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Today I Must

Jesus invites Himself to Zacchaeus's house before Zacchaeus has promised anything.

By EmberKeeper Editorial 1 min read

Scripture Luke 19:1–10

Zacchaeus climbs the sycamore because of the crowd. He is short, and he cannot see over them.

Jesus stops under the tree and speaks first. “Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today.”

Two words stand out. Today, with no waiting period. And must, as if the visit were something required of Jesus. Zacchaeus has promised nothing yet. The half of his possessions and the fourfold repayment come later, after he has been welcomed.

Then the onlookers speak up. “He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!” The crowd that stood between Zacchaeus and Jesus on the way in now stands between them with a sentence.

Jesus answers by using the same word again. “Today salvation has come to this house.”

In Luke, grace keeps arriving before the crowd has finished deciding who deserves it.

Scripture in English is from the Berean Standard Bible, placed in the public domain by its publisher on 30 April 2023.

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