Sermon Notes for Luke 19:1-10, Epiphany II
1. "Epiphany" means "showing forth" or "manifestation." In our
text for today Jesus is manifested as the One Who seeks and
saves the lost.
2. Our text is peculiar to Luke. It is not found in the other
Gospels.
3. The site of the text is at Jericho, a sub-tropical city near
the Jordan River, about 25 miles straight east of Jerusalem.
The time of the text is only a few days before Jesus' final
entry into Jerusalem, described in vss. 29 to 40 of this
chapter.
4. This text is about a superintendent of tax-collectors. At
this time in history Palestine was under the control of the
Roman Emperor. To collect taxes the Romans hired native
Palestinians to collect a fixed amount from the people. the
tax-collectors were allowed by the Romans to collect more than
the Romans required. Whatever they collected in excess of the
required amount became the collector's property. The people
disliked these tax-collectors and even hated them for their
excessive demands. Therefore, they were known as "sinners"
(vs. 7) which here means "social outcast."
5. Some scholars think that Zacchaeus had heard Jesus before and
had already become a Christian. Others think that Zacchaseus'
desire to see Jesus was merely curiosity and that Jesus used
this curiosity to bring the Gospel to him. In vs. 9 Jesus
says: "Today salvation has come to this house." This
indicates that Zacchaeus was only curious and then became a
Christian on this occasion.
6. The divinity of Jesus is plainly evident and active in this
account. Because of His omniscience He foresaw and knew that
Zacchaeus would be looking for Him. In fact, Jesus even knew
his name without being told.
7. Furthermore, the providence of God is plainly evident here.
God arranged all these circumstances so that Jesus would be
able to speak to Zacchaseus. It all looks so natural but it
is all under the control and guidance of God. Without his own
knowledge, Caesar August brought it about that Jesus was born
in Bethlehem. Without realizing it, the woman at the well,
John 4, found the water of life in addition to mere water.
Nothing is accidental. God rules and overrules the whole
world and every detail thereof to bring about His will.
Christians see the hand of God at work in their lives.
8. "Son of Abraham" in vs. 9 can mean either "a member of the Old
Testament covenant people" or "a believer." We think it means
the latter here.
9. In verse 5 "house" means a building. But in verse 9 it means
"household." Evidently Zacchaeus was married and perhaps had
children. Perhaps more than one person became a Christian on
this occasion.
10. In verse 5 Jesus says: "I must stay in your house." This is
the divine "must" of the will of the Father. At Luke 2:49
Jesus said: "I must be about My Father's business." At Luke
24:7 He said: "The Son of man must be betrayed into the hands
of sinful men."
11. Verse 7 tells us that "all of them began to grumble." The
disciples were with Him. They, too, very likely, grumbled
because this was so unusual. But the love of Jesus disregards
man's grumbling.
12. Zacchaeus said: "Look here, I'm giving half of my possessions
to the poor and, in case I've cheated anyone, I'll restore it
fourfold." True faith produces fruits. Zacchaeus was rich in
money, maybe became poor and he had been poor in spiritual
matters but became rich.
13. The word "Behold" occurs at verses 2 and 8. This word always
draws our attention to something important. In verse 2 it
draws attention to the conversion of Zacchaeus and in verse 8
to the fruit of his faith. Cf. Matthew 1:9, 13, 19; Luke
2:25.
14. The expression "the lost" occurs at Luke 15:6, 9, 24, 32. It
describes mankind lost in sin and death.
Sermon Outline for Luke 19:1-10, Epiphany II
Theme: JESUS SEEKS AND SAVES THE LOST
Introduction: The Bible tells us about remarkable conversions.
Who would have thought that Jesus would seek and
save the harlot at the well, John 4? Who would
have thought that devil-possessed women would
become Christians, Luke 8:2? Who would have
thought that Paul, the persecutor and blasphemer, I
Timothy 1:12-17, would become the great Apostle?
Who would have thought that Zacchaeus, the chief
tax-collector, would become a "son of Abraham?" It
is true because the Son of Man came to seek and to
save the lost. He sought and saved the chief of
sinners, too.
I THE SON OF MAN CAME TO SEEK THE LOST
A Luke 15 gives us three parables about the lost. The lost
sheep, verse 4, could not find its way back. The lost
coin, verse 8, could not find its way back. The lost
son, verse 24, could not find his way back. Paul could
not find his way back to God. He fought against God.
The woman at the well of Sychar, John 4, would forever
have remained lost. She could not find her way back.
The harlot at John 8:1-11, was hopelessly lost in her
sin. Mary Magdalene was hopelessly in the power of seven
devils. She was truly lost and could not save herself.
Natural man is spiritually blind, I Corinthians 2:14,
spiritually dead, Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13, and an
enemy of God, Romans 5:10. Natural man is hopelessly
lost. Natural man flees from God. He destroys himself.
Hosea 13:9.
B Jesus SEEKS the lost.
Some people wrongly think that they found Jesus, not vice
versa. Some people think that they make a decision for
Christ. That is not true. Even Christian faith is a gift of
God. Jesus said: "This is the work of God that you believe
in Him whom He sent." Faith is the work of God, not of man.
In the same chapter (John 6:44) Jesus said: "No one comes to
Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise
him up on the last day." Coming to faith is the first
resurrection. John 5:25. Resurrection of the body is the
second resurrection. John 5:28. Both are a gift of God.
Dead people cannot make themselves alive. Jesus seeks the
spiritually dead. Faith and conversion come by the Word of
God, the Gospel. Romans 10:17.
II THE SON OF MAN CAME TO SAVE THE LOST
The whole Bible tells the story of Jesus saving all the lost
in the world. Genesis 3:15 said that Jesus would crush
Satan's head. See Romans 16:20; Revelations 12:9; Hebrews
2:14. Genesis 12:3 says that in Jesus all the nations would
be blest. Paul applies this at Galatians 3:8. Leviticus 16
is an Old Testament shadow of Christ, the Savior. As the High
Priest entered into the Most Holy Place once in the year to
atone for his own sins and those of the people, so Christ,
once and for all, atoned for the sins of all mankind, Hebrews
9:23-28. The fiery serpent in the wilderness, Numbers 21:8,
is an Old Testament picture of the cross of Christ, John 3:14-
15. Isaiah 53 is a marvelous prophecy of Christ the Savior.
"He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for
our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
and by His stripes we are healed." verse 5. "The Lord has
laid on Him the iniquity of us all." verse 6. Daniel 9:27
reads: "He (Messiah) shall bring an end to sacrifice and
offering." Likewise the Baptist said: "Behold the Lamb of
God who takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29. When
Jesus was on the cross (Matthew 27:39-43; Mark 15:29-32; Luke
23:35-43) the chief priests, the people, the soldiers and even
the two malefactors taunted and derided Jesus again and again
about SAVING people. That clearly shows what Jesus had
constantly taught and it shows that even His enemies knew
about it. Everyone knew that Jesus was the Savior, as the
angel had foretold to Joseph, Matthew 1:21.
Conclusion: The account of Zacchaeus is just one example of
Jesus' statement: "The Son of Man has come to seek
and save the lost."
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