What does Jesus do to build a friendship with Zacchaeus? How is he transformed by meeting Jesus?

Zacchaeus: A Transformed Witness

Jesus is a master at building relationships and communicating with people.

Tax collectors have never been popular.  But in Roman Palestine, they were particularly hated.  It was bad enough that they collaborated with the foreign oppressors.  It’s understandable that the Jews felt about the same thing for the Romans as the French did for the occupying Nazis in World War.

Zacchaeus should have known that there was no hope for him.  After all, he had done a particularly good job of extorting money from his countryman, for Luke 19:1 says he was a wealthy man. 

Luke 19:4  And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. అప్పుడు యేసు ఆ త్రోవను రానై యుండెను గనుక అతడు ముందుగా పరుగెత్తి, ఆయనను చూచుటకు ఒక మేడి చెట్టెక్కెను. Many would think this was no proper and dignified  behaviour for a rich man, but it shows how anxious he was to see the Lord Jesus and how little He cared for the opinion of those who might laugh or sneer at him.

Luke 19:8  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 him fourfold. జక్కయ్య నిలువబడిఇదిగో ప్రభువా, నా ఆస్తిలో సగము బీదలకిచ్చుచున్నాను; నేనెవనియొద్ద నైనను అన్యాయముగా దేనినైనను తీసికొనినయెడల అతనికి నాలుగంతలు మరల చెల్లింతునని ప్రభువుతో చెప్పెను

Zacchaeus chose a new master that day and called Him "Lord" Up until then, his master had been money(Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. ఏ సేవకుడును ఇద్దరు యజమాను లను సేవింపలేడు; వాడు ఒకని ద్వేషించి ఒకని ప్రేమిం చును, లేక ఒకని అనుసరించి ఒకని తృణీకరించును; మీరు దేవునిని సిరిని సేవింప లేరని చెప్పెను).

He is one of the few rich men who enter God's kingdom (Luke 18:24,25 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! యేసు అతని చూచి ఆస్తిగలవారు దేవుని రాజ్యములో ప్రవేశించుట ఎంతో దుర్లభము.  For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.  ధనవంతుడు దేవుని రాజ్యములో ప్రవేశించుట కంటె సూదిబెజ్జములో ఒంటెదూరుట సులభమని చెప్పెను,

and he is in great contrast to the rich fool in (LUke 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. నా ప్రాణముతోప్రాణమా, అనేక సంవత్సరములకు,విస్తార మైన ఆస్తి నీకు సమకూర్చబడియున్నది; సుఖించుము, తినుము, త్రాగుము, సంతోషించుమని చెప్పు కొందునను కొనెను. ,the rich man in Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: ధనవంతుడొకడుండెను. అతడు ఊదారంగు బట్ట లును సన్నపు నార వస్త్రములును ధరించుకొని ప్రతి దినము బహుగా సుఖపడుచుండువాడు., and the rich young ruler of (Luke 18:23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. అతడు మిక్కిలి ధనవంతుడు గనుక ఈ మాటలు విని మిక్కిలి వ్యసనపడగా .

But he did not get into the God's Kingdom simply by saying Lord to Jesus(Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ప్రభువా, ప్రభువా, అని నన్ను పిలుచు ప్రతివాడును పరలోకరాజ్యములో ప్రవేశింపడుగాని పరలోకమందున్న నా తండ్రి చిత్తప్రకారము చేయువాడే ప్రవేశించును.)

He revealed that he had a true faith in Him by what he did.

Zacchaeus was willing to do what many were not willing to do (Luke 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

This showed the work of God in his heart.

"I am going to give him back four times as much" - (Lev 6:1-5 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbor in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbor; 

 Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. 

 Num 5:5-7 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD, and that person be guilty; Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed.

Zacchaeus was willing to give back more than the law demanded. In this he was bringing forth fruits of repentance. Repentance is a radical change of attitude about things.

LUKE 19:9  (And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.) Observe that a great change in a person, bringing him from a state of sin to salvation and from death to life, happens very suddenly.(John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.)

We may well question whether anyone has believed in Christ if these results are lacking.