Zacchaeus

This entry incorporates text from the public domain Easton's Bible Dictionary, originally published in 1897.

Zacchaeus by Niels Larsen Stevns, depicts the story of Zacchaeus climbing a sycamore tree.

Zacchaeus (Greek Ζακχαῖος, Hebrew זכי) was a superintendent of customs; a chief tax-gatherer (Latin: publicanus) at Jericho (Luke 19:1-10). Because the lucrative production and export of balsam was centered in Jericho, his position carried both importance and wealth^[1][2]. Being a short man, he arrived before the crowd who were later to meet with Jesus as he passed through Jericho on his way to Jerusalem. The tax collector climbed up a sycamore tree so that he might be able to see him. When Christ reached the spot he looked up into the branches, addressed Zacchaeus by name, and told him to come down. Jesus told the man, who was a hated tax collector, that he intended to visit his house. The crowd was shocked that Christ would sully himself by being a guest of a tax collector.

This led to the remarkable interview recorded by the evangelist, recounting Zacchaeus' repentance and vow to make restitution for his sins, and leads naturally into the striking parable of the Ten Talents (Luke 19:11-27).

Later traditions

At Er-riha (Jericho) there is a large, venerable looking square tower, which by tradition is named the House of Zacchaeus.

According to Clement of Alexandria, in his book Stromata, Zaccheus was surnamed Matthias by the apostles, and took the place of Judas Iscariot after Jesus's ascension.

Medieval legend identified Zacchaeus with Saint Amadour, and held him to be the founder of the French sanctuary, Rocamadour.

Liturgical practices

In the Eastern Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Churches, the Gospel account of Zacchaeus is read on the last Sunday preceding the liturgical preparation for Great Lent, for which reason that Sunday is known as "Zacchaeus Sunday." It is the very first commemoration of a new Paschal cycle. The account was chosen to open the Lenten season because of two exegetical aspects: Jesus' call to Zacchaeus to come down from the tree (symbolizing the divine call to humility), and Zacchaeus' subsequent repentance.

References

1. ^ Morris, Leon. Luke: An Introduction and Commentary, page 297. Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1988.
2. ^ Stier, Rudolf Ewald. The Words of the Lord Jesus. Trans. William Burt Pope. Page 314. Sheldon & co., 1859.

See also

• Paschal cycle

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