1 And JwuB entered and passed through Jericho.
2 And, behold, thtrt toot a man named Zacchffius, 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 sycamore 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, ZacchsBus, make haste, and come down ; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6 And he made haste, and eamo down, and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw ti, they all murmured, saying. That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
^ And Zaechseus stood, and said unto the Lord ; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I giye to the poor ; and if I nave taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
9 And Jesus said unto him. This day La salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abra- ham.
10 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 Zaechseus should be frequently studied by Chris- tians. The Lord Jesus never changes. What He did for the man before us, He is able and willing to do for any one of ourselves.
We learn, firstly, from these verses, that no one is too bad to be saved, or beyond the potoer of Chrisfs grace. We are told of a wealthy publican becoming a disciple of Christ. A more unlikely event we cannot well ima- gine ! 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-gatherer transformed into a liberal Christian !
The door of hope which the Gospel reveals to sinners, is very wide open. Let us leave it 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
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sinners may be freely forgiven if they will only come to Him. We should oflFer the Gospel boldly to the worst and wickedest, and say, " There is hope. Only repent and believe. Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow ; though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool." (Isai. i. 18.) Such doctrine may seem to worldly people foolishness and licentiousness. But such doctrine is the Gospel of Him who saved Zacchaeus at Jericho. Hospitals discharge many 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 are told that Zacchaeus " sought to see Jesus who he was ; and could not, because he was little of stature." Curiosity, and nothing but curiosity, appears to have been the motive of his mind. That curiosity once roused, Zacchaeus was determined to gratify it. Bather than not see Jesus he ran on before along the road, and " climbed up into a 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, " Gome down, I must abide at thy house." 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." (Zech. iv. 10.) We must never reckon anything little that conoems the soul. The ways by which the Holy Ghost leads men and women to Christ are wonderful and mysterious. He is often beginning in a heart a work which shall stand to eternity, when a looker-on observes nothing remaricable.