1) Vs. 1-2, "The Man" Who is Zaccheus?
The first 2 verses describes him as a chief tax collector and a rich man. This points out the obvious outward perspectives a person could derive about Zaccheus. He would of not had the approval of the Jewish people by being a tax collector and he would not of had lack of worldly things because we know that he was rich.
But what kind of person was he on the inside?
2) Vs. 3-4, "Seeking Jesus" What would this rich chief tax collector do when Jesus came across his pathway? Would he run and hide, would he be coy with Him. What would he do?
In verse 3-4, we see that he wanted to see Jesus, but "because of the crowd" he found difficulty accessing him. Much like in story 4, where the friends made a way for the paralyzed man through the roof "because of the crowd", here Zacchaeus had to be creative to find a way to see Jesus. We get another description about the outward person of Zacchaeus that he was "small in stature". So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Jesus.
3) Vs. 5-6, "The Intersection" What will happen? Will Zaccheus see Jesus? Will he overcome the obstacles in front of him? He is so short and the crowd is blocking his way? Will Jesus just walk by?
In verses 5-6, we see that Jesus noticed this little man that climbed a tree in order to see above the crowd. What happened next? What did Jesus do? Did He acknowledge Zaccheus? Yes, He not only noticed him, but He asked him to make dinner for Him at his home. Zaccheus, was over joyed with the opportunity to host Jesus at his home.
4) Vs. 7, "The Crowds Response" What did the crowd think about this intersection between Jesus and Zaccheus?
In verse 7, we see that they all grumbled. He has gone in to be a guest of a man who is a sinner. This is much like our story 7 last week when Jesus had dinner in Matthew's home. I have always thought that in this home there would have been a bunch of Zaccheus friends, but unlike with the dinner at Matthew's home the text doesn't specifically say that, so it is possible that this dinner was a quite dinner with just Zaccheus and Jesus or a very small crowd. It could have been a small intimate setting just like when Nicodemus came to Jesus in John 3.
5) Vs. 8, "The Response of the Chief Tax Collector" How will this dinner impact the life of this chief tax collector? Will he like the Rich young ruler turn away from the call to "Follow Me". Will he deny his sins? Does he care about righteousness? Does he want to be reconciled to God?
In verse 8, we see 2 specific things that come from this dinner.
The first thing, we see is that he offers half of his goods as and offering to give to the poor. I don't know how Zaccheus felt about the poor before meeting Jesus. I would assume being a chief tax collector, he was not overly concerned about them. But after having dinner with the Lord something changed. From his own mouth and by his own accord, Zaccheus offered to help the poor. He may have always know that what he was doing was wrong. He may have come to the conclusion that all his power and money was not what he really wanted. He may of clearly seen that it was not right to live over comfortable while his kinfolks where struggle to make ends meet. But whatever the reason, being with Jesus changed his life and how he would manage his money going forward.
The second thing, we see is that he says if I have defrauded anyone of anything I will restore it fourfold. He was not just thinking about meeting the needs of the poor, he wanted to make right those matters where he gained wealth dishonestly.
6) Vs. 9-10, "The Response of Jesus" What did Jesus conclude here?
"Salvation has come to this house" I can't think of a more comforting thing than to have Jesus come to your home and based on your interaction with Him, He makes a statement like this. What we seen 2 weeks ago in story 6 in the Rich ruler, we see Zaccheus doing. Investing in the poor and surrendering all to Jesus.
"You are a son of Abraham" I think what is being communicated here is that Jesus sees the Romans 4:16-25 description of faith here. The Gen. 15:6 faith Abraham demonstrated in the promise God made to him to give him not only an offspring, but as many offspring as the stars in the sky.
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" Like we covered last week in story 7, the mission of Jesus is to build His Kingdom by changing the sinners heart that drives them to be blind and a slave to the darkness and death of sin. He brings light and life to what man's wisdom deems unredeemable.
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