Read Luke 19:1-10.
Discover
1. What descriptors are used to describe Zacchaeus?
2. How did Jesus respond to him?
3. How did people react to Jesus’ response?
Respond
Yesterday we read about Jesus’ love for children, a marginalized group of people in that culture. Today we read about His love for another group of outsiders in that day. Tax collectors were greatly despised because of their traitorous and dishonest ways. Yet when a short tax collector named Zacchaeus found himself in the crush of a crowd, Jesus saw him and called him by name.
No matter the culture, Jesus’ love turns our norms upside down. It has no boundaries and no limits. It’s not worried about status or expectation. It invites everyone in. Regardless of how the world views someone, Jesus sees them and calls them by name.
Do you tend to view people based on their external status—age, demographics, or cultural definitions? Is there a specific person or group of people that you find hard to love? Take some time right now to confess where you’ve allowed the world’s definitions to lessen your love, and ask God to help you see others the way He sees them.
Want to go deeper? Read this article for more about Zacchaeus and the context of why he was so hated in his day.
*TPCC does not necessary endorse all “Want to go deeper” sources. They are simply meant to be a helpful tool.