Seeking To Save The Lost

"Today salvation has come to this house,-- for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." (1)

Jesus entered and passed through Jericho where a man named Zacchaeus lived who was a chief tax collector. Zacchaeus was a very wealthy Jew who was detested by his countrymen because of his profession. His rank and wealth were the reward of a calling they abhorred, and which they regarded as another name for injustice and extortion.

Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus as He passed through Jericho, but could not because he was so short and the crowd was too large. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Jesus as He passed by. When Jesus came to the place where Zacchaeus was perched in the tree, He looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." (2) The multitude gave way, and Zacchaeus lead the way toward his home. But the rabbis looked on with scowling faces, and murmured with discontent, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." (3)

Zacchaeus had been overwhelmed and amazed at the graciousness, love, and acceptance of Christ in coming to his home. After spending some time with Jesus, Zacchaeus made public his confession and his repentance. He said, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold. And Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.' " (4)

Repentance that is genuine works reformation. The principles of God transform the character and control the conduct. The Christian in his or her business life represents to the world the manner in which our Lord would conduct business. Zacchaeus manifest the entrance of Christ into his heart by an abandonment of immoral practices common to his profession.

The scribes and Pharisees accused him as a sinner, and they murmured against Christ for becoming his guest, but Jesus recognized him as a "son of Abraham." For "know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham." (5)

1. Luke 19:9, 10.
2. Luke 19:5.
3. Luke 19:7.
4. Luke 19:8-10.
5. Galatians 3:7.