We Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins

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We believe in the forgiveness of sins, and that is a good thing. Have you ever really asked yourself what that means though? For a man named Zacchaeus it meant many things. Most of all, it meant hope.


You probably know the song. His first hope was merely to see this Jesus of whom he had heard so much. Could he just catch a glimpse of this man people were calling messiah? Indeed, that was all he could hope for. Zacchaeus was a tax collector and this career path had made him very wealthy. It had also, in the eyes of his neighbours, reduced him. Because of his collaboration with the regime, he was considered a sinner, unclean. There could be no way that this holy man, Jesus, would want him anywhere near him – let alone close enough to speak or touch.

The scripture tells us the crowds forced him up a tree. Of course, the song makes it clear that this was due to his height. He was, after all, a wee little man and a wee little man was he. Many translations of Luke point to this as well. The NRSV, however, says he was small in stature. So? Well, the interesting thing about stature is the fact that it does not only apply to the question of height. It can also refer to something like your relative place in the community. In other words, your social status. In spite of his wealth and connections, Zacchaeus was looked down upon by the rest of the community.

In many ways Zacchaeus was on the outside looking in. He was just a bystander watching, waiting and hoping for a glimpse of messiah. He would not be disappointed.

Amazingly enough for Zacchaeus and all of those watching, Jesus was hoping to see him too. Finding him in the tree, Jesus not only addresses him by name but honors him by inviting himself over to the house for lunch!

Jesus believed in Zacchaeus’ ability to be forgiven and he was not going to be disappointed. This man of little stature responded in a way that fully met, even exceeded the expectations of the law of Moses. You see, according to Leviticus, anyone who had ccheated or otherwise extorted their neighbor out of their possessions was expected to make things right with them before even approaching God for forgiveness.

In Leviticus God had demanded that anyone who had done the kind of things Zacchaeus had done was to first restore what they had taken and then add one fifth the value to it. In other words, leave your gift at the altar, be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then make your offering to the father.

Zacchaeus, moved by the grace shown him, not only sought to fulfill the law but actually exceeded it in a measure that vindicated Jesus’ hope. Zacchaeus believed in forgiveness of sins, he felt its presence beating down his door. He confessed his willingness to give half of his possessions to the poor while repaying those whom he had cheated. Not merely what he had taken plus a fifth, he would repay what he had taken plus four times the original amount. Now, how is that for bank reform?

Meanwhile, the crowds muttered and mumbled against Zacchaeus, questioning Jesus’ understanding. They did not believe in forgiveness of sins for Zacchaeus. They were about to be disappointed.

Jesus, seeing his faithful response to grace, responded by confirming Zacchaeus’ forgiveness. “Today”, he said, “salvation has entered this house!” Then, turning to the mutterers he said, “For this man too, just like you, is a Child of Abraham.” Zacchaeus, a man of little stature, on the outside looking in, had been restored to Israel. Restored whether anyone else would believe in it.

We believe in the forgiveness of sins and that is a good thing. This belief, however, is not there for the sake of our own individual comfort. This belief is not there so that we may sleep well at night, knowing that a down payment has been made on our mansion in glory. This belief in the forgiveness of sins is there because we know salvation has entered this world. You believe in the forgiveness of sins and that is good. Do you believe in the forgiveness of sins for everyone?