5/12 Daily in the Word

Consider the Rich Man
Luke 19:1-10

But for the grace of God, we would be eternally lost.

Publicans had a complicated job. While they enjoyed the benefits of working for Rome, they were hated by their Jewish countrymen. Very much elitists, these publicans were commissioned by the government to collect taxes from the people. Many of them abused their job by increasing charges and collecting extra to pad their own pockets. Because of their abuse, the Jews held very real reasons for animosity against them.

Luke 19 tells us the story of one such publican, not an ordinary tax collector but a chief publican. Zaccheus, whose name meant "righteous one," was in charge of other publicans, and no doubt took part in the excessive taxing upon the people. As such, Zaccheus was well known around Israel, but not well received.

Much like Nicodemus' story, Zaccheus' questions and doubts drove him to a tree to watch Jesus preach. He wanted to see just who this Jesus was and if He truly held the answers to the questions of so many. But as Jesus passed by the tree in which Zaccheus sat, Jesus stopped and spoke to Zaccheus, begging him to come down and direct Him to his house.

What a shock. Zaccheus was a no-good publican, a tax collector who increased the Roman burden on the Jews. He was profiting from the oppression of his countrymen. Why would Jesus associate with such a sinner?

Many people questioned Jesus' actions as Luke 19 records, "And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner." Yet because of Jesus' love, Zaccheus and all his household were saved. On top of that, Zaccheus promised to pay back everyone he had cheated four times what he had stolen.

The power of salvation is seen plainly in this story. Jesus reached out to someone He, as a Jew, was supposed to hate. He received Zaccheus with love and forgiveness. As a result, many people were saved and lives were transformed.

How do you treat those around you? What about those people with whom you disagree or have differences? Jesus didn't approve of Zaccheus' lifestyle, yet He reached out to him with love. Too often we treat the unsaved as second rate. But for the grace of God, we would be the same!

God created all people equally. We are all sinners, doomed for eternal damnation. But because of Jesus' sacrifice, we are given the opportunity to become one of God's children and escape eternal punishment. Share that message with the unsaved people around you. Look past their differences and perhaps volatile behavior, but reach out to them with God's love and a message of hope.


Daily Bible Reading
2 Kings 15-16 | John 3:1-18