“And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore unto him fourfold.” (Luke 19:8)
The publicans were Jewish citizens who were employed as tax collectors for the Roman government. It was common for the publicans to be dishonest in their positions. Whatever they could collect above the taxes imposed by Rome they were allowed to keep.
Zacchaeus went up the sycamore tree to better see Jesus and came down to receive Him. He was a changed man. It has often been said, “The proof is in the pudding.” I fear that many have “gone up the tree” to get a better look at Jesus but when they came down they failed to receive Him. A changed life is the best proof of salvation. Zacchaeus was changed.
A fifty-eight year old friend of mine was lost. He went to a revival meeting, met and received the Savior in the service, went home and poured all his beer and liquor down the kitchen sink, and when his wife asked him what he was doing, he said, “I won’t be needing that stuff any more.” He never drank another drop of alcohol for the rest of his life. He attended church regularly, visited the lost and taught Sunday school. Jesus changed him. Jesus can change you just like He did Zacchaeus and my friend.
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