INVITATIONS: SEE WHAT YOU CAN SEE

2026-02-22

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Today, we’ll continue our series started last week entitled “Invitations.” And today, we will look at a much-beloved Bible story that many first heard when they were in Sunday School as a child. A story of childlike faith which changed everything. And ultimately, that type of faith is what God desires from all of us. It most certainly is the response God is looking for in His invitation to all of us.

Luke 19:1–10 (CSB) He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. 4So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way. 5When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.” 6So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully. 7All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to stay with a sinful man.” 8But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.” 9“Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

1. Anyone can see Jesus

Vss 1-3 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man.

• Zacchaeus was mentioned as the “chief tax collector” which means he held the franchise in the area to collect taxes for Rome. There was a certain amount he had to send to his Roman bosses, but he kept the rest for himself. This was not a government job, it was a business.
• He had heard about this man Jesus, maybe from the healing which is recorded in chapter 18. The crowds had gathered to see this man, Jesus, and Zacchaeus wanted to see what it was all about.

2. It might take some action on your part

Vs 4 So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way.

• Zacchaeus, who was a powerful man, humbled himself just to get a glimpse of Jesus.
• Warren Weirsbe stated, “In the East, it is unusual for a man to run, especially a wealthy government official; yet Zaccheus ran down the street like a little boy following a parade. And he even climbed a tree! Curiosity is certainly characteristic of most children, and Zaccheus was motivated by curiosity that day. Jesus said, “Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God like a little child shall in no way enter therein” (Luke 18:17). Perhaps more than anything else, it is pride that keeps many “successful” people from trusting Jesus Christ.”[i]
• It is important we all recognize we must strip away the pride which keeps us from truly encountering Christ.

3. But Jesus will always see you

Vs 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.”

• Jesus didn’t need someone to point out the short man in a tree. Regardless of the large crowd which followed Him, Jesus always sees the one who seeks!

4. And He will always accept you as you are

Vss 6-7 So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully. 7All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to stay with a sinful man.”

• In chapter 18, we read a story Jesus shared about a Pharisee and a tax collector. Jesus made it clear the path to salvation.
• Luke 18:11–14 (CSB) The Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people—greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
• God is not looking for those who put on a show of their faith, He is looking for those show their faith through genuine repentance.

5. So, turn to Him today

Vss 8-10 But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.” 9“Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

• While this account doesn’t report the words Jesus spoke to Zacchaeus, but it is clear it was a message of repentance. Jesus told him it was time to turn from his wicked ways and believe in Him.
• Vernon McGee said this, “Zacchaeus showed his faith by his works. He did not talk about his faith; he demonstrated it. The world is not listening for something today; it is looking for something.”[ii]
• He was a changed man because of an invitation from Jesus

“The scene with Zacchaeus provides Luke’s Gospel with its ultimate statement about Jesus. Jesus knew his purpose on earth. His purpose was not to reform the Jewish religion. His purpose was not to prove the Pharisees wrong. His purpose was not to bring in a military, political kingdom. His purpose was to bring salvation to lost people. Jesus dedicated the three years of his earthly ministry to finding people who knew they were lost and showing them God’s way of salvation—the way of repentance and faith.”[iii] – Trent Butler

[i] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 251–252.

[ii] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary: The Gospels (Luke), electronic ed., vol. 37 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 236.

[iii] Trent C. Butler, Luke, vol. 3, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 315.