To Seek and Save the Lost
Chris Patton
Luke 19:1-10
January 24, 2021
Sermon Video/Audio
Luke 19:1–10
[1] He entered Jericho and was passing through. [2] And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. [3] And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. [4] So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. [5] And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” [6] So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. [7] And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” [8] 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.” [9] And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (ESV)
- This passage shines the light on the purpose of Jesus coming into the world.
- It shines the light on why he came and on what His mission was.
“The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost (verse 10).”
- This sermon included a verse by verse exposition of the text followed by several points of application.
Application:
- An encouragement to those who haven’t put their faith in Christ and repented of their sins to do so.
- This passage is cause for great gratitude.
- It is not difficult to become the opposite of grateful. It’s not difficult to become very ungrateful. It’s not difficult to live with an awareness of all that is wrong with ourselves, other people and the world around us.
- For the Christian, there is a better way. The better way is gratitude. The better way is “God, thank you that you came to seek and save the lost.” Thank you that you came to save me! And thank you for the countless blessings that have come my way through your son Jesus.
- Here in our story today Jesus says “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” As Christians, as disciples, as followers of Christ, we’ve been commissioned to participate with Him in His mission.
- What we see in Acts is that the ministry of Jesus of saving lost people, continues by the power the Holy Spirit through the witness of His people.
- Reading this story in the context of this two volume work (Luke-Acts) it is very appropriate for us to apply this text by saying we’ve got a job to do. There are Zaccheaus’ everywhere, all around us. And God has called us to proclaim Christ to them.
- God is active saving people. Let’s look to the Lord to do what He has promised in His Word to do (Psalm 22:27-28, Revelation 7:9-12).
Questions For Discussion/Application:
- Re-read the text, Luke 19:1-10. What initial observations and insights do you have from reading this text?
- Who was Zaccheaus? Why was he so hated?
- How do we see evidence of the Spirit’s work in Zacchaeus even prior to Jesus calling him? What are some of the ways you saw the Spirit at work in your heart prior to your conversion?
- Zacchaeus received Jesus into his heart and home with joy. How has Jesus and the salvation he has given you produced joy in your heart?
- Hospitals discharge many cases as incurable. But there are no incurable cases under the Gospel. Any sinner may be healed, if he will only come to Christ. – JC Ryle
How does the story of Zacchaeus illustrate what Ryle says here? - What is repentance? Why does it matter? How was repentance evident in Zacchaeus life?
- “The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost (verse 10).” What does it look like to participate with, to join Jesus in His mission of saving people?
- Revelation 7:9–10 [9] After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, [10] and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (ESV)
- How do these verses provide encouragement for us to press forward in the area of evangelism?