The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-12-13

l. "And passed through" "Was pass
ing through" Or. W Zaccheus evident
ly lived in the city. Tidings of the ap-
proach of Christ and His apostles must
have preceded Him. Since the raising OF
Lazarus, short time before this, the
| fame of Jesus had spread throughout this
part of the country, and many were anI-
ious to see Him.
| 2. "a man named Zaccheus." He was
a Jew by birth ". 81, but because he had
engaged in a business so infamous in the
eyes of the Jews, he was considered as
mere heather. V. 7. Zaccheus is the
Greek form of the Hebrew ''Zaccai," and
means pure" The meaning of his name
was in sharp contrast with his character,
which seems to have been bad, for he con-
fessed to Jesus that he had, at least in
some cases, taken money from his fellow
townsmen by swearing falsely against
them before the magistrates. Chief
among the publicans." At Jericho was
located one of the principal custom-houses.
The trade in balsam was extensive, and
Zaccheus was evidently superintendent of
the tax collectors who had the oversight
Of the revenue derived from that article.
'He was rich" And like many rich men
| had not always come honestly by his
money. 1t was no credit to him that he
was rich.
8. Sought to see Jesus" At this time
Zaccheus must have had conviction of sin.
He was not satisfied with riches and his
dishonest, wicked life. "Who he was"
Reports Of the miracles and teachings of
the Great Prophet were current, and there
was great excitement on all hands. But
probably the thing that interested Zac-
cheus more than all else was that Jesus
was paying especial attention to the pub
licans Gould not for the crowd" (R.
| W This was the crowd that surrounded
Jesus after He had healed blind Barti-
meus; the people were all praising God.
Luke IS: 43. Jesus was walking among
them with nothing to distinguish Him
from the others. Little of stature" Be-
cause of this Zaccheus could not see over
the heads of the multitude. Zaccheus is
typical character, the type of many who
are wanting to see Christ, but who are
spiritually too short to see Him.
4. "And he ran before" He laid aside
his dignity as "chef publican" and ran
along the road over which they were COM
ing. Climbed up into sycamore tree"
Properly "sycomore" as in r. V. A tree
with short trunk and wide lateral
branches. 1t grows to large size, some
times to circumference of fifty feet and
| is evergreen. The sycomore tree is q type
of the means which are provided by which
we may overcome difficulties. Zaccheus
was in earnest and did not allow the
crowds to stop him.
5. "He looked up and saw him." While
Zaccheus had secured place where he
might see Jesus he was made so prominent
that Jesus could at once see him. 1t was
natural enough for Jesus to look at Zac-
cheus, but the truly divine part was in
that He fathomed his heart aud understood
its longing better than Zaccheus himself
had done. "Zaccheus." Whom He had
never seen in the flesh, and of whom lie
had probably never heard Make haste
and come down" Zaccheus had desired
to see Jesus, but now he is permitted to
converse with Him. He that has a mind
to know Christ shall be known of Him.
To-day" 1t is not known whether He
stopped merely for a midday rest or tar
ried over night. 81 must" A divine plan,
fixing every event in our Lords ministry.
Christ applies the greatest principle to the
smallest duty. What was this "musts"
To stop for an hour or two on His way to
Jerusalem and save sinner. Nothing is
too trivial to be brought under the domin-
ion of law, and to be regulated by the di-
vine will.
6. "He made haste" He had not ex-
pected to have the honor of being noticed,
much less to entertain the Royal Guest.
He hastens with Joy to show Him all due
respect and receive Him into his house.
Receiving Him into his house betokens
his receiving Him into his heart.
7. when they saw it." The crowd Of
Jews murmured. 1t required courage to
meet the prejudices of nation, but Jesus
always had courage to do the right. TO
be guest" Thus recognizing Zaccheus as
an equal, socially. "a sinner" Publican
was synonymous with sinner and heather.
The Jews did not keep promises with mur.
derers, thieves and publicans. The syna-
| gogue's aims box must not receive their
aims. 1t was not lawful to use riches re-
ceived by them, nor could they judge or
give testimony in court. Hence we see
what breach of Jewish notions it was
| for Jesus to eat with a publican, or be q
guest at his home.
8. STOOD" Before Christ and the
apostles and whatever guests were pres
ent "The half of my goods" etc. Some
| consider this to mean that he had already
done this, but it is far more probable that
he now determines to use his property fol
God and humanity. A few days before
this Jesus had shown how difficult it was
for a rich man to enter the kingdom of
heaven, but, difficult as it is, here is a
rich man entering in. Contrast this with
the action of the rich young ruler. A
strong evidence of a change Of heart is
this change of practice. Liberality would
not lead to repentance, but repentance
leads to liberality. "If-by false accusa-
tion." The ff' does not imply doubt;
he has taken money wrongfuDy.
| 8. "Is salvation come" Zaccheus was