WORDS OF LIFE SERIES 58
BIBLE STUDY NOTES TEN NEW TESTAMENT
CONVERSIONS
by Francis W. Dixon
Study 4 ZACCHAEUS THE PUBLICAN
(Scripture Portion: Luke 19: 1-10)
This account is of a well-known, wealthy publican climbing a tree to get a look
at Jesus! Read it through and try to enter into Zacchaeus’ feelings as he sought
to see Jesus, risking the scorn and criticism of the crowd, and as Jesus stopped
to tell him He wanted to go home to his house. The whole exciting incident is an
illustration of Luke 19:10, and there are three great attractions about it:
(1) It is the record of a sudden conversion. Some people do not believe in
sudden conversion, but certainly here was one! When Zacchaeus climbed
up the tree he was lost; when he came down he was saved - as quickly as
that!
(2) It is the record of the conversion of an unlikely man. Zacchaeus was a
chief tax collector, a Jew working for the Roman government. He defrauded
the people and had no conscience about it. We are apt to write-off some
people as being too difficult for the Lord to save. Thank God, no-one is
beyond His grace, and we should not despair of the salvation of anyone.
(3) His conversion was thorough, with no half-measures. Immediately the
Lord met with him he showed he wanted to be 100% His follower and His
disciple.
How did the miracle happen? This study could be entitled, “How to be saved
and know it!” But how can someone be saved and know it? We must answer
that question from the incident, not only discovering how to be saved, but how
to talk to someone else who is seeking, and directing that person to Christ:
1. You must mean business and seek the Lord with determination
Was Zacchaeus simply curious to see who Jesus was? Surely not! – look at
verses 2 and 3. A well-known man doesn’t climb a tree just to satisfy an idle
curiosity. Evidently Zacchaeus was dissatisfied and hungry, longing for
something which he thought Christ could supply. He was very earnest because
“he wanted to see who Jesus was”; but he didn’t realise that Jesus was seeking
him. We have a seeking Saviour and a seeking sinner, and the two are bound
to meet. This was Zacchaeus’ only opportunity to meet Christ – look up Isaiah
55:6. What a good thing he was so determined and prompt in his action!
2. You must overcome some obstacles
Look at verses 2-4 and consider the valid reasons that Zacchaeus could have
given for not seeking Christ: “I am a chief tax collector. What will others say? I
am too well-known; besides the crowd is too great and I’m so short. What will
the family say, the neighbours…?” But Zacchaeus overcame his pride, his
greatest hindrance; and if you are not saved you will have to overcome certain
obstacles before you can come into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
3. You must receive the Lord Jesus as your personal Saviour
Zacchaeus must have been shocked when Jesus stopped at his very tree and
asked to go to his home (verses 5-6). Most people hated the man but here was
Someone who loved him. Does it surprise you that Zacchaeus came down out
of that tree quickly and received the Lord Jesus so joyfully? How different from
the rich young ruler in Mark 10:22; and Pontius Pilate (Matthew 27:24). A
Christian, a believer, is someone who has received the Lord Jesus (John 1:12;
2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27; Revelation 3:20); no-one is
a Christian who has not received Him. If you would be saved you must receive,
accept and welcome Him into your heart and life. This is a very personal matter,
as verse 6 indicates – “He (Zacchaeus) welcomed him (Jesus) gladly.”
4. You must expect and be ready for criticism and opposition
The opposition was directed against the Lord (verse 7) but Zacchaeus was at
the centre of it. The people “muttered” but Zacchaeus took his stand with Christ,
although it meant being a target for the criticism and misunderstanding of the
crowd. It’s not possible to become a real Christian without experiencing some
measure of persecution and opposition; look up and compare Matthew 5:10-12;
John 16:33; Philippians 1:29. Are you prepared for this? See Luke 14:26-27.
5. You must confess the Lord before others
We see in verse 8 that Zacchaeus did not go and hide. He had no intention of
being a secret disciple. He at once identified himself with the Lord whom he
now acknowledged openly as his Saviour and friend. Look up to see what
Jesus said in Matthew 10:32-33, and compare Romans 10:9-10. If you are
going to be a real Christian and have the assurance of salvation, open
confession of your personal faith in Christ is absolutely essential.
6. You must be willing to obey the Lord
Notice in verse 8 exactly what Zacchaeus said: firstly, that he would make
restitution. He was saying, ‘Now that I’m saved there are things I must put right.’
But secondly, Zacchaeus said that he was going to share some of his
possessions with those whose need was far greater than his own. He was now
living under a new Master, no longer serving and pleasing himself (John 13:13).
In being a disciple of the Lord Jesus his whole desire was to serve and please
Him. Are you willing to go that far to be completely the Lord’s?
7. You must rely upon Christ’s word for the assurance that you are saved
.Look at verse 9. As soon as Jesus said that, Zacchaeus knew that he was
saved. That is the only way to get assurance of salvation – to rest upon the
Word of Christ, as the paralytic man did (Mark 2:5) and as the dying thief did
(Luke 23:42-43). Now look up John 5:24.
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