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And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” Luke 19:8
D.L. MOODY
A short speech, but how the words have come ringing down through the ages! By making that remark, Zacchaeus confessed his sin—that he had been dishonest. Besides that, he showed that he knew the requirements of the law of Moses. If a man had taken what did not belong to him, he was not only to return it, but to multiply it by four. I think that men in this dispensation ought to be fully as honest as men under the Law. I am getting so tired and sick of your mere sentimentalism that does not straighten out a man’s life. We may sing our hymns and psalms, and offer prayers, but they will be an abomination to God unless we are willing to be thoroughly straightforward in our daily life. Nothing will give Christianity such a hold upon the world as to have God’s believing people begin to act in this way. Zacchaeus had probably more influence in Jericho after he made restitution than any other man in it.
ERWIN LUTZER
Restitution is always a product of revival. The restoration of stolen goods and the mending of broken relationships have been used by God to soften the hearts of those indifferent or even hardened to the gospel. It’s not enough for us to claim a wonderful relationship with God unless we have done all we can to be reconciled to those we have wronged.
Because God seeks reconciliation, we should seek it also on behalf of others (2 Corinthians 5:18–19). Sin divides, grace unites. As Paul said in Acts 24:16, “I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both
God and man.”
No doubt Zacchaeus had a positive impact in Jericho. He was willing to be reconciled to those he had wronged, even at a great personal cost.
PRAYER
Father, reveal to me the names of those I have wronged, giving me the grace to make it right.REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Have you tried to reconcile with those whom you have wronged?
What did it cost God to reconcile believers to Him? Why should that Influence our willingness to go to great lengths to reconcile with others?