Yesterday we looked at the Pharisees.
But who were the despised Tax Collectors?
Tax collectors were Jewish collaborators with the Roman occupiers.
For a hansom prophet, they undertook the onerous task of collecting tax revenue for the Roman empire from their fellow Jews.
Generally, they employed no small amount of extortion and dishonesty in their work.
It's little wonder that though rich, they were generally despised.
It is important to note that the term "Sinners" in the bible is not referring merely to those who sin, but to those who have been formally excluded from Jewish religious life because of particular sins. The top of the list was the colluding, cheating tax collectors.
Understanding who the tax collectors were helps us understand what's going on when Luke tells us, "The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying 'This man receives sinners and eats with them.'"
The scandal was that Jesus was willing to dine with excluded tax collectors and exiled sinners before they repented.
Jesus dined with both Pharisees and Tax Collectors.
He was willing to share a table with the tax collectors despite their sins of dishonesty and extortion and the Pharisees despite their sins of self-righteousness and pride.
When Jesus came to Jericho, he dined with Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector. Jesus didn't require any repentance before sitting at the table with him.
By the end of the meal, without any written signs that Jesus preached at Zacchaeus, he pledged to amend his ways and right his wrongs and give half his wealth to the poor.
Such is the transformative power of the unconditional love that animated the ministry of Jesus.
What a thousand sermons from a hundred Pharisees could never accomplish, Jesus accomplished by simply sharing a meal with the most despised man in town.
Jesus brought salvation to his house. Salvation came to Zacchaeus, not by a formal prayer in a religious temple, but by inviting Jesus into his real life as it was, and suddenly discovering that because of Jesus, he wanted to change his life.
Salvation is not a status update but a fundamental transformation of our lives.
At his core, Zacchaeus wasn't really a con and a cheat; he was really a wayward son of Abraham who needed to be sought after and loved and brought to the table of fellowship.
Zacchaeus was a real-life prodigal son redeemed by love.
Lord Jesus, may we again receive you into our home so that your love and grace can save us by transforming us into true sons and daughters of God. Amen.

Music: Dear Gravity - Pilgrimage Series
Salt Of The Sound - Known. 

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