Zacchaeus Response To The Kingdom Of God

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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

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