According to the Lexham Bible Dictionary, the Gospel of Luke is a historical narrative about the life of Jesus calling its readers to life-changing theological commitment to Him as Lord and Savior, the Christ, the Son of God. This point is clearly demonstrated in the story of Jesus meeting zacchaeus found in Luke 19:1-10.
This passage is another one of those stories that warm the heart and leaves one in awe of the love and grace of Jesus. Jesus did not see this sinful tax collector as someone to avoid. Jesus sees him as someone who needs Him. He doesn’t care what people will say. All Jesus cares about is the individual, not the mass of spectators who only watch from the sidelines and does not do a thing.
If you read the story, you may probably think that Zacchaeus was only curious. Remember he was rich. He may not need anything but something in the news that Jesus was coming triggered him to find out what the fuss was all about.
Curious or not, one thing was for sure, it was Zacchaeus’ time to be saved. If you will notice, Jesus haven’t preached yet. He just told Zacchaeus that He needed to dine at his house. And while walking, he tells Jesus that he was giving half of his money tot he poor and whoever he defrauded he will give back four times the amount he cheated. This led Jesus to declare the words found in Luke 19:9-10, “Jesus responded, ‘Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.'”
Legend has it that Zacchaeus became the first bishop of Ceasaria of Palestine. He is listed as such in the fourth century AD work Apostolic Constitutions. Wow! Jesus changed this awful man’s life! He was a new creation. He was saved!
If you think your sins will prohibit you from coming to Jesus, you may have to think again. Tax collectors were despised during Jesus’ time. They abused their authority. They cheated and took from the poor. No sin is powerful enough against the redeeming power of Christ’s blood that was shed on the cross.