The National tribune., 1890-08-28
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

|
SUBJECT: CHRIST ENTERTAINED BY FAC
CHEUs.
]. Data.
We have only this one account, to wit, that
of st. Luke. Very likely SITS. Matthew and
John were present, and yet they fail to mention
| this incident. We cannot explain what princi-
pIo5 were adopted by the Holy Spirit in the
process of revelation. He inserted or omitted
for good reasons. We arc pleased that st. Luke
wrote the story of Zaccheus. It's study will
be interesting and profitable. His Gospel was
written in Achaia, Greece, A. ID. 81. q Pot
l:2I)
g Time
The incident occurred A. d. % in the month
OF March, 1lth day. 1t is generally put in the
evening, the day being Friday But verse
| says, to day impl ying Garliness | must abide
at thy house." The word abide" implies
! somewhat continued stay. We are probably to
! understand Christ TO say he wished to spend
| the night at the house of Zaccheus. jewish
| day began mt evening. abide" may mean
lodge or sleep. (St John, 1 :39.) Doubtless
the idea of hospitality enters into the word and
is inclusive of refreshmeut. We see Christ be-
came guest at the house of Zacchcus (V. ~
| We notice the account was written A. ID. 81,
or % years after the incidont-1 1888 years ago.
3. Place.
The lesson is located in the western suburbs
! for his last visit there. (Y l; 1880 This is
the only time that Jesus, so far rs we know,
ever visited Jericho The events connected
! with Christ and that city are the giving of
| sight to two blind men one being Bartimcus)
and his entertainment at the home Of ZaCchcus.
| The city lay on the way from Bcthabara ION
| the Jordan TO Jerusalem.
Jericho and vicinity were noted in Christ's
day for palm trees and balsam gardens That
section enjoyed therefore a large trade. jose
plus states that the revenues from the palms
aud balsam of the Jericho section were assigned
to Cleopatra by Antony. Afterward they fell
into the hands Of lIerod the Great
Jericho was an ancient city. We remember
how Joshua surrounded and captured it, It's
distance from Jerusalem was Is miles. Between
lay wild, desoato, dangerous territory, the
scene Of the Parable Of tho Good Samaritan
1t was one OF the cities assigned for residences
OF priests At its mention we recall Elisha aud
the School of the Prophets.
4. Z1cchcls.
The word Zaccheus is Hebrew in origin, and
means pure, clean, just. 1t is quite common in
rabhinical works. In fact, mention is made in
said works of another ZaCchous living at Jeri-
cho conlemporaneously with tho Zacchcus of
this lesson The family of the Iacchaei was
numerous and ancient. We find mention of
representatives, in Ezra, 20; Nch Z: H. We
lnd that 100 of said family were among those
who followed Ierubbabel from the Babylonian
captivity back to Palestine. The other lac
chou5 mentioned by early rabbis rs living at
Jericho at the time Of this lesson was it is said
father of the famous Rabbi Jochanan ben Zachai
lie, however, who has made the name Zacchcus
famous throughout time and earth was the one
who entertained Christ Though CaImCt aud
some Others think not, yet it is without much
question that XacCheug was a jew. 1t was ex-
cccdingly odious for Jew to accept the posi-
ton of taX-gathercr under tho Roman Govern
mcut, aud there arc some who. admirng Zac-
cheus, would gladly relieve him Of such dis
grace. But we remember worry many Jews
accepted said Office. Among them was Saint
Matthew. We infer ZaCchcu5 was married
and that he kept house. All we know Of him
physically is that ho was Of short stature, fleet
OF foot, and agile enough 70 climb tree. The
term sinner ". y IS often applied to Cen /
tiles, and helped IN leading Calmet and a few
other commentators 10 think Xaccheus was
not Jew. But many Jews were gross sin
uCrs.
We find Zacchous was chief among the
pnblicans." " p Tho Jews were not an /
independent nation in Christs day They had |
been reduced to subsection to the Roman Gov /
crnment and were forced to pay taxes 10 that /
power. They whose business il was to collect /
said taxes were called publieans. It seems |
Itccheus was a sort of Captain or overseer OF a /
body OF tax cOlectors-a prOmagister Hence I
ment, since only such could, as a rule, furnish |
the large securities or bonds required of chief /
pubIicaus. Jericho was a border city, with con- |
siderable export Of palms and basam in par
ticuiar, and with goodly imports. A number OF |
pubIIcaus would be required for such an I'M
portaut city. Collecting was done at the city
gates, and we hence locate the scene of this /
lesson near the walls OF a section of Jericho
Tho position of Lgccbeus was lucrative Ii
had its temptations IN the way OF bribery,
purchase OF appointments, personal lavoritism
and even OF dishonesty and fraud.
II IS SAID ia verse 3 that Zaccheus was the /
son tdesccudant) OF Abraham. DR.. A. Clarke
thinks that Zacchcus was by birth a jew. but
by his prominence as a tax gathering overseer
he became looked on rs a sinner" a Gentle
a sympathizcr with heather race and govern
meut
Iacchcus must have heard of Christ aud been
anxious to see him. IL was nosod that Jesus
was passing. We see how eager he was 10 get
a view OF Christ IL was not a diguifcd thing |
for man prominent, rich, in high Office, to
run and climb mp into tree, boylike TO catch
view Of passing stranger lie had leaning
toward Christ, or favorable impression as we
SEQ from the fact he acccded at once 90 Christ's
request to be- his guest Ii must have quite
startled him to be thus addressed by name
The impulse Mt first with Zacchous may have
been mainly curiosity, but he soon compre.
hcndcd the situation, and gracously adapted
himself to il.
There has been much discussion rs to tho
pTonoun him in verse 9. Some have held
the original Greek must have been plural.
When We address individuals we do so in the
second person, but wo notice the words which
follow him are in the third person Bshop
Fierce persisted IN using the plural pr0noun
DR.. a. Clarke was evidently in some sympathy
with the Bishop, for he adds in favor OF the
plural the statement that the plural is supported
by the margin Of the later Syriac and by ali
but two of the copies of the italia. The Revised
NcTslon sustatns tho reading in the singular
number, referring the prOnOun 10 Xlcchcus as
The person addressed by our Savior For
unto some render concerning but without
classic authority. Bloomfield thought the
words " This day e " house were spoken to
laceheus, and that tho rest OF the verse was
addressed TO the company present. Some think
Inc latter part Of the verso was not spoken. but
was added afterward, possibly by ST. Luke, in
explanation. De Veto renders "uuto in re-
alton to. Dr. James Strong translates in tho
presence OF.
8. Critical Notes
l. Behold" (Y. p 1t was quite a won.
ierful thing TO see dgnilicd official hurryinp |
ahead Of crowd TO climb tree for vantage as ! ,
| aightscer. And ii was unusual for "a leading |
publican to manifest religious interest
2. Who he was" (V. 81 To sec how Jesus
oOkcd. 10 has always been very natural 10 ,
eek sight OF prominent men.
3. Sycamore tree" (V4) We ara not TO
understand the tree so named in America, bnt
"a tttfgEt tf YsFs1t