Unique to Luke’s gospel is the encounter between Jesus and the colorful character Zaccheus, described as “chief tax-collector, rich, and short in stature.” Luke here recreates their conversation to convey several important themes throughout his gospel. The importance of hospitality is underscored when Jesus calls up to Zacchaeus, “Hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” The crowd’s reaction reminds us that Jesus often sought table fellowship with sinners. The themes of right use of possessions and care for the poor reach us in Zacchaeus’ immediate response: “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.”
The message was excerpted from “Luke Loves to Tell the Story,“ by Carol Schersten LaHurd, from the October 2012 issue of Gather magazine.
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