Luke 19:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

the crimson-clad lamb, whose blood redeemed creation and whose fleece clothed the bare from Adam to the end of time; he, the bound warrior, wished to see his Sovereign, the sheep to behold his shepherd, the lost to discover his path, and the blind to find their light; he, foolish in wisdom, yearned for the proclamation of holiness; he, powerless, sought healing, the hungry desired divine nourishment, and the thirsty sought the wellspring of life; he longed to encounter the source of life for the priests and the raising of Lazarus. Oh, divine love! Oh, noble desire! Oh, love with wings of gold, or rather, the love of Christ, Who elevates to heaven the soul that possesses Him! This divine love lifted him from worldly concerns, prompting him to ascend a tree; it no longer permitted his gaze to be fixed on earthly matters or endure human limitations; instead, with his focus on love, he aimed for heavenly pursuits; he hastened toward Him whom he was drawn to, and climbing the tree, he beheld Christ and mentally soared into the divine cloud. When Zacchaeus beheld Christ, he exclaimed earnestly, "To You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in heaven!" (Psalm 122:1). Upon seeing the Lord, his heart was enkindled with even greater love; it touched his inner being, transforming him: from a tax collector to a fervent follower, from an unfaithful man to one steadfast, and from a wolf to a secure sheep. To demonstrate this transformation, we must ask: who has ever loved father or mother, or devoted himself so deeply to spouse or children as Zacchaeus did to the Lord? For Christ, he renounced all his possessions for the sake of the poor and restored fourfold to those he had wronged. Oh, the admirable example of the disciple! Oh, the humility of the teacher, and the divine power that inspires action through the contemplation of Jesus. The Lord had yet to utter a single introductory word to Zacchaeus, but to the willing heart, He offered merely a glimpse of His presence, and the strength of faith emerged from that eager heart. The woman with the issue of blood did not anticipate the touch of His hand when she approached Him seeking healing; rather, she quietly reached out to touch the hem of His garment, and healing power was drawn from the One who was touched, much like a sponge absorbs water. And in his unawareness, Zacchaeus, influenced by divine zeal and ablaze with spiritual love, quickly climbed the fig tree…

Zacchaeus was of little height yet immense in desire, small in form yet great in spirit: he longed to see Jesus but found himself hindered by his stature. So, he ran ahead, compensating for his physical limitation with ingenuity: he ascended a fig tree from which he could gaze upon Jesus as He journeyed by.

There lies a profound mystery in this narrative, as one cannot truly recognize Christ and place their faith in Him without ascending the fig tree, having previously sullied their life with unclean acts and impurities. It is noted that Christ was about to pass by the fig tree, having chosen to engage with the law—represented by the fig tree—symbolizing the wisdom of the world, which is the cross and death. Anyone who takes up their cross and embraces the teachings of Christ will find salvation by embodying the law with insight, which transforms into a fig tree that does not bear literal fruit but rather embodies what the world perceives as folly. The hidden actions of the faithful are deemed foolishness by the Jews, consisting of a departure from vice and a renunciation of evil behavior, though they do not undergo physical circumcision nor observe the Sabbath.

Thus, Jesus recognized that Zacchaeus was prepared for obedience, fervent in his faith, and ready to shift from immorality to righteousness. Therefore, He called out to him, prompting Zacchaeus to abandon the fig tree to seek Him. With great eagerness, he descended and welcomed Christ with joy—not only because he had the opportunity to see Him as he wished, but also because he had been summoned by Jesus and was granted the unexpected hospitality of a night’s lodging.

Though the sycamore tree bears fruit, it is considered, by analogy to the parable of the barren fig tree, to symbolize fruitlessness; this is reflected in the Synodal translation that mentions Zacchaeus climbing the fig tree, conveying futility while also correcting the failings of those before him. Thus, he welcomed Jesus into the sanctuary of his heart. His act of climbing the tree was significant, as a good tree yields good fruit; detached from his natural lineage yet grafted into the good olive tree, he was capable of producing the fruit of righteousness. While the root of the tree is sanctified, the branches may be unworthy; yet, the Gentile nations surpassed the Jews in faith, embodying a form of ascension.

Look, there was a man named Zacchaeus (Luke 19:2). Zacchaeus is reminiscent of the blind man at the roadside; one is a recipient of the Lord's mercy while the other is honored by His presence. The Lord inquires about one of them with the intention to heal him; to the other, He comes as an unexpected visitor, fully aware of the generous reward awaiting his host. Although the Lord did not hear the call of the inviter, He discerned the longing of his soul.

The narrative of the chief tax collector is indeed beneficial. Who would lose hope, knowing that one who attained salvation was previously dishonest? And he was wealthy (Lk. 19:2)—this illustrates that not all those with riches are covetous.

Why does Sacred Scripture emphasize only Zacchaeus, who was small in stature (Lk. 19:3)? Might this suggest he harbored little malice or perhaps limited faith? When he climbed the tree, he had not yet made his commitments nor encountered Christ, remaining justly insignificant. On the other hand, John is esteemed, having recognized both Christ and the Spirit dawing on Him like a dove, as he declares: 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 unenlightened souls, unable to grasp the heights of Wisdom? While Zacchaeus remained amidst the throng, he could not perceive Christ; yet, once he ascended above the multitude, his eyes were opened, enabling him to see the One he sought.

It is rightly noted, Because there the Lord was to pass through (Luke 19:4), meaning either near the sycamore tree or where one was destined to believe. In this way, the Lord concealed the mystery while bestowing grace; He journeyed through the Jews to reach the Gentiles.

He beheld Zacchaeus high above: already exalted in the realm of faith, he thrived amidst the fruits of new deeds, as if he were at the summit of a fruitful tree. We have moved from exemplary models to moral lessons; it is a delight for us to rejoice and commemorate the Lord’s Day amidst such numerous faithful followers. Zacchaeus in the sycamore represents the fresh yield of this new season, fulfilling the saying, The fig-tree brought forth its early fruit (Song 2:13); for Christ came to ensure that trees yielded not mere fruit but people. Furthermore, it is written: When thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee (John 1:48). Thus, Nathanael was positioned beneath the tree, signifying his association with the root—which is holy (cf. Rom. 11:16)—while Zacchaeus was above it, symbolizing his elevation over the law. The former served as a covert advocate for Christ; the latter became a public witness. The first awaited Christ’s revelation through the law; the second, having transcended the law, willingly relinquished his wealth to follow the Lord.

For upon hearing of the miracles performed by the One who not only heals physical ailments but also liberates souls from sin, he felt compelled to see the One who offers forgiveness for all. He pondered: 'Who is this Jesus who cleanses the lepers, restores sight to the blind, and absolves those who seek forgiveness? What is His appearance? Does He possess knowledge of all things? Can He judge the thoughts of those absent, or only discern the minds of those present? Does He, as the Almighty, understand the intentions of every heart? How can I uncover this truth? Who will enlighten me? Experience is the ultimate teacher. I will climb the tree and conceal myself among its branches, hoping to discover if salvation is within reach. If He perceives the inclinations of my spirit, I will trust that He has erased my transgressions. This certainty I desire: that He knows the hidden thoughts of my heart. If, amidst the throngs, He is able to see me in my concealment and reveals the turmoil within my soul, I am willing to relinquish all else for this one truth. I seek to emulate Matthew, who, like me, was a tax collector. Matthew did not approach Jesus of his own volition but responded to His call, obeying instantly. Upon recognizing Jesus among the travelers, he instinctively reached for his purse, driven by habit, intending to exploit Christ, but instead, he was transformed by His call, not through outward taxation, but by surrendering his entire being. At the moment Jesus said, ‘Follow Me,’ Matthew rushed toward Him, filled with eagerness. Therefore, if He calls tax collectors and not only summons them but also grants them justification, I shall not be dissuaded by my past misdeeds. Just as Elisha made a barren spring fruitful by adding salt, so too will He, through His grace, enrich my soul and revive the abundance of virtue.'

Figuratively speaking, he, being spiritually diminished and incomplete, mirrors the smallness of stature of Zacchaeus by elevating his thoughts to the fig tree — symbolizing the intricate teachings of the Law and Jewish traditions — seeking to extract both theoretical and practical insights from this encounter.

This revelation deeply moved Zacchaeus, who, already a believer in Christ, vowed to share half of his wealth with the poor and to repay anyone he had wronged four times over, pleading for forgiveness for his past transgressions. In response, the Lord declared to Zacchaeus and those who were troubled by His association with a sinner: “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is (now truly) a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”