Judging from the crowds reaction to him, Zacchaeus must have been a very crooked tax collector. But after he met Jesus, he realized that his life needed straightening out. By giving to the poor and making restitution to those he cheated, Zacchaeus demonstrated inner change by outward action. It is not enough to follow Jesus in your head and heart alone. You must show your faith by changed behavior. Has your faith resulted in action? What changes do you need to make?
Tax collectors were among the most unpopular people in Israel. Jews by birth, they chose to work for Rome and were considered traitors. Besides it was common knowledge that tax collectors were making themselves rich by gouging their fellow Jews. No wonder the people muttered when Jesus went home with a tax collector. But despite the fact that Zacchaeus was both a cheater and a traitor, Jesus loved him; and in response, this tax collector was converted. In every society, certain groups of people are considered “untouchable” because of their political views, their immoral behavior, or their life-style. You should not give in to social pressure to avoid these people. Jesus loves them, and they need to hear about His Good News of forgiveness and salvation.
When Jesus and Zacchaeus was a son of Abraham, and yet was lost, He must have shocked His listeners in two ways: 1) They would not liked to have acknowledged a tax collector as a fellow son of Abraham, and 2) they would not admit that as children of Abraham, they could be lost. But a person is not saved because of good heritage or condemned by a bad one; faith is more important than genealogy. Jesus came to save all the lost no matter what their background or previous way of life. Through faith the lost can be forgiven and be made anew.