Gleanings from Dr. Luke
Luke 19:1-10 Zacchaeus
Background
 Jericho
o Located low down in the Jordan Valley, about 16 miles East of Jerusalem and 6 miles North West of the Dead
Sea. The town lies some 250m (.15 miles) below sea level, which makes it the lowest on earth. Although Jericho
is surrounded by scorching hot desert, it is well watered by freshwater springs. The Hebrew name for Jericho
means ‘fragrant.’ Today it is called the ‘City of Palms’
o Christ’s familiarity with Jericho and the road leading down to it through the Wadi Kelt, is reflected in the parable
of the Good Samaritan. Jesus’ use of the example of a Priest and then a Levite who, ignoring the urgent needs of a
badly wounded man on the Jerusalem to Jericho road, describes perfectly the attitude at that time. Jericho was
like a holiday resort to those in Jerusalem. By travelling just a short distance, about four hours walking time, a
person could be transferred from the sometimes quite cold climate of Jerusalem at 777m (0.5 miles) above sea
level, to the balmy warmth of Jericho, 250m below sea level. This is why Herod built his summer palace there.
The Priests and the Levites also used Jericho as their off-duty resting-place. The Jewish Talmud comments that
there were as many priests in Jericho as there were in Jerusalem and Jesus used this fact to pointedly
illustrate his parable. (Luke 10.25-37) (http://www.biblebasics.co.uk/natcit/jericho.htm)
o One of three regional tax centers: Capernaum (North), Caesarea (Central), Jericho (South)
Seeking Sinner
o Chief Among the Publicans, Rich, Short
o Zacchaeus means pure, just, righteous one
 Irony
 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (Romans 3:11)
o Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the
propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)
o We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
 Seeking
 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (Prov 8:17)
 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isaiah 55:6)
 And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jer 29:13)
 For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live: (Amos 5:4)
 Overcame Obstacles
o Social Outcast
 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a
friend of publicans and sinners! (Luke 7:34)
 And when the Pharisees saw [it], they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and
sinners? (Matt 9:11)
 NOTE: Jesus spent a lot of time with sinners!
o Physical Limitations
o The Press of the Crowd
 Sense of Urgency
o He ran (v 4)
o He climbed a tree (v 4)
Seeking Savior
o I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up [that which was]
broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with
judgment. (Ezekiel 34:16)
o For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, [even] I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. (Ezek 34:11)
o And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. (Luke 5:31)
o What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the
wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? (Luke 15:4)
 Called Him by Name
o 8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his
wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 9 ¶ And the LORD God
called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where [art] thou? (Gen 3:8-9)
 Sense of Urgency
o And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and
come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. (Luke 19:5)
 MAKE HASTE……..TODAY……..I MUST abide at thy house
Stunning Salvation
 Change was Amazing
o Obedience - He made haste……He came down……Received Him joyfully!
o Confession
o Restoration
 Normal payment for theft was double what was stolen (Exodus 22)