12/06/13

Becoming a son of Abraham

Luke 19: 8,9 - And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.


Zacchaeus was not just a tax collector but he was the chief tax collector, more like a Commissioner of the tax collection department. His coming to Christ was not a small incident but something that must have cause great ruffles in the social circles. This happened in Jericho and Jericho was a place where the richie rich of society lived. Zacchaeus being a chief tax collector of this place made him more than important than otherwise.

We see thus this man must have been really rich and also of great status yet he did not care of his social status but climbs a tree like a child to get a glimpse of Jesus. He was not aware of who Jesus was but he had heard somewhat about Him. Even the little he knew of Him made him desire to see and know Him.

Being short he knew he needed to get to some high level to see Jesus and know who Jesus is. It is written he did not walk but ran to climb the tree to see Jesus. Imagine a very rich man well dressed and of great social status running and climbing a tree to see an ordinary citizen like Jesus. He had not climbed just a few feet to overcome his height problem but climbed a good high above, for it is written Jesus looked up to talk to him. Jesus instructs him to come down quickly and he did obey. Jesus seeing the enthusiasm of Zacchaeus tells him that He would be staying at his house for the day. Jesus did not say that He would just drop in for lunch or dinner, or spend some time with him at his house but said He would stay at his place, this made Zacchaeus realize his social and financial status was very little compared to the spiritual status of Jesus and he was unworthy to have Jesus come and stay at his place.

Zacchaeus on hearing that Jesus would come to stay at his place did not think of how clean his house was or if the things were in place for Jesus to be comfortable, but Zacchaeus thought of his heart if it was clean enough for Jesus, he knew now that Jesus would spend time with him, he could not continue the sinful life he lived, so immediately without anyone asking Zacchaeus repents for his past life and declares he would give half of his holdings to the poor and compensate 4 times to the people he has cheated. When Zacchaeus does that Jesus declares that now Zacchaeus is a son of Abraham.

Note nowhere in the Bible is it written Zacchaeus was a Jew or an Israelite, yet we see Jesus declares him as a descendant of Abraham all because He believed in who Jesus is and truly accepted Him. Paul says we become descendants of Abraham by our faith in Jesus Christ. What kind of faith which is needed to be a descendant is what we see in Zacchaeus.

Today the Lord is telling us to see if we are struggling in our lives and we do not see the blessings on Abraham in our lives, we need to ask your selves have we responded to Jesus as Zacchaeus did. The blessings of Abraham are only for those who are truly descendants of Abraham by faith and not by blood or by religion or by legality.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, make our hearts always like Zacchaeus’ heart. That we realize what we are in this world has no value before You. That we be as anxious as Zacchaeus to know You and understand how to prepare ourselves to receive You. We pray that the blessings of Abraham be always on our lives...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference ]
Luke 19:1-9
1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

Romans 9:6-8
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

Galatians 3:6-9
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.


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