Zacchaeus
Pre-Congregation | |
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Feast | 20 April |
Attributes | Bearded man holding a sycamore branch |
Zacchaeus (sometimes spelled Zaccheus;
A descendant of Abraham, he was an example of Jesus's personal, earthly mission to bring salvation to the lost.[3] Tax collectors were despised as traitors (working for the Roman Empire, not for their Jewish community), and as being corrupt. His story is found in the Gospel of Luke.[4]
Because the lucrative production and export of balsam was centered in Jericho, his position would have carried both importance and wealth.[5][6] In the account, he arrived before the crowd who were later to meet with Jesus, who was passing through Jericho on his way to Jerusalem. He was short in stature and so was unable to see Jesus through the crowd (Luke 19:3). Zacchaeus then ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree along Jesus's path. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up at the sycamore tree (actually a sycamore-fig Ficus sycomorus[7]), addressed Zacchaeus by name, and told him to come down, for he intended to visit his house. The crowd was shocked that Jesus, a religious teacher/prophet, would sully himself by being a guest of a sinner.
Later traditions
At Er-riha (Jericho) there is a large, venerable looking square tower, which by tradition is named the House of Zacchaeus.[citation needed][dubious ]
Medieval legend identified Zacchaeus with Saint Amadour, and held him to be the founder of the French sanctuary, Rocamadour.
Liturgical practices
In
In Western Christianity, the gospel pericope concerning Zacchaeus is the reading for a Dedication of a Church or its anniversary. In Southern Bavaria, a red banner with a white cross may be flown outside a Church on its anniversary, which is consequently called the Zacchaeus flag.
Spiritual lessons
The story of Zacchaeus is used by some[9] to illustrate the saying of Jesus: "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8), because the name Zacchaeus means 'pure'. Zacchaeus also becomes a contrast of character with the Rich Young Ruler (Luke 18:18–23). Both Zacchaeus and the Rich Young Ruler were wealthy men, but one was self-righteous and would not give up his possessions, while the other gave half of his possessions to feed the poor.[10]
See also
References
- ^ Milligan, Jim. "Lexicon :: Strong's G2195 - Zakchaios". Blue Letter Bible. Sowing Circle.
- ^ Luke 19:1–10
- ^ Warfield, Benjamin Breckinridge. "Jesus' Mission, According to His Own Testimony". Monergism. CPR Foundation.
- ^ Luke 19:1–10
- ^ Morris, Leon. Luke: An Introduction and Commentary. Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1988. p. 297.
- ^ Rudolf Stier (1861). The Words of the Lord Jesus. Vol. 4. Translated by William Burt Pope. p. 314.
- ^ "Bible Study Tools - Sycamore Definition and Meaning". www.biblestudytools.com. Salem Media Group. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- ^ Stromata Book 4 Ch 6 The New Advent Translation says "It is said, therefore, that Zaccheus, or, according to some, Matthew, the chief of the publicans, on hearing that the Lord had deigned to come to him, said, Lord, and if I have taken anything by false accusation, I restore him fourfold;" but the Greek has 4.6.35.2 Ζακχαῖον τοίνυν, οἳ δὲ Ματθίαν φασίν, ἀρχιτελώνην, ἀκηκοότα τοῦ κυρίου καταξιώσαντος πρὸς αὐτὸν γενέσθαι, ἰδοὺ τὰ ἡμίση τῶν ὑπαρχόντων μου δίδωμι ἐλεημοσύνην φάναι, κύριε, καὶ εἴ τινός τι ἐσυκοφάντησα, τετραπλοῦν ἀποδίδωμι. ἐφ' οὗ καὶ ὁ σωτὴρ εἶπεν· can just about be read as "by some said to be Matthias")
- ^ Pastor Doug Bachelor, Study on the Wisdom of Jesus's teachings
- ^ "A Contrast of Character | Zacchaeus and the Rich Young Ruler". Archived from the original on 2014-05-13. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Easton, Matthew George (1897). "Zacchaeus". Easton's Bible Dictionary (New and revised ed.). T. Nelson and Sons.
External links
- Media related to Zacchaeus at Wikimedia Commons