The story of Zacchaeus is unique to Luke’s gospel, and we only hear him speak once, at its close (v. 8). He had an image problem: he was a chief tax-gatherer, rich, and short (vv.  2–3). To his neighbors he was sinful (v. 7), no doubt because tax-gatherers were collaborators with the hated Roman power and had a reputation for being corrupt (cf. 3:12–13). A man in these circumstances tends to keep to himself.

Whatever others thought about Zacchaeus, “God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34). He was ready to bless him if he wanted to see Jesus. Too short to do this in the crowd, he acted in a most undignified way for a self-respecting chief tax-gatherer: he ran ahead and climbed into a tree. Of course, God was in control; He wanted Zacchaeus to meet Jesus, not just see Him. It is a lovely illustration of Hebrews 11:6: “he that draws near to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them who seek Him out.”

When Jesus came to the place, He “looked up and saw him, and said to him, Zacchaeus” (Lk. 19:5). The Lord already knew him, and now He called him (Rom. 8:29–30). But for Zacchaeus to get to know Him, he had to “make haste and come down.” No matter who we are, we must submit at once to the One who came down from glory to save us (Phil. 2:5–11). How wonderful for Zacchaeus to hear Jesus say, “Today I must remain in thy house”; no one had ever said that to him before. He obeyed with alacrity and “received Him with joy” (Lk. 19:6). The chief tax-gatherer made the Lord his chief from that day forward. The neighbors grumbled that Jesus was going to stay with “a sinful man.” It was all grace. Whatever others think of us or we think of ourselves, we are all lost until we believe in God’s wonderful salvation.