Dinner Guest

Read This Week: Luke 19

A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” – Luke 19:2-7 NIV

Years ago, children sang these lyrics in church, Sunday School, or vacation Bible school about one of the principal characters of Luke 19. It went something like this:

Zacchaeus was a wee, little man; a wee, little man was he.
He climbed up in a sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see.
And when the Savior passed that way, He looked up in the tree and said,
Zacchaeus, you come down! For I am going to your house today!

Zacchaeus was a wee, little man, but a happy man was he.
For he had seen the Lord that day, and a happy man was he.
A happy man was he.

This charming song about the story of Zacchaeus in this passage is winsome and appealing, but it hardly does justice to the whole narrative. Zacchaeus’ name means righteous one, but he certainly did not live up to the implication of that moniker. At least no one in that time would have considered him to be righteous. He was a chief tax collector who worked for the Romans and often overcharged people so that his corrupt collection would lead to more personal income. He was an outsider to his people with questionable character and a tarnished distinction. 

Then Jesus came to town, and Zacchaeus, this man of poor reputation and greed, wanted to see the Savior. He wanted to see the Lord so bad that he ran and climbed a fig tree to get a look at Jesus as he walked by. This type of behavior by a tax collector is remarkable because his position required people to respect his power and comply with his mandates. His job demanded a high level of decorum and authority, but on this day, Zacchaeus shamelessly pushes through the crowd and acts like a commoner. He even risks embarrassment and humiliation by climbing a tree like a child and calling attention to his short stature. Something unusual had gotten into this man, or better yet someone had gotten to him.

Jesus sees Zacchaeus in the tree and tells him to come down. More importantly, Christ says to get out of the tree so he can eat dinner at his house. The language in verse 5 shows a divine purpose when it says that Jesus must stay at his house. It conveys a sense of urgency, mission, and that Jesus did not come to Jericho by chance. He came to love, minister to, and save one of the most hated men in the region. Zacchaeus opened himself up to ridicule by climbing a tree, and Jesus subjected himself to criticism by being a dinner guest at his house. Verse 7 tells us that the people gossipped and said, He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.

The chiding and rumors did not deter Jesus from going to dinner at the house of Zacchaeus. He was constantly challenging His disciples to be on mission. He wanted them to have love and passion for others and to reach them with the eternal message of the Gospel. Now he conducts his own personal mission, and the Bible tells us that as a result, Zacchaeus and his household experienced salvation. The faith and submission of a lost man met the grace and love of a Savior over dinner.

With whom are the people we need to have dinner? Who is that one person that is seemingly far from God that is seeking and curious about Him? Perhaps all it will take is for us to see them, recognize their need, love them, and share a meal. Maybe Father God wants us to have a dinner guest so we can share life with them and His Spirit can lead them to salvation. Then we can sing about what a happy person they are after finding eternal life in Christ. 

7 Comments

  1. Heidi on July 22, 2022 at 8:56 am

    What God showed me in Luke 19 it starts with your heart.
    Zaccheus started knowing He needed a change. He did everything He could do to Find Jesus.
    Everyday is a new day. Waking up talking to Father God, asking Him what’s on His heart and asking Him to help us to be open everyday for a change in ours to be just Like Him.

    Change My Heart Oh God
    Vineyard Music

    Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
    Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.
    Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
    Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.
    You are the potter, I am the clay,
    Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.
    Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
    Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.

  2. Heidi on July 22, 2022 at 9:23 am

    Luke 19:8 Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “See, Lord, I am [now] giving half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone out of anything, I will give back four times as much.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this household, because he, too, is a [[b]spiritual] son of Abraham;

    I love this part because Jesus sees Zaccheus heart wanting to change, change in the way He used to operate in.
    It is proof that his heart did change in they of how he used to behave all in for himself, now He wants to help others.
    Not only that but Jesus himself declared that salvation had come to this household.
    meaning Zaccheus was saved and is now apart of the family.
    It’s always going to be about our hearts, after we give our hearts to Jesus we have to continue everyday to be open to what Father God wants us to do, to use what He has giving us to help others, He has giving us all different gifts to serve Him with, to help others and with a good attitude, be joyful that you get to do something for the kingdom.

    Father,
    I hope everyone will realize that it’s a blessing to be apart of YOUR Family!!
    When we wake up that we put You first and continue to talk to You all day long and be listening and wanting to do what You want us to do,
    and that our hearts will continue to be focused on You and that we will be always be changing for the better, looking to help others with a good attitude and desiring to bless others, thank you that we get to.
    Love You
    Your girl 🙂

  3. reachchurch on July 24, 2022 at 12:14 pm

    This Week in the Life: Luke 19

    For the best experience, we suggest you listen to the first song, then the message, and then the second song.

    1. Sunday Worship: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2022-0724-Worship1.wav
    2. Sunday Message: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2022-0724-Message.wav
    3. Sunday Worship: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2022-0724-Worship2.wav

    Join the Party Line Live – Schedule: https://reachchurch.org/connect

  4. Alma on July 25, 2022 at 2:51 pm

    This week I got a song in Like 19
    God’s gift
    We worship you we worship you we worship you our Lord we are blessed with gifts from the Lord don’t hide them be proud and share your gifts with others our lord loves us when put him and his desires first so be strong be patient our Lord is always with us he lifts us up when we are weak he forgives our sins he loves us all the time we never have to worry or be alone we worship you we worship you we are worshiping you our Lord amen

    I’m Blessed everyday because it’s a new day a new start praising and doing life with my Father. Let’s go out and share our gifts with everyone.

  5. Jeri on July 25, 2022 at 7:02 pm

    Luke 19 verse 10
    A Spirt-led heart, lives in each of us teaching us how
    In God we trust . We are to live so hope to the lost
    By faith we can give. It leads us to know the way to
    Jesus.

    What that means to me!!

    It encourages us to be a witness for Jesus. His Grace
    And forgiveness to be a Bold and Daring to share
    Gods Good News to others so they also know the Way to Jesus!!

  6. Javaid Ahmed on July 27, 2022 at 8:59 pm

    God drew my attention to verse 10 in Luke 19.
    “10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”

    God said to me about this – “Nothing is ever lost. Sometimes you may feel like you are lost, but rest assured, you are where you’re meant to be. I am always with you and it is up to you to see me or not. I promise you I will always guide you and lead you whenever you reach your hand out to mine.”

    Even in the most challenging times we are never alone. God is there waiting for us to reach our hand out and feel His peace. The better we get at that the strong our spiritual nature will be.

  7. Kathy on August 1, 2022 at 2:56 pm

    In Luke 19, this was what I was getting from God. My son Jesus Christ, will not force Himself on you. You have to receive Jesus first, and then start a relationship with Him. Jesus is joyful to receive sinners and they should be joyful to be saved. Receive Jesus by humbling yourself, and by seeking after Him, with real effort. He invites you by name. Receive Him joyfully. Receive Him with repentance and restitution. The reward for faithful service is not rest, but more service. This pleases Me. Concentrate on being faithful servants, while you are waiting on Jesus’s return. Do not stand still. Use your gifts that I have given you! Satan loses because when My people are really worshiping with their hearts and minds on Me, and not on sin, self, or Satan’s distractions. Tell others of the great things, I have done in your life. Everything begins with your heart. Stay focused on what Jesus wants you to do.
    What this says to me is I need to seek Jesus more and more. I need to stay in His presence more. I need to use my gifts to bring others to Him. I need to receive Him with a joyful heart.

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