money —for the Romans who ruled over the Jewish people.
The Jewish people did not like tax collectors. One reason—they did not like that the Romans ruled over them. They did not like that they had to pay taxes to the Romans.
Another reason they did not like tax collectors was because many of them were not honest.
Many of the tax collectors told the people that they owed more money than what was true. Example: If the person owed the Romans $5.00 —–maybe the tax collector would say they owed $7.00 dollars. The tax collector would keep the extra $2:00 for himself. So the tax collectors became rich.
When Jesus told Zachaeus that he would go to his house, they people were surprised. They did not like it. They said, “He is a sinner. Why would you go to his house?”
Zachaeus was happy. He could hardly believe that Jesus would come to his house. I think he probably hurried home and had his servants make a nice meal for Jesus.
Jesus and Zachaeus talked. Zachaeus listened to what Jesus said.
After they talked for a long time, Zachaeus told Jesus, I will give half of what I have to the poor.
If I have cheated anyone—I will pay him back 4 times more.
Jesus saw that Zachaeus had a change of heart and mind.
Zachaeus listened to what Jesus said, He believed Jesus.
Zachaeus proved that he had changed —because he said he would give to the poor and pay people back.
Jesus heard what Zachaeus promised to do. Jesus said, “Today, salvation has come to this house.”
What a person does shows what is in his heart. Some people say they are Christians, but do they do —as a Christian should do?
Zachaeus’ actions would show he had a change of heart.
Vs.10 Jesus said, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
The people did not think that Jesus, who was good, and a Jewish teacher should go into the home and eat with a person like Zachaeus who they thought was a “bad” man.
Jesus said—that was the reason he came to earth—to save “sinners”—”bad” people.
All of us have sinned and done wrong things. We all need to be forgiven. Really bad sins are not the only sins that need to be forgiven. Any sin, all sin, even “little” sins, need to be forgiven.
In God’s eyes, all sin is sin. God does not see it as “big” or “little” sins.
All sin needs to be forgiven.
The people who thought Zachaeus was a “sinner”—they were sinners, too.
The Bible says, “All have sinned”. Romans 3:23
Vs. 11 Jesus spoke to the people. Jesus was getting near to Jerusalem.
The people thought that if Jesus was the Messiah that the prophets said would come—that Jesus would set up his kingdom—and Rome would not rule over them any more.
They did not understand that Jesus came to earth to be a Savior —not to save their nation from Rome—but to be a Savior of their spirits. To save them from their sins.
Jesus will come again in the future to be king over all the earth.
To help the people and the disciples to understand why Jesus came the first time—-Jesus told this story:
There was a man who went to a far country to receive a kingdom and become a king. Then he would return.
He called his servants and told them that he would be gone for a time. They were to keep on doing their jobs and work while he was gone. He gave them each some money.
After the man was made a king, he came back to his home.
He called his servants. He asked them what they did with the money he had given them.
The first man said that he had used the money and was able to earn 10 times a much.
The master was happy with him, and said he was a “good and faithful servant” and gave him 10 cities to rule over.
The next servant came and said that he had used to money and was able to earn 5 times as much.
The master was happy with him, and said he was a “good and faithful servant” and gave him 5 cities to rule over.
The next servant came and he said he hid the money to keep it safe. He was afraid he would lose the money and the master would be angry. He knew the master was the kind of person who would want an answer about the money—so he kept it safe.
The master was angry with the servant. He said, “If you knew I would want an answer about what you did with the money, why didn’t you try to do something with it? You could have put it in the bank and made a little interest.
The master took that servants money and gave it to the man who had made 10 times as much with his money. Because this servant could be trusted to use the money wisely.
In verse 14–there were people in the master’s kingdom who said
they hated him, and they would not be ruled over by him.
In verse 26—the master said—these people who said they will not be ruled by me, bring them here—-and kill them.
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The man in the story was to show what Jesus would do.
Jesus would go to a “far country” –heaven. God would make him a king. Jesus would come back to earth again, as a king. He would come back to Jerusalem. He would rule over the whole earth.
People who believed in Jesus and said they would follow his teachings and be his “servants”—–were to keep working and doing the master’s work while he was gone.
When Jesus came back as King—he would give rewards to his servants.
Those who tried to win others for Jesus, those who tried to preach to and teach others about Jesus, those who did other things trying to get others to believe in Jesus—will be given rewards.
Everyone who tried to do things to help other believe in Jesus will receive a reward.
A person who has done nothing, who did not try —-will get no reward.
Those people who would not accept Jesus as ruler and Lord and King —–and would not have anything to do with him —– they will be punished.