The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls


The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls

On the Gospel Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia

Text from Luke 19:1-10

Epiphany II

1. "Epiphany" means "showing forth" or "manifestation." In our text for today Jesus is manifested as the One Who seeks and saves the lost.

2. Our text is peculiar to Luke. It is not found in the other Gospels.

3. The site of the text is at Jericho, a sub-tropical city near the Jordan River, about 25 miles straight east of Jerusalem. The time of the text is only a few days before Jesus' final entry into Jerusalem, described in vv. 29 to 40 of this chapter.

4. This text is about a superintendent of tax-collectors. At this time in history Palestine was under the control of the Roman Emperor. To collect taxes the Romans hired native Palestinians to collect a fixed amount from the people. The tax-collectors were allowed by the Romans to collect more than the Romans required. Whatever they collected in excess of the required amount became the collector's property. The people disliked these tax-collectors and even hated them for their excessive demands. Therefore, they were known as "sinners" (vs. 7) which here means "social outcast."

5. Some scholars think that Zacchaeus had heard Jesus before and had already become a Christian. Others think that Zacchaeus' desire to see Jesus was merely curiosity and that Jesus used this curiosity to bring the Gospel to him. In vs. 9 Jesus says: "Today salvation has come to this house." This indicates that Zacchaeus was only curious and then became a Christian on this occasion.

6. The divinity of Jesus is plainly evident and active in this account. Because of His omniscience He foresaw and knew that Zacchaeus would be looking for Him. In fact, Jesus even knew his name without being told.

7. Furthermore, the providence of God is plainly evident here. God arranged all these circumstances so that Jesus would be able to speak to Zacchaseus. It all looks so natural but it is all under the control and guidance of God. Without his own knowledge, Caesar August brought it about that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Without realizing it, the woman at the well, John 4, found the water of life in addition to mere water. Nothing is accidental. God rules and overrules the whole world and every detail thereof to bring about His will. Christians see the hand of God at work in their lives.

8. "Son of Abraham" in vs. 9 can mean either "a member of the Old Testament covenant people" or "a believer." We think it means the latter here.

9. In verse 5 "house" means a building. But in verse 9 it means "household." Evidently Zacchaeus was married and perhaps had children. Perhaps more than one person became a Christian on this occasion.

10. In verse 5 Jesus says: "I must stay in your house." This is the divine "must" of the will of the Father. At Luke 2:49 Jesus said: "I must be about My Father's business." At Luke 24:7 He said: "The Son of man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men."

11. Verse 7 tells us that "all of them began to grumble." The disciples were with Him. They, too, very likely, grumbled because this was so unusual. But the love of Jesus disregards man's grumbling.

12. Zacchaeus said: "Look here, I'm giving half of my possessions to the poor and, in case I've cheated anyone, I'll restore it fourfold." True faith produces fruits. Zacchaeus was rich in money, maybe became poor and he had been poor in spiritual matters but became rich.

13. The word "Behold" occurs at verses 2 and 8. This word always draws our attention to something important. In verse 2 it draws attention to the conversion of Zacchaeus and in verse 8 to the fruit of his faith. Cf. Matthew 1:9, 13, 19; Luke 2:25.

14. The expression "the lost" occurs at Luke 15:6, 9, 24, 32. It describes mankind lost in sin and death.


The Sermon Outline of Harold Buls

On the Gospel Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia

Text from Luke 19:1-10

Epiphany II

THEME: Jesus Seeks And Saves The Lost

INTRODUCTION

The Bible tells us about remarkable conversions. Who would have thought that Jesus would seek and save the harlot at the well, John 4? Who would have thought that devil-possessed women would become Christians, Luke 8:2? Who would have thought that Paul, the persecutor and blasphemer, I Timothy 1:12-17, would become the great Apostle? Who would have thought that Zacchaeus, the chief tax-collector, would become a "son of Abraham?" It is true because the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. He sought and saved the chief of sinners, too.

CONCLUSION

The account of Zacchaeus is just one example of Jesus' statement: "The Son of Man has come to seek and save the lost."


This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.

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