“Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.’”
Luke 19:9-10
Zacchaeus was a tax collector, despised by many for extorting money from his own people. After his encounter with Jesus, Zacchaeus was never the same.
One thing this familiar Bible passage teaches is that Jesus loves criminals. Zacchaeus was a traitor and a thief. But Jesus loved him, called him, and saved him. There are no sins too great for Jesus to forgive. No person is so far gone that they can’t be transformed by the gospel.
Another thing we’re delighted to learn is that Zacchaeus was not saved because of his changed behavior. Rather, his behavior changed because Jesus saved him. Did you know that the name “Zacchaeus” means “pure”? And the very first thing Jesus did when He passed along the road that day was call Zacchaeus by name. He basically said, “Hey, Pure one! I’m coming to your house today!” Before Zacchaeus could do anything, Jesus called him what He was making him: pure, cleansed, redeemed.
Salvation came to this man out of nothing he did for himself, but out of the Lord’s boundless love—love that covers over all our sins.
One thing this familiar Bible passage teaches is that Jesus loves criminals. Zacchaeus was a traitor and a thief. But Jesus loved him, called him, and saved him. There are no sins too great for Jesus to forgive. No person is so far gone that they can’t be transformed by the gospel.
Another thing we’re delighted to learn is that Zacchaeus was not saved because of his changed behavior. Rather, his behavior changed because Jesus saved him. Did you know that the name “Zacchaeus” means “pure”? And the very first thing Jesus did when He passed along the road that day was call Zacchaeus by name. He basically said, “Hey, Pure one! I’m coming to your house today!” Before Zacchaeus could do anything, Jesus called him what He was making him: pure, cleansed, redeemed.
Salvation came to this man out of nothing he did for himself, but out of the Lord’s boundless love—love that covers over all our sins.
Scripture Focus
Luke 19:1-10
Insight
When we love and serve, especially those deemed unworthy by the world, we are being like Jesus. Who will you love and serve today?
Bible In A Year
- Leviticus 7-8
- Psalm 49
- Luke 13
