It was the afternoon before the sabbath began (see Study 154), and Jesus, accompanied by a great throng of Passover pilgrims, was passing through Jericho, when one of the most unusual incidents of his ministry took place.
There in Jericho lived Zacchaeus, a chief publican. He was the senior administrative officer of the inland revenue, a man of very considerable wealth. Hearing that Jesus of Nazareth was in the town, he determined to see him (cp. John 12:21). Like everyone else, he had heard much about this man. Perhaps through an old colleague, Levi the publican, he had heard more than most. So he set out to make use of this opportunity of first-hand knowledge about Jesus.
Finding Jesus was an easy matter, but getting near enough to have a good look at him and to hear what he was saying proved a much more difficult proposition. The crowd round Jesus was considerable, and Zacchaeus was a little man. More than this, he was hated, and the local people, recognizing him there, enjoyed putting hindrance in his way.
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Author: Harry Whittaker
Keywords: Zacchaeus, publican, chief publican, tax collector, Zacchaeus publican, Zacchaeus tax collector
Bible reference(s): Luke 19:1-10
Source: Studies in the Gospels.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.