Repentance and Faith in The Gospel of Luke: Transformations of Zacchaeus and Levi Thesis

Transformative Encounters with Jesus

The Bible is filled with stories of individuals encountering Jesus and being changed by His presence. One of the most compelling and memorable stories is that of Zacchaeus, found in Luke 19:1-10. Here, Zacchaeus, a despised tax collector, meets Jesus and experiences a profound transformation that results in his salvation. This is contrasted with the story of Levi in Luke 5:27-32, another tax collector who is also changed by his encounter with Jesus. It is evident from a comparison of these two tales that Luke emphasizes the necessity of trust in Jesus and repentance as a precondition for genuine salvation.

Repentance and Faith in Jesus in the Stories of Zacchaeus and Levi

The story of Zacchaeus and the story of Levi both illustrate the transformative power of repentance. In Luke 19:1-10, Zacchaeus is described as a “chief tax collector” and a “sinner,” suggesting he was immoral and despised. Despite this, Jesus calls him to repentance and salvation, saying, “Today salvation has come to this house.” Similarly, in Luke 5:27-32, Levi is described as a “tax collector,” Jesus calls him to repentance and salvation, saying, “Follow me and be my disciple.” In both cases, the characters are called to repentance and salvation, illustrating the importance of repentance in salvation.

In addition to repentance, Luke emphasizes the importance of faith in Jesus as a prerequisite for salvation. In the story of Zacchaeus, Jesus’s words, “salvation has come to this house,” are seen to be a result of Zacchaeus’s faith in Jesus. This is illustrated by Zacchaeus’s words, “Look, Lord, I give half of my possessions to the poor” (Luke 19:8), demonstrating his faith in Jesus and willingness to follow him. Similarly, in the story of Levi, Jesus calls him to “follow me and be my disciple.” This demonstrates Levi’s faith in Jesus, which is necessary for his salvation.

The accounts of Zacchaeus and Levi highlight the significance of repentance and faith in Jesus as essential conditions for genuine salvation. Zacchaeus is saved in Luke 19:1–10 as a consequence of his repentance and confidence in Jesus. Similarly, in Luke 5:27-32, Levi’s repentance and faith in Jesus result in his salvation. By comparing these two narratives, Luke emphasizes that repentance and faith in Jesus are essential prerequisites for genuine salvation.

Interesting Aspects of the Stories

One exciting aspect In Luke 19 is Jesus’ interaction with Zacchaeus, which begins by noting his short stature and desire to see Jesus. This sets the tone for the story, as it reveals Zacchaeus’ eagerness to meet Jesus and to be saved. This eagerness starkly contrasts Levi’s initial attitude in Luke 5. In that parable, Levi is portrayed as resistant to Jesus’ message, refusing to leave his work behind and follow Jesus. This difference in attitude is an important reminder of the power of repentance and how even the most hardened individuals can be saved.

Significant Phrases and Words Found in the Stories

The phrase “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost” is particularly significant in this passage. According to the notes on Luke, Luke referred to Jesus mainly as the Son of Man, seeing him as the first of the new race that is saved by faith. Luke proved that Jesus is the Son of Man by following his birth back to Adam to prove the fulfillment of scriptures as prophesied in the Old Testament. When Jesus was referred to as the Son of man in Luke 19, the Jews were well aware of what it meant, although most would not believe it.

Another important word is Lord, which Zacchaeus used to refer to Jesus. Luke’s notes state that Jesus is the Lord, meaning he is like God and can forgive sin. This was an act seen by the Jews and Pharisees as blasphemy, as only God was capable of forgiveness. The fact that Jesus forgave Zacchaeus and Levi made many enemies against Jesus, who did not believe he was God’s Son.

The Place of the Stories in the Gospel

Luke 19:1-10 is located in the larger narrative of the last week of Jesus’ life after he enters Jerusalem and his condemnation of the money changers in the Temple. It is situated between Jesus’ parable of the Ten Minas and his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The context of Luke 19:1-10 is essential in understanding the text. The fact that Jesus is entering Jericho and is surrounded by crowds of people eager to hear him is significant. It suggests that Jesus is in a position of power and authority and that Zacchaeus is an outcast and marginalized figure willing to go to extraordinary lengths to come into contact with Jesus. This is further reinforced by Zacchaeus being a tax collector, a profession widely despised in the ancient world. Thus, when Zacchaeus is willing to climb a tree to see Jesus, it is an act of desperation and faith.

Old Testament Allusions

This passage does contain Old Testament material represented in a couple of ways. The first allusion to the Old Testament is found in verse 9, where Zacchaeus declares, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” This declaration is an allusion to the Law of Moses found in Exodus 22:1-4, which states, “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.” In making this declaration, Zacchaeus shows his repentance and willingness to obey the Law of Moses, thus providing evidence of his transformation.

Additionally, the phrase “salvation has come to this house” in verse 9 is an allusion to the Old Testament promise of redemption found in Isaiah 56:5. In this verse, the Lord promises that he will “give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off” and that “salvation shall come to them.” By using this phrase, Jesus shows that he is fulfilling the promise of redemption to Zacchaeus, who is restored through his newfound faith. Therefore, the passage of Luke 19:1-10 contains two allusions to the Old Testament. The allusions demonstrate that Jesus is fulfilling the Old Testament promises of redemption and that Zacchaeus has been transformed by his newfound faith and willingness to obey the Law of Moses.

The Similar Passage in the Gospels of Mark and Matthew

Some of the material found in Luke 19:1-10 is also found in Mark 10:46-52 and Matthew 19:1-10. All three accounts tell of Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector who climbed a sycamore tree to get a better view of Jesus. However, there are some essential differences between the accounts. In Luke’s version, Jesus stops and speaks to Zacchaeus and invites himself to dinner at Zacchaeus’ house.

This is not found in either Matthew’s or Mark’s versions. This detail has significant implications for how one could interpret the passage. It could be seen as a sign of Jesus’ willingness to reach out to those considered outcasts in his society, such as Zacchaeus, and offer them forgiveness and a chance for redemption.

In Mark’s version, Jesus’ invitation to Zacchaeus is more of a challenge than a genuine offer of friendship. He tells Zacchaeus to “hurry and come down” and to “make haste” and “come, for I must stay at your house today.” This could be interpreted as an invitation to Zacchaeus to repent of his sins and accept Jesus into his home. This could be seen as a call to action, urging Zacchaeus to take the initiative to change his life and follow Jesus.

In Matthew’s version, Zacchaeus’ response to Jesus is noticeably different than in the other two. He says, “Look, Lord, I give half of my possessions to the poor.” This could be interpreted as a sign of Zacchaeus’ repentance and his desire to make amends for the wrongs he has done. It could be seen as an example of how Jesus’ call to repentance transforms character and behavior.

Bibliography

Constable, Thomas L. 2016. “Notes on Luke.”

Gorman, Michael J. “Elements of biblical exegesis.” Grand Rapids: Baker Academic (2009).

Johnson, Luke Timothy. The gospel of Luke. No. 3. Liturgical Press, 1991.

Luke 19: 1-10 (New Revised Standard Version)

Talbert, Charles H. Reading Luke: A literary and theological commentary. Chicago Review Press, 2002.