Luke 19.10, JESUS' PURPOSE, Mystery Name - Teflon Tape
Scripture and activity parallels
The object lesson The first ten verses of Luke 19 describe the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector. Zacchaeus was a very rich man, presumably because he was a chief tax collector and supervised other tax collectors (Jewish agents) under him who had cheated people and charged them extra taxes during a time when the region was very prosperous. Specified amounts were required by Rome; any additional that could be collected could be kept by the collector. Therefore, the tax collectors charged what was required by Rome and much more, then kept the difference. Zacchaeus was considered to be the worst of sinners and was an outcast from Jewish society. He was working for a pagan conqueror, the Roman government, and was practically a traitor. The profession of tax collector was not condemned, but their cheating was. Since Zacchaeus was a small man and would not be able to see Jesus over the crowds, he climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus as He passed. Jesus told Zacchaeus to come down and that Jesus was dining at his house today. The people criticized Jesus for having dinner at the house of a sinner. Nevertheless, Zacchaeus repented and said that he would give to the poor and return any excess taxes four times over after which Jesus announced forgiveness and salvation to Zacchaeus and his house. Jesus then phrased his purpose clearly, especially to those who had criticized him for eating with a sinner. "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost," to help us who are dead in sin to become alive in Jesus, to help us who have perished in the things of this world to become alive in eternal life.
other appropriate scripture This activity has a parallel object lesson in the parable of the Prodigal Son or the Lost Son, which is given in Luke 15.11-32. The last verse is the key one and mentions that the younger son "was dead and is alive again;. . .was lost and is found. A second parallel involving the "lost being found" occurs in the parable of the Lost Sheep, which is given in Luke 15.4-7 and also in Matthew 18.12-14. Moreover, a key verse in Ezekiel 34.11-16 says "I will search for the lost and bring back the strays." Finally, John 3.16-17 encompasses Jesus' purpose fully: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
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