JCSLK #60 Jesus, The Rich Man, The Begger and the Tax Collector On the Road To Jerusalem #4 Luke 18-19

 

JCSLK #60 Jesus, The Rich Man, The Begger and the Tax Collector
On the Road To Jerusalem #4 Luke 18-19

Introduction: Timeline the last Perean ministry

Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead and the Sanhedrin plots against Jesus, flees Judea goes to Perea and a little village called Ephraim – John 11:1-54

Jesus begins a weeks long travel back to Jerusalem for Passover

Jesus heals 10 Lepers on His way to Jerusalem – Luke 17:11-19

Teaches about the advent of the Kingdom – Luke 17:20-37

Tells the Prayer Parables, The Persistent Widow; The Proud Pharisee and Repentant Publican – Luke 18:1-14

Discusses Divorce and Marriage – Matthew 19:1-12, Mark 10:1-12, Luke 16:18

Blesses the little children – Matthew 19:13-15, Mark 10:13-16, Luke 18:15-17

Near or In Jericho (last city before the climb to Jerusalem)

Jesus and the rich, young ruler – Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-31, Luke 18:18-30

Jesus teaches The Parable of the Vineyard Workers – Matthew 20:1-16

Jesus again foretells His death and resurrection – Matthew 20:17-19, Mark 10:32-34, Luke 18:31-34

James and John ask for prominence in the Kingdom – Matthew 20:20-28, Mark 10:35-45

Jesus heals Blind Bartimaeus – Matthew 20:29-34, Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-43

Jesus talks with Zacchaeus – Luke 19:1-10

The Rich Man – Luke 18:18-30

Luke 18:18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God

 The “Good” Question

The story of the rich young ruler is in all three of the Synoptic Gospels, (Mt 19:16–30; Mk 10:17–31; Lk 18:18–30) that means that those three authors were divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit as to the importance of this event. Each are a little bit different, Matthew chapter 19 tells us he is young, Luke tells us he is a ruler, but all three of them tell us he was rich. He was ruler that may have meant he was an administrator over a synagogue, or a simply a nobleman.

This is one of the passages that many people think of when they talk about the hard sayings of Jesus. The difficulty begins with Jesus’ response to what we see as a straight forward greeting by this young man. He approaches Jesus and says, Luke 18:18 Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? That is not a problem for us but what Jesus says next is. Luke 18:19 Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

Jesus’ question in response to the young man’s greeting meets the young man where he is at right there and then searching for eternal life. Jesus is saying, “Think about what you are saying, you call me good but do you understand that only God is truly good. Jesus is talking about righteousness, but the young man is talking a general description of a person’s actions.

Jesus is saying, “Stop and think about what you are saying and who you are saying it to.” He was not denying his own goodness, his own righteousness anymore than He was telling Nicodemus, he was wrong saying that Jesus had been sent from heaven. The problem was in their preconceived ideas of what they were saying meant.

Before they could go on they needed to understand who Jesus was and is. Yes, Jesus came from heaven and yes he was sinless and  good in every aspect of righteousness and sinlessness but before they could discuss the answers to the question, they needed to know who they were talking to. It wasn’t just another teacher, this was the Son of God. Nicodemus came to understand that, but the rich, young ruler in this story did not.

Like Nicodemus and the RYR, Before you can know how to be saved, you must know the One who can save.

 It is not what you do that can save you, It is knowing who Jesus is, that brings salvation. If you want to know how to be saved, you better know the One, the only One, who can save you.  

The next question that must be answered is who is lost.

The Law Question

20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. 21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. 22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

Jesus’ answer is not what we in 2026 expect is it? We expect the basic statement of salvation, like Paul gave the Philippian jailer, “Believe on the Lord, Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Instead Jesus tells this man in this time and culture. “Thou knowest the law.” And then he gives that law, Luke 18:20 Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

Jesus only gives 5 commandments the horizontal or man to man commandments; but all the vertical, commandments, those that deal with God and man are missing. All the commandments about God, Jesus left out of his answer. He also left out the last commandment Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet…

The young man immediately says, “Luke 18:21 All these have I kept from my youth up.” What that tells us is that Jesus is meeting the question of this young man right where he was at.

He is a moral man, he is a keeper of the law, he is obedient in his own eyes to the law of God. He wasn’t lacking anything from what he understood about how to “inherit” eternal life. He asked a question about what he could do to earn salvation and Jesus told him.

Listen to Jesus’ answer, Luke 18:22 Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Wait, wait, wait. That’s not the right answer we would give today, but it is the right answer this rich young moral man needed that day.

This man has been taught all his life that keeping the law meant he could earn his salvation. Now Jesus is going to show this man that the law, he was counting on to save him, couldn’t save him because he wasn’t really keeping it at all. Remember all the commandments Jesus left out? Well, here they are.

Sell all you, give it away and come follow me. Thou shalt not covet and have no other gods before me. This young man coveted the things his wealth could buy and that was the god he worshipped. He hadn’t kept the commandments at all, Jesus knew it and now this rich, young ruler knew it.

Luke 18:23 when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. Luke uses a word that could be translated as “surrounded by sorrow.” He missed the answer he came for. He couldn’t earn eternal life, it could only be received as a gift through faith in the One he had called Good teacher.

here is our question.

What is the Law To You?

What is the law to you and me? It is proof that we are sinners before a holy and righteous God. It proves we can’t keep it and therefore we can’t inherit or earn salvation. It is our teacher and it teaches us one great and vital lesson, we are sinners who cannot save themselves but need Jesus, the only one who did not sin, to save us. Rom 3:10

This young man didn’t get it. He heard Jesus answer and instead of asking more questions, instead of asking like the disciples for help in understanding, he just walks away. Like so many others, just walking away from Jesus the only hope of eternal life. Look at happens next because that is where the real answer to this man’s question is found.

The Salvation Question - Luke 18:24

24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 27 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? 27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

In Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, Jesus loved him. He saw the sincere desire of this young man to know about eternal life, he looked on him and perhaps saw in his eyes that he was going to walk away and Luke records Luke 18:24 when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful.

Sorrowful because he loved this sincere lost young man, sorrowful because he walked away and sorrowful because he was just one of so many, Watching him walk away Jesus says, Luke 18:24 How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

What Jesus is saying is that it is difficult, hard for the rich to let go of their riches and take hold of salvation through repentance and faith. This was the young man’s problem. He heard give up your riches and you’ll go to heaven, but Jesus was telling him, “your riches stand between you and the salvation that is only in me.”

Jesus’ answer to the disciples and the one the rich young man should have waited for is in, Luke 18:27 The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Only God can open the door of heaven, only God can forgive sin, only God can make a way to salvation. This God did in Jesus.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door….

Oh, if only that young man had waited to hear that answer but all he heard was sell all that you have and he left.

And Jesus proceeds down the road to Jerusalem and come to Jericho and two blind beggars.

The Beggar – Luke 18:35-43

35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: 36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. 37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. 38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, 41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. 42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

 The Blind Man’s Question

Jesus is nearing the end of the long journey from Ephraim and the last city before the long uphill route to Jerusalem is Jericho. Jericho is of course a famous city the first conquered by the Israelites when they crossed the Jordan and came into the promised land. There are a couple of things you should know about Jericho during Jesus’ time. First though this city is named Jericho it is not the city Joshua and the armies of Israel marched around for 7 days, then blew the trumpets and the walls fell down flat. That city was cursed and those walls never rebuilt. This Jericho was a new city built by Herod the great and it is about a mile from the ruins of the old city.

This is probably why there seems to be a discrepancy between the Gospel accounts. Luke says Luke 18:35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho while Mark says Mark 10:46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people.. Which is right? They probably are both right Luke is speaking of the new Jericho, which the Gentiles would be more familiar with, while Mark speaks of the old Jericho, which the Jews would be more familiar with. And my I say if that is the best the critics of the Bible can point out, then that’s pretty insignificant. Every so called contradiction in the Bible has been easily explained and instead of weakening the Word of God it simply made it stronger.

Jesus in the vicinity of the Jericho and He is walking and teaching. He is now famous throughout Judea, Samaria and Perea and all the way to the coastline of Caesarea Philippi. As he begins the last leg of his journey to the Passover a huge crowd is walking near him, some seekers, some celebrity hunters, some just curious and of course many disciples as well as the 12.

This crowd around Jesus is making more noise than the normal Passover pilgrims who travel this route every year for the Holy Days of Unleavened Bread and Passover. There are two blind beggars along this path hoping those going to worship the God of Israel will have pity on the poor of Israel.

This brings us to another difference between the Gospel accounts.  Mark and Luke tells us of one, Bartimaeus, while Matthew doesn’t name anyone and tells us there are two. You already know the answer to this, it is the same as when Jesus cast out the Legion demons from the man in the country of the Gadarenes. There were also two but the one that spoke, the one that was most prominent, is the one  focused on. Here we see the same, two men but one Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus is the spokesman.

These blind men hearing the noise level rise as the he crowd around Jesus begins to pass by, asks what it happening. They are told that Jesus, the miracle worker, Jesus the Messiah is passing by on His way to Jerusalem.

And the men remember hearing about this Jesus,  Joshua, Yeshua of Nazareth. Stories, rumors and gossip about His teachings, his disputes with the Pharisees but most of all they listened to the stories of His miracles. Only a few months ago and only a few leagues from Jericho, this same Jesus had raised His friend Lazarus from the dead. If He could bring life to the dead then he can surely bring sight to the blind. And they begin to cry out, “Luke 18:38 Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me!” If I could offer one improvement on the KJV it would be to put exclamation points at places like this. Maybe two. Jesus! You who are the son of David have mercy on me! That is a statement of faith that deserves two exclamation points.

Not only do they call His name in faith, they also call out His Messianic title. Son of David. The prophesied one who would come and take the throne of David and rule over Jerusalem and deliver the people of Israel.

They begin to shout and the people of the crowd, who are not beggars and who have sight and have the privilege of walking with Jesus, respond with such kindness. “Be quiet, shut up or as I’m always telling my Hispanic kids on the bus, “Silencio” And I’m sure they put an exclamation point on their rebuke. “Shut up! Don’t bother Jesus.”

And like good beggars they just shut up and let their hope walk on by. No of course not, they cried out louder. “Jesus!! Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!!

Two different words are used here the first cry is the word for shout, call for attention. The second cry is krazo and it is to scream out and its taken from the sound a raven makes when it calls out. Mark 10:48 but he cried the more a great deal…

Jesus hears this duet of despair and stops still in the road and tells the crowd to bring the beggars to him. Mark’s account gives more detail here, Mark 10:49-51 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?

Jesus knew what they wanted, what they needed but He wanted them to say it. To name their need and to state their faith.

When we come to Jesus it is much the same, we must name our need. We are sinners, we cannot save ourselves and we come in weakness and repentance to the only One who can save us. There need was light and salvation ours is very much the same.

Luke 18:42-43 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

The blind Bartimaeus and his unnamed friend are healed through their faith in Jesus. And then they join the crowd marching into Jerusalem with Jesus, glorifying God and that same crowd which told them to be quiet is now praising God along with them.

Imagine receiving your sight and one week later seeing the One who gave you sight crucified on the cross. No wonder the disciples couldn’t fully understand when Jesus telod them He was going to be crucified and three days later rise from the dead. They had seen hundreds if not thousands of miracles done by Jesus how could He, the long looked for Messiah be killed by his own people with the help of the invading Romans.  

Jesus moves from the old city of Jericho into Herod’s new city of Jericho and this really is the fitting ending to His journey from Perea. The unknown rich young ruler walked away, but in Jericho, Jesus walks into the home of a well-known rich old publican, named Zacchaeus.

 The Tax Collector – Luke 19:1-10

And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him, -- This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

 The What Is Jesus Doing Question?

This story is the antithesis of the story of the rich young ruler. The rich young ruler came seeking Jesus but as we see here it was Jesus seeking Zacchaeus this time. We know that Matthew was a publican, a tax-collector for the Romans, perhaps he knew Zacchaeus and told Jesus to look for him. Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector for this region which meant he was the Commissioner for taxes and had several other publicans under his authority. Perhaps it was just Jesus in His omniscience that knew of Zach and His need of salvation. Just as He know all of us here today and our own day of salvation. Whatever the reason the story is only in Luke’s Gospel but it is so well known and is a favorite of every Sunday School teacher. Zach wasn’t young but he was a “wee little man” and children can identify with him.

He is so short he can’t see over the crowd to get a look at Jesus, the famous teacher. No one is going to allow him through; he is a despised publican. So also like a kid, he runs ahead and climbs a sycamore tree to look over the top of the crowd and see Jesus.

Two things here, first mature men don’t run. True of most of us “mature” men but very true in Jesus time. It was undignified to be seen running like a little child down the street. Zach doesn’t care, he wants to see Jesus. Even more undignified, he the commissioner of revenue shinnies up a tree. He pushes his robe out of his way and climbs into a sycamore tree.

Second thing, if you’ve ever seen a mature sycamore tree you know it is not a smal tree but here is ol’ Zach climbing it like a stair step. Here is what we don’t know unless we look it up, or come to hear me preach cause I love this kind of esoterica. This isn’t our sycamore tree, not even our little one outside which couldn’t even stand up to last weeks Easter egg hunt shake down. No this tree transliterated from the Greek would be sycamore but translated it would be as mulberry fig. Now a mulberry tree is much easier to climb than our slick barked, big sycamores here in American.

So, Zach climbs up into a Mulberry tree whose branches are very low to the ground and waits to see Jesus pass by. But Jesus doesn’t pass by, does he. “For as the Savior passed that way He looked up in the tree and he said, “Zaccheaus, you come down. For I’m going to your house today.”

And here is our last question. The crowd murmurs, they are good at that, and they ask. Luke 19:7 That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. In other words, Jesus do you know what you’re doing?

Jesus knew then and he knows now. He knew Zach was a sinner, He knew he was a publican, He knew these people hated him but most of all He knew He was going to be saved that day. Amen.

We know that Zach was saved because of his own statement of faith in Luke 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

This may have been said when Zach and Jesus heard the crowd murmuring, or it may have been after they had sat down and had a meal and Zach heard Jesus talk and teach. We don’t know when, but we know why he said it.

AT Robertson says quoting Zach, “A most significant admission and confession. It is a condition of the first class that assumes it to be true. His own conscience was at work. He had extorted money wrongfully as they all knew. I return fourfold. I offer to do it here and now on this spot.”

Warren Wiersbe tells us that “Under the Mosaic Law, if a thief voluntarily confessed his crime, he had to restore what he took, add one fifth to it, and bring a trespass offering to the Lord (Lev. 6:1–7). If he stole something he could not restore, he had to repay fourfold (Ex. 22:1); and if he was caught with the goods, he had to repay double (Ex. 22:4). Zaccheus did not quibble over the terms of the Law; he offered to pay the highest price because his heart had truly been changed.”

Zach, the wee little stealing man became a huge giant giving man, all because Jesus came that day to abide in his house for a time but in his heart forever.

Yes, the rich young man walked away because he could not give up his riches for Jesus, Zach knew his riches weren’t worth dirt in comparison to eternal life in Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

 The last question, who are we on the Jericho Road?

Are we the rich young man who can’t see past himself to find Jesus. Are we like the blind men, just beggars with no real hope or help unless Jesus hears our cry and has mercy on us. Perhaps we are like Zaccheaus, we’re doing okay, have all we need but there is a something that tugs at our heart when we hear about Jesus. And so we look for Him to pass by and we will take a good look but nothing more. But then, but then, we realize Jesus is looking at us. He is looking at me. I thought I was seeking Him but now, today you realize He was seeking you along.

Listen the words Jesus said in Jericho to Zach are the same words you could be hearing today. Luke 19:9-10 This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Zach had been outcast by his people, but Jesus said, in repentance and faith, salvation has come to this house. He is a child of Abraham, through the same faith in God that Abraham had.

This is why Jesus came, This is why the Gospel is still preached today. “For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save.”

Here is Jesus’ commission given him by His Father In Heaven. Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

He sought and found me. Is he seeking you this morning, then come down and find salvation with Jesus.