Luke 19-21

For years Zaccheus, when given the choice of just about anything over money he chose money. Tax collectors in these days were often Jewish men who were hired by the Romans to collect taxes. It was a brilliant move by the Romans to outsource the tax collection- but the plan required that a few Jews betray their fellow men to help the Romans. It required the greedy, it required sellouts, and it required traitors.

Jesus is always looking for the outcast. Sometimes it's the poor. Sometimes it's the man who's spent decades fashioning an idol of money. That's Zacchaeus.

What's great is that Zacchaeus wasn't even looking for Jesus. He was just seeing the show that had come to town so he climbed up in a tree.

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold

Avoiding the abstract theological questions about the nature of salvation here, I just want to ask a question: "what kind of heart does it take to receive someone you've never met with Joy- so much that it rearranges your entire value system in a single day?"

Answer: It's the thirsty heart of the outcast. My guess is that Zacchaeus had spent years in isolation from his own people. Having become a tax collector, I'd guess that it had been a long time since someone wanted to see him- in fact, his normal day for as far back as he can remember was filled with constant derision and condemnation.

And then Jesus comes.

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house"
(Luke 19:9a ESV)

Now Luke makes it clear that his salvation isn't because he's so generous- he's saved because he's a true son of Abraham (v. 9b).

No, it's the other way around. Jesus gives his hungry heart what it needs: acceptance and belonging. He may have shot his chances with the Jewish people but Zacchaeus is welcomed by the Son of God- and that makes all the difference. What joy for this outcast. Through verses 6-8 you can just see his idol melting before your eyes.

With a full heart (v. 6), he doesn't just promise to be more generous in the future- he starts giving away his goods that he's sacrificed all those things for.

See, Zacchaeus is happy- and neither money nor human approval have anything to do with it.