February 24, 2020

We're All Wee Little People in a Tree

Luke 19:1–27

Megan Katani
Monday's Devo

February 24, 2020

Monday's Devo

February 24, 2020

Central Truth

Jesus didn't come to help those who help themselves, but to save those who admit they could never save themselves.

Key Verse | Luke 19:10

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

 

Luke 19:1–27

Jesus and Zacchaeus

He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

The Parable of the Ten Minas

11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling ten of his servants, 1 19:13 Or bondservants; also verse 15 he gave them ten minas, 2 19:13 A mina was about three months' wages for a laborer and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. 16 The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! 3 19:17 Or bondservant; also verse 22 Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ 19 And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ 24 And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ 26 ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’”

Footnotes

[1] 19:13 Or bondservants; also verse 15
[2] 19:13 A mina was about three months' wages for a laborer
[3] 19:17 Or bondservant; also verse 22

Dive Deeper | Luke 19:1–27

The title architelōnēs, or chief of all tax collectors, doesn't hold the same weight today that it once did with its original audience. Whenever the Romans took over a city, they would hire a native who knew the city well to collect their taxes for them. Tax collectors would demand large amounts of money from their neighbors, friends, and family in order to give Rome their share and then keep all the excess for themselves. Socially, Zacchaeus was seen more as an animal than a human, which is why the crowd wouldn't let him through to see Jesus. So, up the tree he went.

Zacchaeus probably never dreamed of becoming a tax collector when he grew up. I never dreamed I would become enslaved to an eating disorder and that I would trade time with friends and caring for others for my own selfish pursuit of seeking life in the broken cistern (Jeremiah 2:13) of controlling my body image. Eventually, God opened my eyes to see that sin had taken me farther than I intended and that it stole more than it promised to give. But just as Jesus beckoned Zacchaeus to hurry down from the tree and enjoy fellowship with Him, He also sought me by His grace and changed my heart by His love.

Zacchaeus deserved to be lonely and rejected, but Jesus wanted to be his friend and share a meal. Zacchaeus climbed a tree because he was despised. But just a few chapters later, Jesus would die hanging on a tree, cursed and despised for us all (Galatians 3:13). Jesus traded places with Zacchaeus.

We should all see our own story in Zacchaeus' story. We deserve to be rejected by God for our sin, but God sought our hearts while we were still far off and invites us into fellowship with Him (Ephesians 2:13).

Discussion Questions

1. Jesus didn't tell Zacchaeus, "Go and clean yourself up, and then you can find salvation." He told him, "Salvation has come to this house." (Luke 19:9) Are there ways you are trying to be good enough to earn salvation instead of receiving it as a gift?

2. When Zacchaeus tasted the grace of Jesus, it changed his heart from a man of greed to a man of generosity. Money lost its hold on him. What sins in your life need to lose their hold on you? 

3. Have you considered attending re:generation or RE:GENERATION for Students to find healing and freedom from these sins?

4. Do you think Zacchaeus was afraid of heights?