Luke xix. 10. The Son of man is come to seek and to save that
which was lost.
ONE would imagine that all should be pleased with the conversion of notorious sinners : but it too often excites indignation rather than pleasure in the breasts of proud Pharisees. Zaccheus was a tax-gatherer, and most probably, like the rest in that line, was addicted to rapacity and extortion, though, perhaps, not in so great a degree as some others. He having a curiosity to see Jesus, and not being able, on account of the smallness of his stature, ran before, and climbed up into a tree near which Jesus was about to pass. Our blessed Lord in an instant converted his soul ; and, calling him down from the tree, went home to dine with him. This, it seems, gave great offence to the Pharisees, who could not endure to see such a dis- tinguishing favour conferred on so worthless a cha- racter. But our Lord vindicated his own conduct, by alleging that, however sinful Zaccheus might be, he was a descendant of Abraham ; and that the very intent of his own advent in the flesh, was to seek and to save that which was lost.
To elucidate these comfortable words, we shall shew, I. Who this Son of man is —
This, to those who beheld him in the flesh, was no easy matter to determine11 : but to us it is clear as the light. Let us consult,
1. What Jesus has said of himself —
[He tells us that " the Son does whatsoever the Father does ;" " quickens whom he will, even as the Father does ;" " has all judgment committed to him ;" is to be " honoured
a When he spoke of his approaching crucifixion, and yet of draw- ing all men to himself, his hearers could not conceive how such op- posite things could be affirmed of the same person, the one indicating him to be a man, the other to be a God. Hence they ask him, " Who is this Son of man?" John xii. 32 — 34.