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The Desire of Ages
Zacchaeus had been overwhelmed, amazed, and silenced at the
love and condescension of Christ in stooping to him, so unworthy.
Now love and loyalty to his new-found Master unseal his lips. He will
make public his confession and his repentance.
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In the presence of the multitude, “Zacchaeus stood, and said unto
the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if
I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him
fourfold.
“And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house,
forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.”
When the rich young ruler had turned away from Jesus, the disci-
ples had marveled at their Master’s saying, “How hard is it for them
that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!” They had ex-
claimed one to another, “Who then can be saved?” Now they had a
demonstration of the truth of Christ’s words, “The things which are
impossible with men are possible with God.”
Mark 10:24, 26
;
Luke
18:27
. They saw how, through the grace of God, a rich man could
enter into the kingdom.
Before Zacchaeus had looked upon the face of Christ, he had
begun the work that made him manifest as a true penitent. Before
being accused by man, he had confessed his sin. He had yielded to the
conviction of the Holy Spirit, and had begun to carry out the teaching
of the words written for ancient Israel as well as for ourselves. The
Lord had said long before, “If thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen
in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a
stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee. Take thou no usury
of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with
thee. Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him
thy victuals for increase.” “Ye shall not therefore oppress one another;
but thou shalt fear thy God.”
Leviticus 25:35-37, 17
. These words had
been spoken by Christ Himself when He was enshrouded in the pillar
of cloud, and the very first response of Zacchaeus to the love of Christ
was in manifesting compassion toward the poor and suffering.
Among the publicans there was a confederacy, so that they could
oppress the people, and sustain one another in their fraudulent prac-
tices. In their extortion they were but carrying out what had become
an almost universal custom. Even the priests and rabbis who despised
them were guilty of enriching themselves by dishonest practices under