Sometimes people wonder, “Is restitution needed for salvation? I committed all these sins before becoming a Christian. Do I need to do anything about them now?” If there’s one place in Scripture that could cause us to think restitution is needed for salvation, it is the account with Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10. Let’s look at it in detail to see what it does and doesn’t teach about restitution for salvation.

https://youtu.be/eRRpAwAEV68

Sometimes people wonder, “Is restitution needed for salvation?" Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10 is one place that could cause us to think this.

Table of contentsZacchaeus's ExampleUnderstanding Tax CollectorsFirst, Zacchaeus Was Curious Versus IndifferentSecond, Zacchaeus Responded Well to ConvictionThird, Zacchaeus Didn't Let His Height Hold Him BackFourth, Zacchaeus Didn't Let His Pride Hold Him BackFifth, Zacchaeus Sought JesusWhen Jesus Calls You by NamePeople Aren't Always Happy When Others Come to ChristZacchaeus Was the Opposite of the Rich Young RulerThree Reasons Restitution Is Not Needed for SalvationReason One: Restitution Is not Needed for Salvation Because Zacchaeus’s behavior is descriptive versus prescriptiveReason Two: Restitution Is not Needed for Salvation Because There Are Too Many Sins to CountReason Three: Restitution Is not Needed for Salvation Because We Are Saved by Grace Through FaithZacchaeus Is an Example of Repentance Producing FruitWhen "The Buzzsaw" Asked for ForgivenessGod Might Convict Us to Make RestitutionJesus Sought Zacchaeus FirstDon't Put Off the Gospel InvitationFootnotes

Zacchaeus's Example

Here’s part of an email I received from someone I don’t know…

Scott,As I reflect on my past and my many sins, I am more aware of how wretched and worthless I am. I am also convicted of sins I wonder if I need to undo? For example, when I was 16 and I worked at Ross I stole clothes. I am pretty sure I don’t own any of the clothes now, nor do I know the amount or worth of what I took. However, will I go to hell if I don’t find a way to pay back what I stole? There are so many other things I could list. I feel like my past is like Humpty Dumpty, and I can’t fix it.

Someone else sent me a message about a certificate he received after cheating on the exam. He didn’t know how to handle this. He wondered if he should stop using the certificate or go back and try to be recertified. But he didn’t know if he could do this because he was already certified.

I think messages like these capture something people commonly wonder: "Is restitution needed for salvation? I committed all these sins before becoming a Christian. Do I need to do anything about them now?"

If there’s one place in Scripture that could cause us to think restitution is needed for salvation, it is the account with Zacchaeus. Let’s look at it in detail to see what it does and doesn’t teach.

Understanding Tax Collectors

Luke 19:1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.

In the previous verses Jesus healed blind Bartimaeus as he approached Jericho. Now he entered the city.

Because we're reading about a tax collector, let me briefly explain them. Eight times in the synoptic Gospels it says, “tax collectors and sinners,” instead of “murderers and sinners,” or “adulterers and sinners.”

Why is it written as though being a tax collector is the worst sin imaginable? Because to the Jews, it pretty much was!

The Romans severely taxed the Jews, and the Jews who collected taxes for Rome were considered traitors to their people. Tax collectors were wealthy, and it was a wealth made off the backs of their already oppressed brethren. Tax collectors had to collect a certain amount and anything they collected over that amount they were able to keep for themselves. Because they worked for Rome they had Rome’s support, which prevented Jews from resisting them. The only thing worse than a tax collector is a chief tax collector…which Zacchaeus was!

Luke 19:3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.

Zacchaeus’s name means pure, which is ironic because tax collectors were anything but pure. But when we reach the end of this account, we will see Zacchaeus became pure through Christ. There are commendable things about him that we can learn from:

First, Zacchaeus Was Curious Versus Indifferent

John Calvin wrote, “Curiosity and simplicity are a sort of preparation for faith.” I would rather deal with the staunchest atheist, Mormon, or Buddhist, than an indifferent person. Indifferent people simply don’t care. There’s nothing to work with. Zacchaeus cared enough to try to find out about Jesus.

Second, Zacchaeus Responded Well to Conviction

I believe Zacchaeus was dealing with conviction because of the way he had been living. This causes some people to try to hide from the Lord. Think about Adam and Eve after they sinned: "They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and [they] hid themselves" (Genesis 3:8). Zacchaeus had been terrible. He could have acted like Adam and Eve and tried to hide, but he made every effort to see Jesus.

Third, Zacchaeus Didn't Let His Height Hold Him Back

Third, seeing Jesus in such a large crowd would have been difficult for anyone, and especially Zacchaeus, but he didn’t let that stop him. You might wonder why Zacchaeus didn’t want to remain in the crowd? As a small man, he could have been trampled. Tax collectors were despised and he probably feared being found in the crowd where he could be beaten up, or worse, stabbed.

Fourth, Zacchaeus Didn't Let His Pride Hold Him Back

In the parable of the prodigal son, the father ran toward his son when he saw him coming. It was unusual in the Middle East for men to run, especially wealthy, honorable men. Instead, people ran to them. But here we see a grown man running ahead of the crowd just to catch a glimpse of Jesus. And the unusual behavior doesn’t stop there, because the only thing more unimaginable than a wealthy, honorable man running is a wealthy, honorable man climbing a tree. But Zacchaeus did just that.

He could have easily convinced himself that running and climbing up a tree was beneath him, but he didn’t let that stop him. Zacchaeus is a great example of someone who sought Jesus and would not let anything stand in his way.

Fifth, Zacchaeus Sought Jesus

Several verses encourage us to be like Zacchaeus and seek the Lord. Here are a few:

Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

Isaiah 55:6 Seek the Lord while he may be found.

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Amos 5:4 The Lord [said]: “Seek me and live.”115

We should consider whether anything is holding us back from seeking Jesus. For Zacchaeus, it could have been his guilt, the crowd, or his height. What obstacles might we need to overcome?

Could it be an ungodly relationship that we need to break off?

Could it be a hobby that in and of itself isn’t sinful, but it takes too much of our time.

Could it be a job that we have turned into an idol?

Could it be our dignity or pride? Maybe we care too much what others think. Maybe we need to humble ourselves like Zacchaeus was willing to humble himself.

When Jesus Calls You by Name

Luke 19:5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”

Jesus held up thousands of people while he personally addressed Zacchaeus. I don’t know who would’ve been more shocked: the crowds or Zacchaeus.

Jesus could have said, “Hey, short little hated tax collector that’s up in a tree. Come down. You look silly up there.” Everyone would’ve known who Jesus was addressing, but he chose to use his name. There is something personal and considerate about using people’s names. It’s much different than, “Hey” or “Hi” or “What’s up?” We like to be addressed by our names. It makes us feel valued and important.

Before I started teaching elementary school, I spent some time as a supervisor at a large distribution center for Target. I could tell everyone loved the previous president of the distribution center. There were hundreds of employees, and many of them said that he could walk around the center, and he knew everyone’s names. During large meetings, with hundreds of people present, he could always call on everyone by name.

In Zacchaeus’s case, as a hated tax collector, he probably hadn’t heard his name spoken in an affectionate way in a long time. The way his name was typically used was in a derogatory manner. But now, in front of all these people, Jesus called out to him and invited himself to his house for dinner. It would have been an amazing honor, perhaps like the president calling out to you while passing through crowds. And this is the only example in the Gospels of Jesus inviting himself to someone’s home.

Also, notice Jesus said, “stay at your house.” This wasn’t just eating with Zacchaeus. This was staying with him. Jesus pursued friendship and association with someone everyone hated.

People Aren't Always Happy When Others Come to Christ

Luke 19:6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

Zacchaeus didn’t say, “I’m horrible. You don’t want to be with me. I’m too much of a sinner.” Instead, he was thrilled at the opportunity. Maybe you’ve done some horrible things, but Jesus still wants a relationship with you.

These are the religious leaders and you can imagine their disdain when they said this. When certain people come to Christ,