Forget what you think you know about Zacchaeus. This isn’t just the Sunday School story about the short tax collector who climbed a tree. It’s a powerful lesson on Kingdom positioning and power!
We often overlook the simple truth: Jesus was always advancing toward His purpose. He was passing through Jericho on His way up to Jerusalem. This journey symbolizes our Kingdom walk. Let’s examine Luke 19:1-27 to better understand the deeper truth of the Kingdom at work in this chapter.
Zacchaeus: The Man with a Pure Heart
Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and was rich. Tax collectors worked for the Romans and had a reputation for often cheating the people. Therefore, they were hated and viewed as sinners. However, Zacchaeus’s name actually means “pure.” Jesus, the one who looks at the heart, saw something the judgmental crowd missed.
Zacchaeus was short and couldn’t see over the crowd, so what did he do? He ran ahead and climbed a tree. This high-status man put his dignity aside, anticipated where Jesus was headed, and repositioned himself with urgency!
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Haste is Key: The King’s business requires speed. If you approach your assignment without urgency or zeal, you might miss the Lord.
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Anticipation is Everything: Zacchaeus knew where Jesus was going next. We need to be the kind of people who anticipate where Jesus is going, not just talk about where He’s been.
When Jesus got to the tree, He looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” (Luke 19:5).
From Outcast to Kingdom Distributor
The crowd immediately grumbled because Jesus was staying at a “sinner’s” house. But Zacchaeus, joyful from the encounter, stood up and made a powerful declaration: “Lord, I’ll give half my stuff to the poor,” and “If I’ve cheated anyone, I’ll pay them back four times the amount.”
This was a pure heart responding to Jesus. The fourfold repayment was more than the law required! Jesus responded with the ultimate promise: “Today salvation has come to this house… For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:9-10). Salvation for his entire house!
Your Purpose: Occupy Till I Come
Right after this, Jesus told a parable about a nobleman (Himself) going to get a kingdom. He gave his servants ten pounds and told them to “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13). This parable is the key: salvation is for the purpose of bringing you into the Kingdom!
We often think “born again” is just about getting to heaven later. No! It’s so you can see and enter the Kingdom now. The faithful servants traded and made more, proving their faithfulness. This wasn’t about investing skills; it was about trust.
Jesus wants people who are faithful with the “little” (the money, resources, or people in your care) so He can trust them with the “true riches” (the spiritual wealth and mysteries of the Kingdom). Don’t hold on to what you have out of fear! Your faithfulness in the little things is what qualifies you for great Kingdom authority.
Our obedience, posture, and faithfulness to occupy and do business for the Lord Jesus Christ are our primary purpose.