Gospel:  Luke 19:1-10

An Unusual Dinner Invitation

Have you ever had an unusual invitation for dinner? What happened?

Social engagements can invigorate some, tire others. The context of people and place obviously make a difference whether the event is memorable, or just something more to endure. When the invitation to socialize is unusual, or even a surprise, however, it certainly is a sign that the event will be remembered.

A small man climbed a tree to see Jesus. Jesus invited himself to dinner(!). And the small man became a follower in the community of disciples.

Popular Translation

2 Once, a man named Zacchaeus lived in Jericho. Zacchaeus got rich collecting taxes for the Romans. Since the Romans conquered the Jews, the people hated Zacchaeus as a traitor. He could also charge people whatever he wanted to, just as long as he gave the Roman officials what they wanted. So, the people hated him as a cheating sinner.

1 One day, Jesus passed through Jericho. 3 Zacchaeus wanted to know who Jesus was. But he couldn’t see through the crowd because he was a small man. 4 So, he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus as he passed by. 5 When Jesus came to the spot, he looked up. “Zacchaeus! Get down here fast!” Jesus called out. “I need to stay with your family today!” 6 Zacchaeus jumped down and happily greeted Jesus.

7 Everyone who saw what happened began to grumble, “Jesus goes to be the guest of a sinner!”

8 Zacchaeus stood tall so everyone could hear him. “Listen, Lord!” he said to Jesus. “I’m giving half of what I own to the poor. And if I’ve cheated anyone, I will repay them four times the amount.”

9 “The family of Zacchaeus is saved today, because he’s really a son of Abraham,” Jesus replied. 10 “For the Son of Man came to save people who have lost their way.”

Literal Translation

1 Having entered, HE passed through Jericho. 2 Look! There was a man in name called Zacchaeus. He was the head tax collector and he was rich. 3 He tried to see who Jesus was (among the crowd), but he could not from (the size of) the crowd, because he was short in height. 4 Running ahead before (the crowd), he climbed up a sycamore tree so he could see HIM, because HE was about to pass through that (way). 5 As HE came to the place, looking up, JESUS said to him, “Zacchaeus, climb down (in a hurry)! For, today, I need to stay at your house.” 6 He climbed down (in a hurry) and welcomed HIM with joy. 7 Having seen (what happened), everyone grumbled, saying, “He goes (to be the guest) of a sinful man!” 8 Having taken a stand, Zacchaeus said to the LORD, “Look! Half of my possessions I will give to the poor, LORD. If I have cheated anyone of anything, I will repaid four times (its amount).” 9 JESUS said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this house, because (this man) is also a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the ones lost.”

19:2 “He was the head tax collector.” Either Zacchaeus was in charge of other local tax collectors or he was simply higher in rank over the others. The term “head tax collector” only occurred here in Luke. From a literary point of view, Luke used to term to highlight the depth of the man’s dishonorable position and the hatred he endured from the Jewish populace. It is also an interesting counter-image to the man’s height in 19:3.

19:5-6 “(in a hurry)” is literally “having hurried.” The participle (“having hurried”) modifies the main verb (“come down”).

“For, today, I need to stay at your house.” The word “today” is emphatic. Notice the parallel with 19:9, when Jesus declared Zacchaeus save “today.” Luke implied that an encounter with Jesus was the starting point of salvation.

19:7 “(to be the guest)” is literally “to lodge with.” Jesus would enjoy the hospitality of a sinner. The grumbling crowd believed Jesus would possibly be polluted by the man and his sin.

19:8 “Having taken a stand” indicated the man was going to make a public announcement. This is the same word Luke used in the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector when the Pharisee took his stand in the Temple to pray (18:11).

19:8 “I will give . . . I will repaid” In the Greek, these verbs are in the present tense. But, because they speak of the man’s intention, they were translated in the future.

19:9 “because (this man) is also a son of Abraham” Jesus declared the family of Zacchaeus saved based upon the tax man’s desire to see the Lord, the small man’s encounter with him, and Zacchaeus’ statement of repentance. His pledge to act generously and justly alone would qualify Zacchaeus as a righteous Jew, returning to normal life in the community; this would justify the title “son of Abraham.” For Jesus, however, the title “son of Abraham” meant life with God in the Kingdom. Only Jesus, as the Messiah, could confer such a blessing. Zaccheaus’ positive reaction to the Lord’s invitation established a faith relationship, and opened the door to eternal life.

Sometimes God uses the most unlikely people to announce his presence.

Jesus was on his final trip to Jerusalem. After his journey through the Jordan River valley, he turned west at Jericho. This was the location of a remarkable conversion.

Zacchaeus was an outcast for three reasons: his wealth, his profession, and his stature [2-3]. In the time of Jesus, people believed that the distribution of wealth was divinely ordained. The privileged few were born into riches, everyone else was poor, and that was the order of things. Because of their God-given riches, the wealthy lived a life different from the poor masses. And the poor hated them for that insurmountable difference.

Unlike the other wealthy in Jericho, Zacchaeus was a self-made man. Since he bucked the system the gods had ordained, people saw him as a sinner.

The people’s beliefs were confirmed when Zacchaeus went to work as a tax collector. The Roman occupiers created a tax collection franchise. Those who owned the franchise could charge any amount over the fee the Romans charged them. And the tax collectors had the force of Law behind them. This way, officials of the Empire did not have to do the dirty work; local “traitors” did it for them! The IRS would be hailed as heroes compared to Zacchaeus and his ilk.

Finally, in a society of short people, Zacchaeus was small. Put him in a group whose honor consisted of humiliating others and see how he survived. He was an outsider by default.

Because he was hated, we can infer that Zacchaeus live a lonely life; why else would he climb the tree by himself to see Jesus [4]?

Jesus sought out Zacchaeus to have dinner at the sinner’s house [5]. As he invited himself over for dinner, Jesus scandalized his countrymen [7]. “How dare the holy man eat with the sinner!” the people thought. At the same time, Jesus called Zacchaeus to faith (received with joy [6]) and conversion; Zacchaeus gave to poor and repaid debts [7]. For the money grubbing sinner who placed wealth above everything else, Zacchaeus had a dramatic change; he was no longer in sin. Jesus confirms the tax-collectors change of heart as Zacchaeus’ return to the community (as a descendant of Abraham) [9].

Jesus declared this mediation as his ministry [10]. Here, Jesus made the role of the Jewish priesthood as his own; the reason the priesthood of Aaron existed was to bring God and people together. Can you imagine the hierarchy in Jerusalem reacting to Jesus’ declaration? On the road to Jerusalem, Jesus gave his critics another reason to move against him.

What makes you an “outsider?” How could Jesus help you to rejoin your community?

Through the invitation of Jesus to supper, the sinner Zacchaeus becomes one of God’s faithful; the tax collector finds his place in the community. Jesus also invites us as sinners to join him at supper so he can change our lives. His invitation and our positive response is the definition of Church.

Jesus invites us. We respond. And we form a community with him. How has the invitation of Jesus helped you become part of his community?