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This Week's Sermon THE TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 04 November 2007 "We Also Are Sons of Abraham" Luke 19:1-10 LSB Series C Vicar Heath A. Trampe Soli Deo Gloria!

Most of us, at one time or another, have admired a child of privilege. Quite a few of you young people probably look up to celebrities like Miley Cyrus, who is better known as Hannah Montana. She seems to have a pretty good life, working as a successful actress and outselling Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, and Justin Timberlake in concert sales. Not bad for a fifteen year old. Even the older and more mature among us have those whom we envy, be they celebrities, scholars, or athletes. There's no doubt about it, in our country, a child of privilege is younger, hotter and more talented than anybody else, not to mention wealthier. In the Jewish community, however, it was far more prestigious to consider yourself as one of God's chosen, or a Son of Abraham, which meant being born to the right culture and believing in the one true God. Jesus would later turn that sort of thinking on its ear, proclaiming that not only the Jews, but

(I. We also are sons of Abraham despite our sinful ways. (vv. 1-7))
(II. We also are sons of Abraham because of faith in Christ Jesus. (vv. 8-10))

Today's text includes the story of a man named Zacchaeus. He was a tax collector, but not just an ordinary tax collector. Zacchaeus has the honor of being the only chief tax collector mentioned in either the Bible or any other ancient Greek documents. He wasn't just a sinner, but a mega sinner, and it may sound silly to our experience to make such a distinction. However, even as educated Lutherans, we still tend to make these distinctions among sins.

Shopping is sort of a necessary evil in today's society. It forces us to deal with people of all sorts, from those who cut you off while you're walking to those who won't move out of the aisle so that you can get by. What may be a minor annoyance on a good day can ignite your fury on a bad day. You begin to wonder what you did wrong that you deserve to be in the same building with some of these people. Like the Pharisee from Luke 18, you thank God that you weren't brought up to treat others that way and that you live your life in a wholesome, Christian manner.

Fall means that sports are in full swing, and while many of the sports are nearing the end of their respective seasons, almost all of us have attended several of the competitions. When you go to a high school football game you will (at least once) inevitably sit next to the parent who thinks he should be the coach. This person will yell throughout the game that the referees, the coaches, and the players don't have a brain in their heads. While most of us are too timid to say something to the person outright, we are likely to feel very blessed indeed not to be like that loudmouth.

The fact of the matter is that we live pretty well in our Christian lives, don't we? We go to church, we're friendly with the pastor, and we haven't committed any major sins lately, so we feel like we're good to go. After all, we don't have an adulterous relationship, we haven't killed or physically harmed anyone intentionally, and we don't steal from anyone, so we become very comfortable with ourselves. As I mentioned earlier, we have quite a bit in common with another demographic that Jesus dealt with all of the time, the Pharisees.

In our Gospel for today we see Zacchaeus, this sinner, being called upon by Jesus Himself and asked if his house might be used for table fellowship and lodging. Actually, Zacchaeus was up in a tree, which was most unusual for a man of his wealth and position, so great was his zeal to see the Lord. Christ literally had to look past all of those faithful people along the road and single out this dirty and wretched sinner, Zacchaeus, for lodging. How do you suppose the people in attendance responded to this? "When they saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner". Can you just imagine Christ coming today and asking to stay at the home of that parent who yelled at the kids playing football? Why would He choose to be with the immoral and lawless when there are so many believers around?

When John was baptizing and preparing everyone for the coming of the Christ, the Pharisees approached him and requested his baptism. John knew what their motives were, and he denied them outright and calling them a "brood of vipers". When they tried to pull the "Sons of Abraham" card on him, he made one of the most profound statements in all of Scripture. He said "God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham" (Matthew 3:9). And again when Jesus enters Jerusalem, the Pharisees seek to quiet the people from crying out their praises to Him. Jesus responds with this: "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out" (Luke 19:40). Apparently, good genetics and good works aren't that important to Jesus, but what is?

Remember the Gentile woman who came to Jesus, seeking to have her daughter cleansed of demon possession. Jesus calmly replies to her that He's come for the lost sheep of Israel (meaning the Jews) and goes on to tell her that He shouldn't throw the children's bread to the little dogs. How does she respond? She says "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table" (Matthew 15:27). Her faith impresses Jesus, and He heals her daughter instantly. This is no isolated case, either. The landscape of the Gospel is dotted with examples of great faith from non-Jews. Remember that it was the Samaritan who stopped to help his brother out.

Getting back to our text, we see how Zacchaeus has responded to Jesus' selecting Him for table fellowship and lodging. He proclaims "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold". This statement could be even greater than that of the gentile woman. In the words of the Lukan scholar Dr. Arthur Just "Zacchaeus represents all those whom the Pharisees regard as outcast in society because he is a tax collector and sinner. But from the perspective of Jesus, he is an outcast because he is rich" (Luke Commentary, page 719). We recall the words of Jesus that "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24).

Building a dependency upon wealth and possessions is one of the surest ways to separate any Christians from the dependency and love they have for their heavenly Father. Zacchaeus responds to Christ's grace perfectly, proclaiming that he'll gladly share his wealth with those whom he may have wrongfully taken. Not only did Zacchaeus feel bad about his dishonest business dealings, but he actually reformed his life to pay back the debt, showing the fruits of his faith. This complete change in lifestyle is true repentance.

God doesn't hate money. Money is part of His creation, and as such, it's a good thing. What it does to men is another matter entirely. Paul says it best in 1 Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs". However, and I hope you have already made this connection, it's what is faithfully done with this gift that matters most to God. Zacchaeus doesn't say that he's going to give it all to the church, because then he would have nothing to live on. He'll most likely still be a wealthy man after he repays his debts, but he's thinking of others and, above all else, he knows from where he gets his wealth. He's even willing to give it away to those who should rightfully have it or need it more than he does. This is a pleasing way to manage one's possessions.

Jesus responds to this with His own statement "Today salvation has come to this house, since he [Zacchaeus] also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost". Jesus isn't talking about nationality, and what He says here would be scandalous to the Pharisees and those who keep the law. Jesus is saying that even this lawless scoundrel is a Son of Abraham, the highest distinction of honor among the Jews.

We've just recently heard this talk about seeking and saving the lost on St. Michael and All Angels, where we saw Jesus elevating children, who were among the bottom of society. Now add to that list tax collectors, prostitutes, and even non-Jews. This is great news for us, being that all of us here are Gentiles. Faith is the deciding factor that makes Sons of Abraham, not birthright. The fruits of that faith and the repentance that changes the very way we live our lives show others that we are Christians, not our nationality. Adherence to the law can and will never save us, there is only one way. That way is Christ Jesus and He has chosen table fellowship with us, the lowly sinners. Amen.