GRACE TO THE HUMBLE

Reference

Luke 19:1–10

The Gospel According to Jesus

GRACE TO THE HUMBLE - Seeking and Saving Zacchaeus

Luke 19:1–10

Intro: The story of Zacchaeus stands in dramatic contrast to the rich young ruler. In Luke 18, Jesus declared how difficult it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. We watched a wealthy, moral, disciplined man walk away sorrowful. Then Luke immediately gives us this story. And it is intentional. If the rich young ruler shows us the tragedy of self-salvation…Zacchaeus shows us the triumph of sovereign grace. Luke also wants us to compare this story to the blind beggar in chapter 18. One man was blind and poor. The other is wealthy and corrupt. Yet both are saved. Luke 18:42 “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And in Luke 19, Jesus will say something just as powerful: “Today salvation has come to this house.” The deliverance of a man lost in blindness now corresponds to the deliverance of a man lost in wealth. Different sins. Different lifestyles. Same Savior. Luke also wants us to compare Zacchaeus to Levi (Matthew). Both are tax collectors. Both host Jesus in their homes. Both receive criticism for their association with Christ. And both stories end with a public declaration from Jesus: “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke is building a theme: Jesus does more than welcome sinners. He seeks them out. Luke wants us to see something remarkable: Zacchaeus thought he was searching for Jesus—but Jesus was already searching for him.

WHY IS JESUS LOOKING FOR ME?

Luke 19:1 “Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.”

Jericho was known as the “city of palms.” Josephus called it a “little paradise.” It was one of the richest regions in the country. It was fertile. It had trade routes. It had balsam groves. It was strategically located at the crossroads east of Jerusalem.

It was the perfect place for commerce. And the perfect place for corruption.

Luke 19:2 “Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.”

His name means “pure” or “righteous.” That is ironic.

Because tax collectors were viewed as traitors — collaborators with Rome — extortionists who enriched themselves by overcharging their own people. And Zacchaeus was not just a tax collector. He was a chief tax collector.

The Greek word for “chief tax collector” is a leadership position — the head of the local taxation system. He oversaw others who did the collecting. He skimmed from the top. He was not only participating in corruption. He was profiting from it by his own orders.

Jericho was ideal for taxation. Trade passed through it. Wealth flowed through it.

In that city, with that job, if Zacchaeus was not rich, then he would be bad at his work. Even so, he was as isolated as he was wealthy.

Who befriends a traitor? Who invites an extortionist to dinner?

He had money. But he had no honor. He had wealth. But he had no welcome.

Luke 19:3 “And he sought to see who Jesus was…”

That phrase is important. He sought. This is more than curiosity. Something is stirring.

Maybe he heard about Levi’s banquet — how Jesus sat at a table full of tax collectors and treated them with dignity. Perhaps his conscience had been whispering. Was the Spirit of God already at work in his heart?

Whatever the cause, he wanted to see Jesus.

But he had a problem. He was short. And the crowd would not move. Why would they? In their eyes, he was small in more than height. They despised his morals. They hated his betrayal. He was spiritually small. So what does he do?

Luke 19:4 “He ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree…”

A wealthy official running? Climbing a tree? Can we agree that’s undignified?

Men of status do not sprint through streets and scramble up branches. But Zacchaeus no longer cares about dignity. When everyone already despises you, why preserve appearances? He is no longer concerned with what the community thinks of him.

His plan seems simple: Climb up a tree. Get a glimpse. Remain anonymous. Go back to work. No conversation. No confrontation. Just observation. But heaven has other plans.

Luke 19:5 “When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him…”

That moment must have stopped Zacchaeus’ heart. Jesus stops. Looks up. And calls him by name.

“Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”

Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. He did not know Jesus wanted to see him. The true initiative belongs to Christ.

Do you understand that Zacchaeus did not awaken spiritual interest on his own?

God was already moving. Jesus skips small talk. No introduction. No polite greeting. He issues a divine appointment: “I must stay at your house.” Must.

This is mission language. This is divine necessity. This is not accidental. This is not a detour. This is the reason He came.

The crowd is stunned. Did the holy rabbi choose the corrupt official? Grace always shocks spectators.

But once Jesus calls your name, curiosity is no longer enough—you must make a decision.

WILL I STAY IN THE TREE…OR COME DOWN?

Luke 19:6 “So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.”

Joy. Not hesitation. Not embarrassment. Joy. Somehow, Zacchaeus is excited and eager to be Jesus’ host!

The man despised by society receives Christ gladly. The kingdom of God has arrived in Jericho — and Zacchaeus embraces it. The outsider becomes an insider in a moment. But the crowd was predictable:

Luke 19:7 “They all complained…He has gone to be a guest with a sinner.”

Grace offends the self-righteous.

In their view, entering Zacchaeus’ home meant defilement. Eating with him meant endorsement.

They see contamination. Jesus sees conversion. They see a sinner. Jesus sees a soul.

When someone truly comes down and receives Christ, the evidence does not remain hidden—grace begins to rearrange a life.

IF JESUS HAS CHANGED MY HEART…WHAT WILL BE DIFFERENT IN MY LIFE?

Luke 19:8a “Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord…” He stands. Publicly. Decisively. Luke 19:8b “Look, Lord…” That word “Lord” matters. He is no longer just “Rabbi.” He is Master.

Luke 19:8c “I give half of my goods to the poor…” Half. Voluntarily. Luke 19:8d “And if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”

Under Mosaic Law, restitution required adding one-fifth. Numbers 5:7 “He shall make restitution… plus one-fifth of it.”

Zacchaeus does not offer 20%. He offers 400%.

Grace has transformed him. The taker becomes a giver. The extortionist becomes generous.

This is not coerced or negotiated. This is fruit. Repentance is not only internal sorrow. It bears visible evidence. It is external proof.

In Luke’s Gospel, money reveals the heart. And Zacchaeus’ heart is new. We are not born generous. We must be born again generous.

Zacchaeus declares his repentance. But the final verdict about salvation does not belong to him, and it certainly does not belong to the crowd—it belongs to Jesus.

WHO DECIDES WHEN SALVATION HAS COME?

Luke 19:9a “Today salvation has come to this house…”

Luke loves the word “today.” Luke 4:21 – “Today this Scripture is fulfilled.” Luke 23:43 – “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 19:9b “Because he also is a son of Abraham.”

Not by bloodline. Not because of ancestry. God doesn’t have any grandchildren. Zacchaeus is saved by grace through faith.

Gal 3:6–7 “Abraham believed God… those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.”

Is Zacchaeus saved because he promised to make restitution? No. But because he believed. His generosity is the proof, not the cause.

Luke emphasizes household salvation. Acts 16. Acts 18. When the head of the home believes, the gospel spreads. Grace does not stop with one heart. What might happen in your house if the man repents and believes?

Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Seek. Save. The lost. That is the mission in three words.

From Genesis to Revelation, God is the seeker. In Eden, He called, “Where are you?” He’s the good shepherd who leaves the 99 to go after the one sheep who wandered away. In Jericho, He sought Zacchaeus.

This was not a delay in His journey to Jerusalem. It was the purpose of it. Jesus is not reacting to lost sinners. He is pursuing them.

Contrast with the Rich Young Ruler

Luke 18:23 “He became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.”

Two rich men. One walks away sad. One walks away saved. The difference? One clung to his wealth. One released it. One resisted exposure. One embraced grace.

Zacchaeus proves: What is impossible with men is possible with God.

Conclusion: Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.

Despite the difficulty — He can save even a rich man. Zacchaeus did not depart sorrowful. He departed transformed.

Altar call:

Jesus came to seek and to save the lost—and that includes you.

He didn’t wait for Zacchaeus to fix himself. He stopped, looked up, and called him by name. And He is doing the same right now.

This is personal. You’re not here by accident. You’re not overlooked in the crowd. He sees you. He knows you. And He’s calling you.

The question is simple: Will you come down?

Zacchaeus didn’t stay in the tree analyzing the moment. He didn’t delay. He didn’t negotiate. He came down—and he received Jesus with joy.

Some of you have been watching Jesus from a distance. Interested. Curious. But still holding control. Still keeping your life at arm’s length. That ends tonight.

Maybe like Zacchaeus, you have money but no peace. Maybe you have success but no assurance. Maybe you have religion but no relationship. Maybe your conscience has been whispering for years.

Maybe you feel small — not in height, but in dignity. Maybe you have done things you are ashamed of. Maybe people know your sin. Maybe they don’t. But Jesus does. And He is not recoiling. He is calling.

The crowd may murmur. Religion may grumble. Your past may accuse.

But Jesus seeks. And He saves.

This is not about getting a better view of Jesus. This is about surrendering to Him. You don’t need to clean yourself up first. You don’t need to fix your past. Salvation is received. It is not achieved.

Zacchaeus did not whisper his repentance. He stood. He declared it.

If you are ready to receive Christ…If you are ready to turn from your sin…If you are ready to trust Him fully…

Then when we open the prayer lines, you come. Do not delay. Do not wait for someone else. Do not say, “Maybe another time.”

The rich young ruler walked away. Zacchaeus came down.

Which will you be? Tonight can be your “today.” “Today salvation has come…”

----- Transcript -------------------

Find Luke chapter 19 in your Bibles friends.
If you're new, my name is Trevor Davis. I'm GCC's pastor. We're in this miniseries called the Gospel According to Jesus. Lots of different gospels floating around out there. I want Jesus gospel.
There's a biblical principle that I've been teaching our church called law to the proud. Grace to the humble. That's what God gives. Last week in Luke 18, we looked at a Bible story where the proud person received God's law. And that's where it stopped.
And this week in the next chapter, another sinner is going to receive God's grace as he humbles himself before the Lord. Grace to the humble, seeking and saving zacchaeus. Luke chapter 19, verses 1 to 10. And the text reads this way. Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed into up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him and said to him, zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house. So he made haste and came down and received him.
What's the next word? Joyfully.
But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, he's gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner. Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor. And if I've taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold. And Jesus said to him, today salvation has come to this house because he also is a son of Abraham. For the son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.
The word of the Lord.
Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he. He climbed up in a sycamore tree and that's all the words I know. Okay, what comes next? I don't really know. To see what he could see.
Been a long time since I've been in children's Sunday school. Do you know this story? The story of Zacchaeus stands in dramatic contrast to last week's Guy, the rich young ruler. In Luke 18, the Lord Jesus, after dealing with and encountering the rich young ruler, declared how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God if you're rich. We watched in that episode a wealthy moral Disciplined man, walk away from Jesus.
Sorrowful. Then Luke immediately gives us this story, and it's on purpose. Luke does this intentionally. So if the rich young ruler shows us the tragedy of trying to save yourself, Zacchaeus shows us the triumph of sovereign grace.
Additionally, Luke also wants us to compare this story to the blind beggar. In Luke 18, one man was blind and poor, the other was wealthy and corrupt. And yet both of them, within one chapter of the Bible, both of them come to Christ and are saved. In Luke 8:42, Luke 18:42, Jesus says about the blind beggar, receive your sight, your faith has made you well. And in Luke 19, Jesus will say to something just as powerful to Zacchaeus, today, salvation has come to this house.
So you have the deliverance of a man who's lost in blindness. And now it corresponds directly to the deliverance of a man who's lost in wealth. They have different sins in their lives and they have different lifestyles. They have different worldviews. And now they have the same Savior.
That's how it works. That's how every local church is built. Different sins, different lifestyles, same Savior. Tell me you see that. Tell me you have friends here that are now heart friends, two o' clock in the morning friends that apart from the local church and a ministry like this, you never would have met them and got that blessing.
Luke also wants us to compare Zacchaeus to another tax collector earlier in his gospel named Levi. Levi is not his best known name. His best known name is Matthew of Matthew, the book of Matthew. Both of these guys tax collectors, both of them in Luke's gospel host Jesus in their homes. Both of them get a criticizing remark because of Jesus association with them.
And both stories end with a public declaration from Jesus. In Levi's case, Jesus says, I've not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. And in Zacchaeus case, Jesus will say, the Son of man has come to seek and to save what was lost. So I tell you all that to say Luke's building a theme here. I wonder if you saw it.
Jesus does more than welcome sinners friends, he seeks them out.
Luke wants us to see something even more remarkable. Zacchaeus thought he was searching for Jesus, but then he learns that Jesus was already searching for him.
As always, I'm looking for the text and saying, is this asking us any questions? I found four. Here's question number one. Why is Jesus looking for me? This is what the first four verses ask.
So let's do those. Chapter 19, verse 1. Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Jericho's the key here. We know about Jericho from the Jericho march in the Old Testament.
And the walls came down. No shots were fired, no swords were slung. But we also see Jericho in the Gospels. Jesus heals some beggars there, and Zacchaeus lives there. Jericho was known as the city of the palm trees.
The first century Jewish historian Josephus, who was not a Christian, said people called it a little paradise. I think Jericho would correspond to them the way someplace like Destin, Florida, would for us. A place where we go and play and have fun. Jericho was in one of the richest regions of Israel. It was fertile ground.
It had trade routes. It had groves of balsam trees. It was strategically located at the crossroads east of Jerusalem. In other words, it was the perfect place for commerce. And if it's the perfect place for commerce, then it's also the perfect place for corruption.
And that's what we find there. Luke 19, verse 2 is hilarious to me. Now, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. Well, Pastor Trevor, I didn't see anything funny in there. Yes, you did.
You just didn't know it. You saw the name Zacchaeus, which, by the way, no one really names their sons that anymore. The funny part is what Zacchaeus means. Zacchaeus is a name that means pure or righteous.
This guy was neither of them. We call that ironic. It's ironic because tax collectors were viewed as traitors. No one names their little boys Judas Iscariot or Benedict Arnold anymore. We don't like traitors or their memory.
Because tax collectors collaborated with Rome. The Roman Empire was occupying Israel and making it hard to live there. They. They were extortionists who enrich themselves by overcharging their own people. And Zacchaeus was not just a tax collector, he was the boss.
He was a chief tax collector, which means he had this leadership position that made him the head of the local tax office. Zacchaeus didn't go door to door, get any taxes from anybody. He paid guys to do that and oversaw them. And whatever they brought back to the office, he skimmed a little off the top for himself, which means he was not only participating in the corruption, he was profiting from it by his own orders. And it's the best city around to do this in, because Jericho was ideal for taxes.
Trade passed through it, wealth came back through it. There was money there. So in other words, if you're in that city and you have the job that Zacchaeus has. And you're not rich. You stink at your job, you're incompetent.
So the problem was Zacchaeus was as isolated as he was wealthy, no friends. I mean, who befriends a traitor? Who invites an extortionist to dinner? No one. And so, verse three, he sought to see who Jesus was.
Everyone on earth needs this moment. Everyone on earth needs that time when they go, I've heard about Jesus. I don't know much about him. Let me go see about that.
And that phrase is important, the phrase he sought because it means he was more than just curious. Something stirring inside of him, unusually, and he doesn't really know what it is. I think maybe he had heard about Levi's banquet. Levi's? A colleague of his.
And he'd heard the rumor that Jesus sat at a table, Levi's house, full of tax collectors, and lo and behold, he treated them with dignity. Maybe that's what he thought about. Perhaps his conscience had been whispering to him, something's not right. And maybe the guy coming to town can make it right. Or was the spirit of God already at work in his heart?
Whatever it was, he wanted to see Jesus, but he had a problem. Now, I preached this message at the revival last week, and my friend and yours, Chris, early was there, and Chris and I go way back. We were in youth group together. Chris is about this tall, okay? And I was mature and did not point that out.
I didn't say, we have a Zacchaeus among us. I didn't do that. When the sermon was over, he runs up to me and he says, hey, you know, I was here and you could have made fun of me being short. I said, well, I love you. He goes, but he wanted to make the sermon right.
And so he's telling me so. In the first service, I said the same thing. I go, but I'm not going to do it today either. But I'd already done it.
The problem he had is he was vertically challenged and the crowd wouldn't move and he couldn't see over them. They couldn't stand this guy. They weren't going to accommodate him. Why would they? In their eyes, he was small in more ways than just physically.
They hated his morals. They despised his betrayal. He was also spiritually small to them. So what does he do? Verse 4.
He ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree. You should circle the word ran and you should circle the word climbed. Why is that? Because this is not a kid at recess. This is a wealthy official climbing A tree, like a third grader in the afternoon.
Can you and I agree that that's undignified.
Yes or no? Isn't it true that men of status don't sprint through the streets and scramble up branches? Men of status pay people to do that if we need to do that. But Zacchaeus no longer cares about his dignity. It's interesting to me.
Or remember it's grace to the humble when everybody already despises you. Why preserve appearances? What's it gonna hurt? So he's no longer concerned with what the community thought about him. And he seems to have a simple plan.
Here's the plan. Climb up a tree, get a glimpse of the rabbi, remain completely anonymous and steal. Just don't move. And then go back to work. That was the plan.
No conversation, no confrontation, just observation. But wouldn't you know it? Heaven has other plans. Yes. Verse 5.
When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him. Did you know that the Bible says that the eyes of the Lord range to and fro throughout the earth to spot people whose hearts are completely his? Did you know that Psalm 139 says there's nowhere you can go in the heavens or on earth that you can get away from God. He sees us, but in this day, he only saw one. That moment must have stopped Zacchaeus heart.
Jesus halts, presses paws, looks up and calls this tax collector by name. Zacchaeus, make haste. Is that like making pudding? And what is making haste? I think it just means to hurry.
Zacchaeus, make haste. Come down. For today, I must stay at your house. Now look, right now. For the last several months, Angie and I have been trying to sell our house, downsize, and our house has shown exactly two times, and that was back in 2025.
But my life changed when we listed our house because now I have to be clean all the time. And so you know what you get to do that I don't get to do? Do you remember stuff you have at your bathroom sink, the stuff that you use? You know how you kind of just surround it and like, that's your little people there. You know what I mean?
I don't get to do that anymore. I have to put them under the cabinet, take them out one at a time, use them and put them back. This hurts. And so I have to do this because just. Because just maybe we might get the call.
You know what the call is? The call is real estate agent. Hey, somebody wants to see your house. Can they come in a couple hours? So when we have that, like, couple of hours, we don't have to scramble around.
It's just kind of almost already there. Zacchaeus doesn't even have the moment to do this. Jesus comes. This was the furthest thing from his mind. He doesn't have any friends.
He doesn't entertain guests. Jesus says, I'm going to your house. Zacchaeus has no time to go, but I need to go make it worthy of a rabbi. And then Jesus says, hurry.
Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. He just didn't know that Jesus wanted to see him. Friends, the true initiative always belongs to Christ. See, the day that you opened your heart to Christ, he was already working on your heart before you believed. The day you took the first step, it was really the second step.
Jesus took the first. Yes. Not only that.
Do you understand that Zacchaeus didn't do a single thing to awaken spiritual interest on his own? God was already moving. And I love it that Jesus skips the small talk. He doesn't ask how Zacchaeus, how his wife and family are doing, how's business? There's no introduction.
There's no polite greeting. He issues simply a divine appointment. I must stay at your house. You should circle the word must. You know what that word must means?
It means that the whole reason that Jesus went to Jericho, this wasn't a side gig. This wasn't a spontaneous in the moment. It was already his plan.
May I submit to you that Jesus is a really good savior, like he's skilled at it. And the unsaved people in your life, Jesus isn't struggling to save them. He has mysterious timing. Don't ask me to explain it. I can't.
But he needs no help whatsoever in turning a darkened heart into the light must. This is divine necessity. This is no accident. This is no detour. It's the reason he came.
And the crowd is stunned. You can just hear them whispering. Are you telling me that the holy rabbi is going to the house of that scoundrel?
Look at me. Grace always shocks spectators.
If you just sit on the sidelines and watch the Christian faith of your friends happen, judging it and seeing if you really want to do this or not, when you see the real grace of God, it's going to bother you.
You're going to say, are you sure, Lord? Do you know her? Do you know what she did to me, not him? Let me say this another way. If a notorious sinner is saved and that makes us unhappy, why would we ever think we belong to the kingdom of God?
Nevertheless, once Jesus Calls your name. I have to tell you, curiosity is not enough. You must make a decision. It's question number two. Will I stay in the tree or come down?
Luke 19:6. So he made haste and came down and received him. What's that word? Joyfully.
It always. I'm always a little skeptical when someone comes and tells me of their newfound faith in Christ. And they got a baptism coming up and they're frowning about it, or they're stoic, or they're a little bit uneasy. I don't get it. Do you know who you just met?
Do you know that all the world is coming to him? He's the judge of all the earth. Do you know he's the lamb on the throne? That when he returns, the wicked cry out for the mountains to crush them so they don't have to look at the Lamb. That's him.
That's him. He loves you. He commands you to repent and believe. He wants to give you eternal life and make you a child of God. And this did nothing for you?
Emotionally, I don't get it. Zacchaeus comes down joyfully. He can't believe what's happening. There's joy. There's no hesitation.
There's no embarrassment. Somehow Zacchaeus is excited and eager to be Jesus host. The man despised by his community receives Christ gladly. The kingdom of God has arrived in Jericho, and Zacchaeus, of all people, embraces it. Do you understand?
That means that the outsider became an insider in a moment. And it wasn't on his bingo card for that day.
But the crowd. The crowd. By the way, don't live your life with a crowd.
If you're going to give in to peer pressure, make sure it's Jesus peer pressure.
Because here's what the crowd's like. Predictable. Luke 19:7. They all complained. Amen.
That's what it says. They all complained. He's gone to be a guest with a sinner. He likes the wrong people.
You do realize that grace offends the self righteous. In their view, entering Zacchaeus home meant defilement. And even worse, eating with him meant endorsement. Jesus is defiling himself and endorsing this guy. They see contamination.
Jesus sees conversion. They see a sinner. Jesus sees a soul. I want to say to you that when someone truly comes down out of the tree and receives Christ, the evidence never remains hidden. Grace begins to rearrange a life.
Question number three. If Jesus has changed my heart, what will be different in my life?
Well, the answer to that question in Zacchaeus case is found in verse eight, I'm going to tear it down phrase by phrase. Four of them. Phrase number one. Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, he stands. He has no secrets to keep.
And he says to Jesus publicly, and he wants anybody with an earshot to hear, he makes a decision. Second part of verse of eight, he says, look, Lord, that word Lord matters. Jesus was rabbi. Now he's master and boss. He's Lord.
Third part of verse eight. It's stunning to me. I give half my goods to the poor. Are you kidding me?
Half? Half. Stunning. The poor is hard for me to believe, because if this guy doesn't have a new heart, he's not giving the poor anything. You might can talk him into giving half of his stuff to the rich because they can repay him.
But the poor, he gets none of that back. He is not the same guy anymore. Do you see it? I give half my goods to the poor voluntarily. And then the final part of verse eight.
And if I've taken anything from anyone by false accusation, had he done that multiple times, I restore circle the word fourfold. Pastor, I was not told there would be math at church. I'm sorry. I get it. Under the Mosaic Law, here's how you make restitution.
If you defrauded anyone and you wanted to make it right, you give it all back plus 1/5. That's 20%. Zacchaeus doesn't offer 20%. He offers 400%.
That's a new life. Grace has transformed him. The taker becomes a giver. The extortionist becomes generous. And it's not coerced and it's not negotiated.
It is fruit.
Here's how you know you've repented, that it doesn't stay on the inside, it shows on the outside. It bears visible evidence. You should compare and contrast Zacchaeus and his repentance with Judas Iscariot. Do you guys remember Judas? Remember Jesus picked Judas?
Judas Iscariot literally walked with Jesus. Do we agree he heard Jesus sermons? Yes. Saw the miracles. Yes.
Performed miracles? Yes.
And then he sold Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver.
And after Jesus was condemned, the Bible says then Judas was remorseful. It says that that means he felt it and he even tried to undo it. He says, I have sinned by betraying innocent blood. So he admits it. He feels guilt about it.
He even returns the money. He takes the money sack and he throws it into the temple. But watch this. He threw down the pieces of silver, the Bible says, and then he went and hanged himself.
Judas was a False convert. And he did things that looked like repentance but were not. Do you understand that it's possible to feel bad, to admit sin, and even try to make things right and still never repent?
Judas returned the money, but he never returned to Jesus. Now you're supposed to put him next to Zacchaeus over here. Both of these guys had money tied to sin. But Zacchaeus didn't just give the money back. He gave himself to the Lord.
Judas says, I have sinned. Zacchaeus says, look, Lord, Judas walked away in despair. How will it turn out for Zacchaeus if, in Luke's gospel, if money reveals the heart, then Zacchaeus has a new heart? Isn't it true that we're not born generous? Yes or no?
One of the first words you learned was mine, usually followed or preceded by the word no. No, mine. Now when you grow up, you just add vocabulary words, but you're saying the same thing. We are not born generous. We have to be born again generous.
When Jesus gives you a new heart, you can do these things. Zacchaeus declares his repentance in verse 8. But who declares whether Zacchaeus belongs to the kingdom of God or not? That's question number four. Who decides when salvation has come?
Jesus says, today salvation has come to this house. I want to ask you a personal question. Who told you you were a Christian?
Was it your mama? Was it Granddaddy? Was it dad? Was it me?
Because none of those really count. You need Jesus to tell you, today, salvation has come to this house. Romans 8:16. God's spirit testifies with our spirit that we're the sons of God. Have you ever heard it from him?
Luke loves the word today. Today salvation has come to this house. In Luke 4. 21, Jesus says, Today this scripture is fulfilled. In Luke 23, Jesus says to the thief on the cross who repents today you'll be with me in paradise.
Everybody say, today we're not wasting this sermon today. The second part of Luke 19:9. Behold, salvation has come today. Salvation has come to this house because he's also a son of Abraham. Every other world religion would have said of Zacchaeus Today salvation has come to this house because of all the good works he said he was going to do.
Jesus says, no, that's not. Why did Jesus say that Zacchaeus is going to heaven? Because he's Jewish. He's son of Abraham, right? Is that what that means?
Your ancestry determines whether you're in the kingdom. That can't be right. What does it mean? To be a son of Abraham. Abraham's the father of faith.
Galatians 3, 6, 7. Abraham believed God and those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.
Luke 19:10. For the son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. Seek, saved, the lost. That's the mission. In four words, we're supposed to contrast this with the rich young ruler.
Last week in Luke 18:23, the rich young ruler became very sorrowful because he was very rich. So you have two men. One walks away sad, one walks away saved. What in the world's the difference? One clung to his wealth, an idol.
One released it and got a new God. One said, don't expose my sin. The other said, you can have all of me. Everybody already knows anyway. I want all the grace you have.
Have.
Some of you been watching Jesus from a distance? You're interested. You're curious. But you're still holding all the control and all the cards. You're still keeping the Lord at arm's length.
May I ask you to end that today? Maybe, like Zacchaeus, you have money but no peace. Maybe you have success but no assurance. Maybe you have religion but no relationship with God. Maybe your conscience has been whispering to you about this for years.
If you're ready to receive Christ, if you're ready to turn from your sin, if you're ready to trust him completely, then when we open the prayer lines, come and don't delay. Make haste. Come down. Don't wait for someone else. Don't say, maybe another time.
You see, the rich young ruler walked away, but Zacchaeus walked down. And I wonder which you'll be, because this day can be your today. And you can hear the voice of the Son of God say to you, today, salvation's come to your house.
I'm through preaching now. I hope that was helpful to you. There's a ministry card in your seat. It tells you some next steps. Some of you need to trust Christ.
Some of you need to be baptized. Some need to join up with our church. You need to make a faith decision the way Zacchaeus did. I encourage you to mark your ministry card and put that in the box on the way out, and we'll help you. You guys ready to tie this sermon up with a bow by putting somebody in the baptism waters?
All right, let's pray. Father, thank you. For new life. Thank you. For believers, baptism.
Thank you. For new believers. Amen.
Help me welcome to the stage Bobby and Ashley Robinson and Lily. Their daughter is going to come along with them.
There you Are all right, Bobby, you stand right next to me. You stand on the other side, and then, Lily, you can stand wherever you want. All right? Okay. This is the Robinson family, and this is Bobby.
And Bobby is coming to us today having confessed his faith in the Lord. Jesus shared the roller coaster journey of his life. So many of us are familiar with that. And through all of this, here you stand today saying, I believe in Jesus. He's done great things in my life.
He's really strengthened me and my family. And the Lord had brought me to faith earlier on, and I've heard this story, but today he's standing here saying, hey, I believe in Jesus and I trust him, and I have been baptized, and I'd like to become a part of Great Commission Church. Am I being accurate about this? Absolutely. Well, then just let me ask you in front of everyone here, Bobby, is it your testimony that you're trusting Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and eternal life?
Completely. Well, based on that church, he's being presented to be adopted by our church family. And if you would like to receive Bobby into our fellowship, would you raise your hand and say amen? Well, guess what? You are now the newest member of Great Commission Church, but it's not going to last long, so you need to step back.
I'm back. Okay. Come over here, Ashley. This is his wife, Ashley. And Ashley has a very familiar testimony in that she grew up in the south, therefore, she was around church things.
She heard about Jesus. She did the religious things that were expected of her. And so she professed faith in Jesus. She got baptized. And it wasn't until very recently, just a few months ago, these are your words when you said, I experienced an awakening.
And suddenly, when you're alive, you can see death differently. You can say, oh, that was not the Lord. That was religion. Am I being correct in this? And so she shares this, and then it begins to sink in.
Oh, wait a minute. I wasn't saved back then. I did some religious things. It didn't change my life, really, but I've had an awakening. What does that mean?
I go. Awakening means you've come to life and this is salvation. And she's like, yes. And so she goes, well, then I need to be baptized. And, yes, you do.
And that's what we're going to experience today. So, Ashley, you just nodded that I accurately reflected to the congregation what you shared. But I want to give you the opportunity to say publicly, is it your confession that you believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins and that you're Trusting him for that forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. Well, based on that, we're going to baptize you. So let's pray as we want to be a good church for Bobby and him a good church member.
Let's pray for Ashley as she gets ready to publicly testify her faith. Heavenly Father, thank you for the Robinson family. Would you just continue to enrich. Enrich their lives. Continue to strengthen and bless them and help them to love you.
Lord Jesus, thank you for Bobby. Thank you for Ashley. Lord, help us to be a good church family. To them I ask in your name. Amen.
All right, let's step right over here. And as you're stepping over here, they're already a part of a small group here in our church. You guys, you can come up here, down there, Lilly, wherever you think, get the best shot. They're already part of the Mark Beale, Matt Osborne small group. And that's a great thing.
Step right there, and then step down and sit right here. Here. There we go.
All right. That's perfect. All right.
Isn't this a great day?
So, Ashley, we're now going to baptize you by Jesus command. We're going to baptize you in the name of the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit.

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Join us this Sunday at Great Commission Church for a welcoming and uplifting worship experience. If you’ve been searching for a church near you, you’ll discover a warm, authentic church family ready to help you grow in faith.

We are a family-friendly, non-denominational Christian church in Olive Branch, serving individuals and families throughout DeSoto County and the greater Mid-South. People looking for Christian churches in Olive Branch often discover a vibrant community where faith comes alive and lives are transformed through the Gospel.

Whether you’re new to faith or have followed Christ for years, you’ll find welcoming Sunday services, practical Bible teaching, and a place to belong. We are more than a congregation — we are a church family united by a mission to follow Jesus and live out the Great Commission.

A Place for the Whole Family

Families searching for a church with strong children’s programs love our engaging Kids Ministry and safe, caring environments. Students can connect through our Youth Ministry, and adults of every stage can find community through groups, prayer, and discipleship opportunities. As a multi-generational church, we love seeing every age grow in faith together.

Meaningful Worship

Experience contemporary worship with modern Christian music, heartfelt prayer, and Gospel-centered messages designed to help you encounter God personally. If you’re looking for vibrant worship near Memphis, you’ll find a place that feels both authentic and inspiring.

Grow in Your Faith

We offer Bible studies, small groups, and discipleship opportunities that help you understand and apply God’s Word to everyday life. If you’re looking for a place to grow spiritually, you’ll find support and encouragement here.

Connected to Our Community

We are passionate about serving our neighbors through outreach and local partnerships, making a positive impact in Olive Branch and beyond.

Conveniently located in Olive Branch, we serve families from surrounding communities, including Southaven, Germantown, Collierville, Lewisburg, and Byhalia.