Atlanta Daily World

JESUS INSPIRES HONESTY
Luke 19:1-10, 45-48.
By L A. SMITH

On his journey toward Jerusalem to attend the feast of the passover: Jesus passed through Jericho, followed by a vast concourse of people. Some being attracted by curiosity while others were worshippers. They became his followers because of their steadfast faith.

There was a certain rich man in Jericho named Zaccheus who held the office of chief tax assessor a place of appointment under the Roman government. This man having heard much about Jesus became very anxious to see him, but because of his extremely short stature he could not catch even a glimpse of the divine Master over the heads of the tall people who made up the crowd. To gratify his curiosity therefore Zaccheus ran before the moving mass of people and climbed into the branches of a sycamore tree which he knew stood in the path over which Jesus must pass.

When the Saviour approached near he looked up and perceiving Zaccheus, knowing also the reason of his lofty position, addressed him in a kindly manner saying "Zaccheus make haste and come down for I must abide at thy house today."

The spirit of faith was immediately made manifest in Zaccheus who answering the summons said "behold Lord the half of my goods I give to the poor and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation I'll restore him four fold. This speech was acknowledgement of the messiahship for Zaccheus well knew what hatred the Jews felt for the tax gatherers and knowing Jesus to be a Jew he sought to amend any of his misdeeds and oppressions as a public man that he might have favor in him who had already been hailed as King of the Jews. The people however complained that Jesus was putting himself upon an equality with a chief of sinners for they could not conceive how one so odious to them as a tax gatherer could be moved by any good intentions but Jesus saw the earnestness and faith of Zaccheus and assured him of his favor by saying this day is salvation come to this thy house or the house of Abraham, for the son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost. As Jesus approached Jerusalem, within view of Jerusalem the sad future of that splendid city arose before him and with prophetic vision he saw it lying in ruins. Its destruction to be wrought as a punishment of the people for having rejected grace. Entering into the temple he still met with the same reception. The people cried this is Jesus the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. The people would make market places in the temple to sell offerings and they sold them at such high prices as to cheat just for the money not regarding their own sins. So Jesus took a piece of rope and whipped them out of the temple.