J.C. Ryle's devotional thoughts on the gospel of Luke. Section 111. The conversion of Zacchaeus. Luke chapter 19 verses 1 through 10.

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 sycamore 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 today I must abide at your house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying that he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 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 anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

These verses describe the conversion of a soul. Like the stories of Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman, the story of Zacchaeus should be frequently studied by Christians. The Lord Jesus never changes. What he did for the man before us, he is able and willing to do for anyone of ourselves.

We learn, firstly from these verses, that no one is too bad to be saved, or beyond the power of Christ's grace. We are told of a wealthy tax collector becoming a disciple of Christ, a more unlikely event we cannot well imagine. We see the camel passing through the eye of a needle and the rich man entering the kingdom of God. We behold a plain proof that all things are possible with God. We see a covetous tax collector transformed into a charitable Christian. The door of hope which the gospel reveals to sinners is very wide open. Let us leave it as open as we find it. Let us not attempt in narrow-minded ignorance to shut it. We should never be afraid to maintain that Christ is able to save to the uttermost, and that the vilest of sinners may be freely forgiven, if they will only come to Him. We should offer the gospel boldly to the worst and wickedest, and say, there is hope, only repent and believe. Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. Isaiah chapter 1 verse 18. Such doctrine may seem to be foolishness and a license to sin to worldly people. But such a doctrine is the gospel of Him who saved Zacchaeus at Jericho. Hospitals discharge many severe cases as incurable, but there are no incurable cases under the gospel. Any sinner may be healed if he will only come to Christ.

we learn secondly from these verses how little and insignificant are the things on which a soul's salvation often turns we're told that Zacchaeus wanted to see who Jesus was but being a short man he could not because of the crowd curiosity and nothing but curiosity appears to have been the motive of his mind that curiosity once roused Zacchaeus was determined to gratify it Rather than not see Jesus, he ran on before along the road and climbed up into a sycamore tree. Upon that little action, so far as man's eyes can see, there hinged the salvation of his soul. Our Lord stopped under the tree and said to him, Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today. From that very moment Zacchaeus was an altered man. That very night he lay down a Christian.

We must never despise the day of small things. Zechariah chapter 4 verse 10. We must never reckon anything little which concerns the soul. The ways by which the Holy Spirit leads men and women to Christ are astonishing and mysterious. He is often beginning in a heart a work which will stand to eternity when an onlooker observes nothing remarkable. In every work there must be a beginning and in spiritual work that beginning is often very small.

Do we see a careless person beginning to use means of grace which in time past he neglected? Do we see him coming to church and listening to the gospel after a long course of Sabbath breaking? When we see such things then let us remember Zacchaeus and be hopeful. Let us not look coldly on him simply because his motives at present are very poor and questionable. Let us believe that it is far better to hear the gospel out of mere curiosity than not to hear it at all. Our friend is with Zacchaeus in the tree. For anything we know, he may go further. Who can tell but that he may one day receive Christ joyfully?

We learn thirdly from these verses Christ's free compassion towards sinners and Christ's power to change hearts. It is impossible to conceive a more striking instance than that before us. Unasked, our Lord stops and speaks to Zacchaeus. Unasked, he offers himself to be a guest in the house of a sinner. Unasked, he sends into the heart of a tax collector the renewing grace of the Spirit and puts him that very day among the children of God.

Jeremiah chapter 3 verse 19 it is impossible with such a passage as this before us to exalt the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ too highly. We cannot maintain too strongly that there is in Him an infinite readiness to receive sinners and an infinite ability to save sinners. Above all, we can never hold too firmly that salvation is not of works but of grace. If ever there was a soul sought and saved without having done anything to deserve it, that soul was the soul of Zacchaeus. Let us grasp these doctrines firmly and never let them go. Their price is above rubies. Grace, free, sovereign grace, is the only thought which gives men peace in a dying hour. Let us proclaim these doctrines confidently to everyone to whom we speak about spiritual things. Let us bid them come to Jesus Christ just as they are, and not wait in the vain hope that they can make themselves fit and worthy to come. Not least, let us tell them that Jesus Christ would come and dwell in their poor sinful hearts if they would only receive him. Behold, he says, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and sup with him and he with me. Revelation chapter three, verse 20.

We learn, lastly from these verses, that converted sinners will always give evidence of their conversion. We're told that Zacchaeus replied, Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will restore four times as much.

there was reality in that speech there was unmistakable proof that Zacchaeus was a new creature when a wealthy Christian begins to distribute his riches and an extortioner begins to make restitution then we may well believe that old things have passed away and all things become new 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verse 17

There was decision in that speech. I will give, says Zacchaeus. I will restore. He does not speak of future intentions. Freely pardoned and raised from death to life, Zacchaeus felt that he could not begin too soon to show whose he was and whom he served.

He who desires to give proof that he is a believer should walk in the steps of Zacchaeus. Like Zacchaeus, let him thoroughly renounce the sins which have formerly most easily entangled him. Like Zacchaeus, let him follow the Christian graces which he has formerly most habitually neglected.

In any case, a believer should so live that all may know that he is a believer. A faith that does not purify the heart and life is not saving faith at all. Grace that cannot be seen, like light, and tasted, like salt, is not saving grace, but hypocrisy.

The man who professes to know Christ and trust Him while he cleaves to sin and the world is going down to hell with a lie in his right hand. The heart that has really tasted the grace of Christ will instinctively hate sin.

Let us turn from the whole passage with the last verse ringing in our ears. The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. It is as a Savior more than as a judge that Christ desires to be known. Let us see that we know him as such. Let us take heed that our souls are saved.

Once saved and converted, we shall say, What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits? Psalm 116 verse 12. Once saved, we shall not complain that self-denial like that of Zacchaeus is a grievous requirement.

The End