Jesus' heart went

out to Zacchaeus

when he saw him

up in the tree.

When He got near
to the tree and saw

the eager look on

Zacchaeus'
face, Jesus looked

up and said,

"Zacchaeus,
make haste, and

come down; for today I must abide at thy

house."

Immediately this upset some people in the

crowd. Why his house, and not a home of a

priest instead of a publican's. At least Jesus

should choose the home of some respectable

person and not a social outcasts'.

As Jesus drew nearer, Zacchaeus saw that he

wasn't able to see Him because He (Jesus) was
surrounded by the crowd and also because he
(Zacchaeus) was "small in stature."

Zacchaeus was determined to see Jesus. He
wasn't able to get through the crowd so he ran
ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree.

Then he waited as Jesus and the crowd went
by.

In the city of Jericho was a group of tax-gatherers
or publicans who collected the money that came
from the farming area.

One chief tax-gatherer was named Zacchaeus.
He was rich and because he was wealthy, the
people saw him as an extortionist.

He had seen the crowd coming and learned
that Jesus was coming through town. He wanted
to see Him. Zacchaeus new about Matthew and
that he was a former tax-collecter, so he thought
the Jesus may accept him.

A great crowd had gathered around Jesus and
followed Him. The Passover was near.

As He drew near the city, Blind Bartimaes cried
out. "Jesus,
thou son of
David, have
mercy on
me."
When the
crowd tried
to quiet him,
he continued
his cry and
Jesus called
for him and
gave him his
sight.

"And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus,
which was the chief among the publicans, and he
was rich.
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and
could not for the press, because he was little of
stature.
And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore
tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
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.
And he made haste, and came down, and receiv-
ed him joyfully" Luke 19:1-6

An unfortunate thing is that few Christians
fulfill the conditions of the promise. Many
disciples want the material things first. They
are not ready to make the sacrifice.

They may get what they want, but in the end
they may lose the spiritual reward. Some in
their joy give all and sacrifice glady so that they
might fulfill their calling.

Jesus also told the disciple that He wasn't mak-
ing poverty a general condition to be a disciple.
But He did require that a disciple be ready to
give up all for His (Christ's) sake and the king-
dom's without expecting any return.

He who willingly did would not in the end be
the loser. He would receive in this life a hundred-
fold in "houses" and "lands" (material things)
and besides that eternal life Mark 10:29-30.

First, Jesus showed the disciples their future
place in the kingdom. This was not for that
time; it was to be fulfilled during the millennium.

During that age the twelve disciples would sit
on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel:
"And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto
you, That ye which have followed me, in the
regeneration when the Son of man shall sit
in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon
twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of
Israel!" Matthew 19:28

Peter said, "Behold, we have forsaken all, and
followed thee; what shall we have therefore?"
Matthew 19:27

His question, after hearing Jesus' words to the
young ruler must have sounded disappointing.
It dashed their hopes. Were all their sacrifices
for nothing?

Jesus could have shown the disciples that
they received more than they had givien up.
OR He could have shown them that they had
given up very little. Peter was a poor fisherman;
he had only given up a boat and net. Granted
it was little, but all he had so Jesus didn't take
it lightly.

Swept away by Jesus' words, the disciples said
among themselves, "Who then can be saved?"

What about Abraham? He was rich. David and
Solomon had wealth and riches. And there
was Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man, but a
believer in Jesus.

The Lord recovered them from their despair
by saying "With men it is impossible, but not
with God: for with God all things are possible.

The young man's failure to meet the test
brought a sadness to the others. Jesus,
looked around and said, "How hardly shall
they that have riches inter into the kingdom
of God!" Luke 18:24

He added, "Children, how hard is it for them
that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom
of God!
It is easier for a camels to go through the eye
of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into
the kingdom of God."
Mark 10:24-25

Jesus showed him that there was a price to
be paid. Let him sell all he had, give to the
poor and come and follow Him.

This was a severe test and it staggered the
young man. What would his wife, his parents,
and friends think?

He was wealthy and cringed at the sacrifice
it required. He realized that he valued money
more than eternal life.

Jesus looked upon the young man, loved him
and desired for him to be a disciple. But in
order for him to do that he first had to pass
the test which He had given to His other
disciples, so Jesus said:

"One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell
whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor,
and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and
come, take up the cross and follow me"
Mark 10:21

Jesus said to this young ruler, "But if thou wilt
enter into life, keep the commandments"
(Matthew 19:17).

He answered Jesus, "All these have I kept from
my youth up." (Luke 18:21) No doubt he had
kept them to the letter. All godly Israelites did
But he know little about the spirit behind them
that Jesus had taught in the Sermon on the
Mount.

This rich, young ruler believed that by doing
something or performing some kind of act, or
keeping the commandments should make
him qualified to receive eternal life. Jesus
beholding him loved him.

The young man called Jesus "Good Master"
Jesus answered him, "Why callest thou me
good? there is none good but one, that is God."
Jesus wouldn't accept being called "Messiah"
because of the way the people believed Him to
be (their earthly king). He wouldn't accept
being called "good" either because He didn't
want to be considered just another good man.

The lawyer in the synagogue had asked the
same question. (Luke 10:25) The young man
may have heard talk going around and longed
in his heart to get an answer from Jesus.

Being high in the synagogue, he may have been
a Pharisee, but a nobler one than those who
belonged in that sect.

He had kept the commandments of the Law,
and alot like Saul of Tarsus, his thought he
was blameless. But being dissatisfied in his
heart, he wanted to hear from Jesus.

A young man of importance, he was a ruler
of a synagogue and wealthy, came and knelt
before Jesus. He had come to the conclusion
that he was missing an opportunity so he had
come to see Jesus.

As he came near he saw that Jesus and His
disciples had already begun their journey.
He ran to catch up and knelt down at Jesus'
feet and asked Him, "Good Master, what
shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"

"And when he was

gone forth into the

way, there came one

running,

and kneeled to him,
and asked him, Good

Master, what shall I

do that I may inherit

eternal life?
And Jesus said unto him,

Why callest thou me good? there is none good

but one, that is, God.
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not
commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do
not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour
thy father and mother.
And he answered and said unto him, Master,
all these have I observed from my youth.
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said
unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way,
sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor,
and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and
come, take up the cross, and follow me.
And he was sad at that saying, and went away
grieved: for he had great possessions."
Mark 10:17-22

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In any event, the wronged person must not
harbor bitterness in their heart. If an offender
asks forgiveness the injured person must be
prepared to give it.

But in a case that the other person will not
listen the next step is to put the matter before
the Church. If the offender hears not the
Church, then they may be considered "as a
heathen man and a publican."

Jesus tells the Church, if the matter is serious,
that the next step is to take it to two or three
other members as witnesses and meet with
the offender to see if it can be worked out. If
it is, the injured one must forgive his brother.

Jesus knew that there are some who will not
only justify themselves in their wrong, but will
actually convince themselves that the other
is at fault.

It is common today for people to break their
word, so it is necessary for policemen and
courts to enforce the law to keep agreements.

Even in the Christian community some break
their word and justify it by their personal
interests. If ambition is involved, it ends in a
gross offense against another's rights.

The one who has kept his word finds himself
injured. What is he to do? Go to court? Jesus
says no!

But there are situations where problems can
come up that cannot be easily worked out.

When people work
together it is necessary
that they have
understandings, so
that each
one knows what to
expect from the other.

As time goes by it may
be that things change
and one of them breaks his part of the agree-
ment, forgetting that the Bible says, "But he
honoureth (him). . . that sweareth to his own
hurt, and changeth not" Psalms 15:4.

Jesus said that if a brother offends us we are
to go to him alone and it's possible the problem
can be settled. Many times it is.

If this rule were followed many of the feuds
that exist in the Church would never have to
continue. When reasonable people get together
they usually find a way to agree and all are
happy.