The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1900-12-13

v.
Zaccheus the Man.-One of the nota-
BILE things about this lesson is the
fact that in SO brief space is so COM
plete description given of one of
the story's principal characteristics.
More things are told about the man
Zaccheus than we would at first think
possible to be crowded into the limits
of ten short verses. Q) He was Jew,
for Jesus mentions ". 81 that he was
"a son of Abraham" (2) He was a
citizen of the city of Jericho, for it
was there that Jesus stayed in his
house. (3) He was publican, or. we
would say taxgatherer. (4) He was,
before meeting with Jesus, no excep-
ton to the general run of taxgather-
ers-that is. in the way of rapacity
and extortion. We know this from
the fact that when he repented he
promised. to restore fourfold to those
from whom he had taken anything
"by false accusation" Some of his
wealth was honestly acquired, or he
could not have restored fourfold. (5)
He was rich both from what he had
rightfully earned and wrongfully ex-
torted. (6) He was a leader by ma
ture and disposition. for we are told
that he was a chief publican. "a He
was short of stature. (s) He
was persistent and determined. We
could infer this from the material
success which he had achieved, but it
is shown in the manner by which he
accomplished his purpose of seeing
Jesus. (9) He was enthusiastic. for
we are told he received Jesus 10y
fully" (1O) Lastly, his must have
been more than ordinarily generous
dispositions; in fact. "a good fellow"
He did not have to restore. fourfold to
those whom he had overcharged.
Many good people would have stopped
with paving merely the amount
wrongfully taken, adding only the
accumulated interest
Bound to See Jesus.--He had heard
of Jesus probably during more or less
of the Masters three years of public
ministry. He must have heard of
some at least of the wonderful mir
acles performed. He must have heard
of His forcible. authoritative preach.
ing He could hardly not have heard
of some of the disputes with the
pharisees, in which every time the
latter had retired baffled, defeated
! He wanted to see Jesus, but, being
shorter than the crowd, he had to sac
rifice his dignity and climb into q
tree. "Where there's will there's
way"
Contemptuous Attitude of the Phar
isees.--Contrast Jesus open-hearted
way in which Jesus had entered into
the home of this man. and the small
mean manner of the pharisees, who
stood aloof and murmured at Jesu.
having gone to be guest with a mar
that is sinner" This was only an
ether proof Of their self-righteous
ness and bigotry.
Iaccheus' Repentance. Zaccheu
faced the Christ life and the phari
saical smallness of mind. In thi.
hour he found himself compelled t.
choose between sin and righteousness
Zaccheus' Salvation. - Jesus com
mended Zaccheus, for the stand he ha,
| 'dheh anu ilhpiieuiN ItDuheu tne pnaT
isees, for Jesus says "he also is a sol
of Abraham" Though publican
Zaccheus had repented of the evil HI
had done. He was jew. but NOR
than this he had now become a $50.
of Abraham" in way the pharisee
had not.
The Mission of Jesus.-But Jesu
had n firth reasnn for ossooiot;,,
with such men as Zaccheus. 1t wa
His supreme mission on earth to brin
back the sinners to the way of eter
nal life. "to seek and to save tina
which was lost"