Luke 19:1-10
Zaccheus became rich as a chief tax collector. Tax collectors extorted from their brothers beyond what
the Romans required. As a tool of their oppressors and cheaters of their brothers, they were greatly
despised. When Jesus was he ran ahead and climbed a tree. “When Jesus came to the place, He
looked up and said to Him, ‘Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.’” (5)
He responded quickly as Jesus said. Jesus saw in him what no other Jew saw, a man hungry to know
God and ready to repent. Hearing the grumbling and critics around them, he offered to give half his
possessions to the poor and where he had taken anything in dishonesty, he would give back four times
as much. When we hunger to know Jesus, He desires to be with us and His presence generates
repentance in us.