1-18-2026
Luke 19:1–10 (NLT) 1 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” 6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” 9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Tax Collectors:
Were Jews who had authority from the Roman government.
They were considered traitors:
They worked for Rome, who oppressed the Jews.
They earned their living by collecting more taxes than they should.
They were Greedy and Selfish.
They were Considered Outcasts of society, Undesirable.
Luke 15:1–2 (NLT) 1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!
Matthew 21:32 (NLT) For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.
Zacchaeus was a Chief Tax Collector:
He was very wealthy.
He was a leader of other Tax Collectors.
He might have trained others.
He may have been an overseer of a region.
Rejected by his own people.
7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
Despised for being a Traitor.
Had money and possessions,
He had Servants but no friends or companionship.
He was successful but isolated from everyone.
He was Unsatisfied with life, Lonely and Hurting inside.
1. Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.
This is Jesus’ purpose in coming to us.
Jesus was always actively fulfilling what He came to do.
Public opinion did not stop Jesus from reaching out to Zacchaeus.
Jesus was concerned for Zacchaeus.
Jesus called him by name:
5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
Jesus Calls the Outcasts of Society.
This is what Victory Outreach is called to.
To Take the gospel to those who are considered “undesirable”.
Reach the Down and Outer:
Drug Addicts, Prostitutes, Gang Members, etc.
Isaiah 45:2–3 (NKJV) 2 ‘I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron. 3 I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the Lord, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel.
2. How we should respond when Jesus comes our way.
3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.
Zacchaeus must have heard that Jesus:
Ate with sinners.
Talked with sinners.
Did not reject the outcasts and undesirables.
He wanted to see Jesus.
Hope came to his heart.
A short, rich man started to climb up the tree.
He did not care if he looked foolish.
To many of us want to look dignified, look cool.
How desperate are you for Jesus.
Proverbs 29:25 (NLT) Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.
Acts 4:18–20 (NLT) 18 So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? 20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”
3. Jesus transforms those who respond to Him.
8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” 9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Romans 12:2 (NLT) Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
There is an immediate change of heart.
The Opposite response of the Rich, Young, Ruler:
Luke 18:18–27 (NLT) 18 Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. 20 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’”
21 The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” 22 When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich. 24 When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” 26 Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?” 27 He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”
Zacchaeus was transformed from:
Having a passion to get, to having a passion to give.
Being selfish, to caring about others.
Hurting and unsatisfied, to being whole and full of joy.
6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.
There was fruits of repentance
Matthew 3:8–9 (ESV) 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
4. Salvation leads to the Grace of Giving
2 Corinthians 8:1–5 (ESV) 1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
v.1 Giving starts with the Grace of God.
Grace is what Saves us.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Grace is what changes our priorities.
Romans 12:2 (NLT) Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
You give because you are changed, transformed,
Zacchaeus was a taker, now he is a giver.
v. 2. Circumstances do not dictate giving.
2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
The Macedonian church had good reasons not to give.
But the Grace of God transformed their minds and hearts.
In the natural, these words do not go together. It’s an oxymoron.
-severe test of affliction – their abundance of joy
-their extreme poverty – have overflowed in a wealth of generosity.
v. 3-4. Giving comes from your own heart.
3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
True godly givers don’t give:
because they are told by the pastor to give.
because it is a requitement to give.
Because their want a position or recognition.
v. 5. The root of giving: Giving of self.
5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
They gave themselves:
To God
To the leadership of the church.
They realized their life was not their own.
They were surrendered.
How to you respond to God?
My life is not my own.
Surrendered to God.
Or
Seek God to approve your own will and desires.
Follow Religious duties to please God and get His blessings.