(Zachée sur le sycomore attendant le passage de Jésus)
James Tissot, ca. 1886-1894
Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
(Click on the image to enlarge it.)
Compare Matthew 18:11
As I’ve repeatedly said, one would be hard pressed to find any doctrine of salvation by grace alone in the teachings of Jesus — at least, as they’re recorded in the four New Testament gospels.
The case of Zacchaeus illustrates my point nicely: Jesus plainly approves of this diminutive publican’s generosity to the poor and his commitment to (going beyond) justice. Jesus doesn’t tell Zacchaeus that his righteousness is as filthy rags or that it represents an arrogant and contemptible effort to earn his own way into heaven.
On the other hand, righteousness plainly isn’t enough on its own. Zacchaeus has been behaving righteously for some time, it seems, but only “this day” (or “today”) does salvation come to his house — because he’s welcomed Jesus into it.
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