Zacchaeus Response To The Kingdom Of God

616 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Forgiveness in the bible

It is only after Zacchaeus makes his declaration of repentance that salvation comes to Zacchaeus, that he is brought into the Kingdom of God. It was impossible for Zacchaeus to exist in a position of power within the Roman hierarchy, and also be in the Kingdom of God, because the two realms stand on completely opposite foundations. (Metzger, James A). How Zacchaeus responds to Jesus is a multi level repentance. On one hand it’s repentance through actively doing right by generously giving away his wealth, and on another hand it’s repentance by no longer living in Rome’s system of rule. “He renounces at once both his “right to profit” as chief tax collector and the oppressive system that violently enforced his ‘right’” (Snyder, Belousek, Darrin W). Through this process Zacchaeus brings himself down to the …show more content…

While it may appear as Jesus simply does not like those with wealth, there is actually a deeper issue he is trying to address. It’s the idea that man cannot serve two masters (Morlan, David S). Mammon, wealth, acts as an idol, when people hold it in such high regards they are worshipping an idol, and that is exactly how Jesus approaches the subject. “Hence, “wealth” is not simply money and possessions, but the enslaving power of mammon that hinders us from doing justice for the poor and competes with God for our loyalty and devotion (16:13)” (Snyder, Belousek, Darrin W). This is why in Luke 18 Jesus proclaims it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the wealthy to enter into the Kingdom of God. “Indeed, anyone who wishes to follow Jesus “on the way” must “say goodbye to all of his/her possessions (14:33).” (Metzger, James A). The pericope of Zacchaeus acts as a great demonstration that by following Zacchaeus’ example, one can be brought into the community of God’s people, and no longer be held to the

Show More
Related

  • Literary Analysis Of Donald Kraybill's The Upside-Down Kingdom

    1049 Words  | 3 Pages

    Jesus never proclaims that possessions or money is inherently evil, but he does warn against the danger of greed. Jesus does not attack money and possessions, but speaks against becoming enslaved to things of this world. Kraybill proclaims, “We too easily bow down and worship at the altar of materialism.”(Kraybill 2011). Kraybill explains that Jesus’ intentions were to have us apply the same structure and economic principles of the Jubilee to our entire life. The Jubilee system requires that the rich distribute what they have evenly, just as God distributes his love to us all without judgment. Jesus encourages us to practice this on a daily basis. Jesus builds his teachings around serving and loving others first. The pleasures of the world should never be the main focus of our life. Jesus teaches that only when we live our lives in this way can we truly see the Kingdom of God. If we allow money and possessions to be the ruler of our lives they will choke our spiritual growth and we will never be able to live out the true purposes of our lives. Jesus also teaches that we should not get caught up worrying about money or possessions. Faith that God will provide everything we need is all we need in the Kingdom of

    Read More

  • Comparing Wealth in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

    1252 Words  | 3 Pages

    Wealth has both a good and a bad side. It can change the life of a person for the better or worse, and that is clearly shown in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God. Wealth affects the lives of the characters of Their Eyes Were Watching God very differently than the characters of The Great Gatsby. Janie’s wealth came about, mainly, from her failed relationships.

    Read More

  • The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

    953 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...e rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” (1 Timothy 6:17)

    Read More

  • The New Testament: Ephesians

    1642 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout many of Paul’s letters there are many debates pertaining to the authorship, destination, date, and the purpose. In the book of Ephesians many scholars debate on the authorship and if Paul actually wrote the letter, or if it was a scribe. Although there are some debates on whether Paul actually wrote it or not, he does refer to himself twice in the letter. In 1:1 and in 3:1 Paul states himself, 1:3 states, “For this reason, I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles” (NIV) In verse 1:3 Paul states that he is a prisoner, therefore it is debated that he did not specifically write this because he was imprisoned in Rome at this time. According to Wallace “This, of course, is not to say that the letter must be by Paul, but it is to argue that without such internal testimony, no such claim could be made” (Wallace). Many scholars also debate on the vocabulary usage and the structure of the letter. Some believe that the structure is similar, but the vocabulary seems to be different than his New Testament epistles. Hoehner claims that,” Though the book has a close affinity with Colossians, critics claim that Ephesians is uncharacteristic of Paul” (Hoehner 613). The destination of Ephesians is somewhat debated, but many do believe that the letter was sent to the church of Ephesus. “Some to claim that Ephesus is a better starting point, others suggest Caesarea.” (Wallace) Although this is an argument that has many valid points, it is obvious that Paul was imprisoned in Rome while he wrote Ephesians. It is said by Hoehner that “Ephesians was probably delivered by Tychicus (Eph. 6:21-22), who also took Paul’s letter to Colossians (Col. 4:7-9)” (Hoehner 613). As for the date goes m...

    Read More

  • The Hobbit Greed Essay

    694 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout The Hobbit, written by J. R. R. Tolkien, the role of wealth can be viewed as an element that not only motivates the story but also serves as a warning against greed. Tolkien uses wealth to expose the irrationality of the idolatrous heart. At first, the main character, Bilbo who is the newly hired thief, is motivated by peer pressure, but it becomes clear when the Tookish in him, his mother’s family, is stimulated, he is mainly motivated by adventure. On the other hand, other characters prove to be purely motivated by wealth and treasure. Thorin, a dwarf looking to avenge his family’s lost treasure, and Smaug, a dragon who robs everyone and anyone of their riches, are both portrayed as being possessed by their greed for wealth, which

    Read More

  • Corruption In The Gilded Age Essay

    1426 Words  | 3 Pages

    For instance, Leviticus 25:35 states, “’if your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you” (ESV). As a Christian, a person is called to help those who are struggling, and speaks of giving everything a person has to help those around him or her. According to the Jacob Riis film, citizens turned a blind eye to all those suffering, without a home or food. It also states in Proverbs 22:2, “…the rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all” (ESV). God created everyone on the Earth, and did not create one group to feel superior over another. The last passage that represents the other half is Proverbs 28:6, “ Better is poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways” (ESV). A man can be as poor as can be, but wealth does not make you better in the eyes of God.

    Read More

  • F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

    943 Words  | 2 Pages

    In The Great Gatsby Gatsby acquires all of his wealth so that in his mind he will be good enough for Daisy. Daisy never disagrees with this assumption and also has a very wealthy husband, leading one to believe that money is as important to her as other aspects of her partners. This crass materialism is still quite present today, perhaps even more so than it was then. If you look at many of the current wealthy and successful people of today you’ll regularly see someone who hasn’t done anything to contribute to society or even their own personal fortune. This idea is even reinforced by news outlets, an author from CNN stated, “For a variety of reasons, men earn more money than women, it's a wise move to marry someone who can provide for you and your family.”(Wakeman). These types of statements only serve to fortify the belief that poor boys can’t marry rich girls.

    Read More

  • Justice, Convention And Political Virtue In Aristophanes Clouds Analysis

    1691 Words  | 4 Pages

    Aristophanes’ Clouds begins by introducing the audience to Strepsiades, a simple-minded and old man who finds himself in debt due to his son’s ,Pheidippides, expensive hobby. Strepsiades asks Pheidippides to attend Socrates’ thinkery; a place where Pheidippides could learn a speech that he could then use to talk the city and Strepsiades’ creditors out of collecting the debt. From the very initial moment of this play, therefore, we witness an individual who finds himself in direct collision with the laws of the polity. Specifically, Strepsiades’ is in collision with those features of civil law that seek to ensure that interactions between citizens are characterized by a somewhat

    Read More

  • The Rich Man and Lazarus; Luke 16:19-31

    2048 Words  | 5 Pages

    Systematically, the disabled citizens were excluded from religious affairs and functions by Jewish leaders and other religious leaders. Lepers were often required to separate themselves completely from the community at large . This is why so many parables and teachings of Christ focused on the sick and the poor; they were outcast by religion and the rich. Some believe that there are many parables that are like so many folktales and fables. Many fables, especially Greco-Roman Jewish fables are closely parallel with the gospel parables and that perhaps when Jesus spoke the parable he was pulling from the original Egyptian Fable about a rich man and a poor man . Fables typically have a moral to learn and usually end in irony. Mary Beavis states the ...

    Read More

  • Beatitudes

    877 Words  | 2 Pages

    Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. This is the first Beatitude. It tells us that we should accept people for who they are and not the material things they have. You should not treat a person who lives in a nice house and drives a nice car any different then someone who lives in a less desirable house and drives an old car. You should treat everyone how you would like to be treated.

    Read More

  • Teachings From Three Parables in the Gospel of Luke

    2068 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Gospel itself was most likely written to a mostly Gentile, urban audience and consistently shows a preferential option for the poor. Readers see numerous instances where the author depicts Jesus as claiming the poor as those who will receive the blessings of Heaven and instructing his followers about the dangers of possessions and wealth. It is obvious that the evangelist was concerned with how his or her local community was responding to the poor and how they were gaining and using their wealth.

    Read More

  • The Kingdom of God

    1133 Words  | 3 Pages

    God’s goodness and mercy far transcends the comprehension of the most brilliant human mind! He “who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth”(Psalm 113:6).Yet in His infinite love for us He stoops down to reveal Himself to us by a multitude of illustration, types, and shadows, so that we may learn to know him. This paper will describe what is meant by the Kingdom of God; examine the religious philosophy of the various sects of Judaism during the Second Temple period: Pharisee, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots, describe the religious philosophy and political philosophy of each sects, it will also describe how the Messianic expectation differ from the Messianic role that Jesus presented, and include an exegesis of the temptation of Jesus and how other sects defined the Messiah.

    Read More

  • The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ

    981 Words  | 2 Pages

    Through his death Christ gained forgiveness of sins for all who follow him (see "baptism"). Titus 3:13,14 says "our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity".

    Read More

  • Christian Poverty And The Ethical Views Of Christian Ethics

    1150 Words  | 3 Pages

    Much of scripture speaks to the issues of money and taking up cause for the poor, who are among the most vulnerable in society. The Old Testament has a key theme of protecting the powerless. The powerless in biblical times were often the most financially vulnerable within society, yet God cares for them. Kyle Fedler explains that God’s favoritism seems to rest with the poor and oppressed, and to reject those members of the community, is to reject the God that so deeply loves them. Within our society we often show our favoritism not to the poor, but to the wealthy. Our society runs off of individualism. That individualism blinds us to the needs of

    Read More

  • Christianity and Wealth

    1025 Words  | 3 Pages

    Christianity and Wealth 'Jesus said to the rich young man, "Go, sell all that you have and

    Read More

More about Zacchaeus Response To The Kingdom Of God

Open Document