Luke 19:2-10

The Transformation And Salvation Of An Outcast (19:2-10).

In direct contrast with the rich ruler is another man of status. He is a chief public officer. But in contrast with the rich ruler his eyes are opened, and he gladly gives much of his wealth to the poor, and puts right all the wrong he has done. In the chiasmus of the Section he parallels the steward who used his lord's wealth wisely, and, following the thoughts on using money wisely in preparation for the eternal future in the everlasting dwellings (Luke 16:1), himself follows the same pattern.

Analysis.

a Behold, a man called by name Zacchaeus, and he was a chief public officer (Luke 19:2 a).

b And he was rich (Luke 19:2 b).

c He sought to see Jesus who he was, and he could not for the crowd, because he was short in stature (Luke 19:3).

d He ran on before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way (Luke 19:4).

e When Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry up and come down, for today I must stay at your house” (Luke 19:5).

d He hurried, and came down, and received him joyfully (Luke 19:6).

c When they saw it, they all murmured, saying, “He is gone in to lodge with a man who is a sinner” (Luke 19:7).

b Zacchaeus stood, and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have wrongfully exacted anything of any man, I restore fourfold” (Luke 19:8).

a Jesus said to him, “Today is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:9).

Note how in ‘a' Zacchaeus was a chief public officer, a totally unscrupulous man, an outcast, and in the parallel he has become a ‘son of Abraham', one who is accepted, for the lost has been saved. In ‘b' he was very rich, and in the parallel he disposes of large amounts of his riches to the poor. In ‘c' he was short of stature, and in the parallel he was a sinner (short on righteousness). In ‘d' he ran and climbed up the tree, and in the parallel he hurried and came down. And centrally Jesus came to stay with him.