Luke 19:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

By day, they pursue Him through acts of kindness, and by night, they commune with Him in prayer, imagining themselves walking alongside Him in their dreams. When they catch a sight of Him in visions, they feel immense joy, akin to thirsty individuals discovering a long-sought spring. Upon waking, they long to return to slumber, hoping to encounter that vision once more. Consider Zacchaeus, the tax collector, of whom you’ve just heard in the Gospel. Observe how he hurries, consumed by divine longing; he climbs a tree to catch sight of Jesus, the life-giving fountain. When Zacchaeus beheld the Lord, his physical sight was satisfied, yet his heart burned even more fervently with desire.

This narrative holds a profound mystery, for a person cannot truly see Christ and come to faith unless he ascends from the ground, having soiled his existence with sin. It is said that Christ was on the verge of passing by the fig tree, choosing to engage with the law, symbolized by the fig tree, as well as embracing the folly of the cross and death. Whoever embraces their cross and follows the teachings of Christ achieves salvation by understanding and fulfilling the law, which may appear to yield only foolishness. The genuine conduct of believers, which entails forsaking vice and turning away from sinful actions, appears to be folly to the Jews; they may not bear physical circumcision nor obey the Sabbath.

Recognizing that Zacchaeus was eager to obey, fervent in his faith, and ready to transition from wrongdoing to righteousness, Christ called him down, prompting Zacchaeus to leave the fig tree in search of Him. Joyfully, he descended in haste, not only because he fulfilled his longing to see Jesus but also because he was welcomed and invited by Him for a night's stay—an opportunity he could scarcely have anticipated.

The sycamore tree, though it produces edible fruit, is likened to the barren fig tree in the parable, representing fruitlessness; this explains why some translations refer to Zacchaeus climbing a fig tree. In doing this, he not only corrected the failings of the previous generation but also welcomed Jesus into the depths of his heart. It is significant that he climbed the tree so a good tree might yield good fruit (cf. Matthew 7:17) and that, having been separated from his wild olive tree, he was grafted into the good olive tree (cf. Rom. 11:24) to bear the fruit of the law. The root of the tree is holy, despite the unworthy branches, with the vain futility of the Gentiles surpassed by their faith in the resurrection as if they had physically risen.

And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus (Luke 19:2). Zacchaeus stands out like the blind man by the roadside. One is met with mercy by the Lord while the other receives the honor of His presence. The Lord seeks out one to heal, while He visits the other as an uninvited guest, knowing the generous reward awaits his host. Although the Lord did not hear the voice of the one inviting Him, He understood the intent of Zacchaeus's heart.

It is worthwhile to consider the story of the chief tax collector. Who could lose hope in themselves when even one who achieved salvation through dishonest means is redeemed? And he was wealthy (Lk. 19:2), which serves to demonstrate that not all rich individuals are greedy.

Why does Scripture highlight only one Zacchaeus, who was diminutive (Lk. 19:3)? This could signify that he possessed little malice, or perhaps slight faith? After all, when he climbed the tree, he had yet to receive the promises and had not yet laid eyes on Christ; in this sense, he remained small in righteousness. In contrast, John is great, for he witnessed both Christ and the Spirit resting upon Him in the form of a dove, as he himself attests: I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and abiding on Him (John 1:32).

What is a crowd but a chaotic assembly of ignorant souls unable to grasp the profound wisdom? While Zacchaeus remained amidst the crowd, he could not see Christ; yet when he elevated himself above the multitude, he was able to glimpse the object of his longing. It is appropriately stated, Because there the Lord was to pass through (Luke 19:4), alluding to the sycamore or the place where one who would believe was positioned. In this manner, the Lord veiled the mystery while imparting grace; He came so that by passing through the Jews, He would reach the Gentiles.

He spotted Zacchaeus perched above: he was already lifted up by the faith that blossomed from new deeds, much like being on top of a fruitful tree. This departure from allegory to moral instruction is comforting, for in the assembly of many believers, we can rejoice and celebrate each Sunday. Zacchaeus on the sycamore symbolizes the new fruit of the season, fulfilling the expression, The fig-tree brought forth its early fruit (Song 2:13); for Christ arrived so that trees would bear not mere fruit, but people. Additionally, we are reminded: When thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee (John 1:48). Nathanael was beneath the tree, associated with the root—the root being holy (cf. Rom. 11:16); yet Nathanael was under the tree, representing being under the law, while Zacchaeus climbed the tree, indicative of being above the law. The former was a secret supporter of the Lord, while the latter was an open witness. The first awaited Christ through the law, while the second, having risen above it, was ready to relinquish his possessions and follow the Lord.

“And he was a chief of tax collectors and a rich man.” This phrase, “Behold a man,” is typically reserved for individuals of significance and remarkable stature. The mention of his name supports this interpretation, as he was not among those David refers to when he says, “I will not remember their names by my mouth” (Psalm 15:4). The Evangelist affirms that he was not merely a publican but the chief publican, thus illustrating his prominence in evil deeds.

Consider Zacchaeus: observe how he loved and yearned for Christ, and how the Lord reciprocated this affection, calling him close. Therefore, if anyone finds himself a tax collector or a leader of tax collectors, having acquired wealth through unrighteous means, let him follow the path to salvation that Zacchaeus embraced. In a way of dignity, let him repay those he has wronged and renounce his ill-gotten gains. If someone has lost their possessions or is in poverty, let them rejoice in gratitude, for they are rich in the wealth of salvation. Better yet, let them transform their situation into a blessing by thanking God for their circumstances—just as the wealthy tax collector did, for he was joyfully redeemed, as you have heard. This concludes the Gospel narrative.

To delve deeper into its significance—since Zacchaeus means “justified,” I am reminded of the Pharisees, who proclaimed their own righteousness, yet acted like publicans, as the Lord describes in the Gospels—“eating of widows’ houses, and praying hypocritically long” (Matthew 23:14). Thus, whenever anyone among such men seeks to uncover the truth, they ought to pursue it as Zacchaeus pursued Jesus, for He is the embodiment of Truth.

However, upon hearing about the renown of Jesus and His extraordinary miracles—particularly the healing of the blind man that had recently occurred outside Jericho—he yearned to see who this Jesus was, this figure of such glory and wonder. Yet, despite his desire to see Christ, he was hindered by the multitude surrounding Jesus and his own short stature, which prevented him from catching a glimpse of Him.

As someone who already believed in Christ, he vowed to share half of his wealth with the needy and to repay those he had wronged four times over, pleading for forgiveness for his past sins. In response, the Lord spoke to Zacchaeus and the onlookers who questioned His association with a sinner, declaring, “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 the lost.”