It is difficult to overcome our pasts. Even when we change, when we are transformed into better people, there are those who remember all the mistakes and errors of our ways. In Matthew 6:4 Jesus says, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.”
Zacchaeus was not a prophet, but he was among people who knew him and were perhaps hesitant to accept the change that came over him. What do the people say about Jesus? How does Zacchaeus respond? What is Jesus’ declaration? Why was Jesus there?
Zacchaeus has gone to get a look at the famous teacher, Jesus, and discovered that Jesus wanted to spend some time with him. But this coming together draws some criticism from those who know Zacchaeus. He is labeled a sinner. We know he is a tax collector and these people have a reputation of being corrupt.
But Zacchaeus responds with indignation. He immediately declares that he will give generously to the poor – half his possessions! Then he claims that if he has cheated anyone he will pay back four times the amount.
Zacchaeus is traditionally portrayed as a bad man, a corrupt cheat. But I am struck by his response to what people are saying about him. He acts generously and then says “if I have cheated anybody.” The key word is “if.”
Maybe Zacchaeus is not really a corrupt official. Maybe everyone has the wrong impression of him. Jesus’ words in verse 9, however, seem to support the idea that he was indeed a sinner.
Regardless of who and what Zacchaeus really was, we have two lessons from this passage. The first and primary is that an encounter with Jesus will transform a person. When we come to the table of God and spend time in the presence of the Christ, we are transformed – changed from sinner to saved, from only human to truly holy. No matter what Zacchaeus was before his time with Jesus, he is a compassionate, giving man afterward.
The second lesson is that we have no right to judge the hearts of others. Those who knew Zacchaeus considered him a sinner, and probably continued to do so even after his generous behavior. If he was a sinner before Jesus, he wasn’t after. Would the onlookers accept his transformation?
DAILY CHALLENGE: Can you forgive and forget the past of those you consider “sinners?”
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