The Hound of Heaven

Please take your Bibles and turn to Luke 19:1.  I want to share a message with you entitled, “The Hound of Heaven.”

 

In 1890, English poet Francis Thompson published his poem with the same title as my sermon.  It was 182 lines, and its subject was the pursuit of the human soul by God’s love.

 

In Luke 19:1-10, we find a very familiar story of Zacchaeus, the wee little man.  Believe it or not, the main point of Zacchaeus’ story is the same.  God’s love is pursuing your human soul.

 

In three scenes of this story, we will focus on three individuals or groups of people.  Those include: Zacchaeus, us, and Jesus.

 

 

1. A Controversy with a Rich Man, Luke 19:1-6

1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.

 

Today’s story and controversy with a rich man stands in sharp contrast in how it ends with the rich, young ruler.  He left saddened, but Zacchaeus leaves saved.

 

Jesus and His disciples were passing through Jericho on their way to Jerusalem.  In verse 2, we are introduced to Zacchaeus.

 

He was a chief tax collector.  This is the only time we ever see this title as chief tax collector. 

 

Zacchaeus worked for the Roman government collecting taxes, but he was the one of the head guys.  That means he had tax collectors working under him. 

 

BTW…We also know that Zacchaeus was a Jew because of verse 9.  Therefore, he was considered a traitor because he worked for the Romans extorted massive amounts of money from his own countrymen.

 

These men were notoriously dishonest and thieves.  Consequently, Zacchaeus was rich because not only did he collect what was paid to the Roman government, but he also collected some for himself, and he received a commission from those tax collectors under him.

 

Ironically, he must have heard about Jesus and was curious so he sought to see who Jesus was.  However, he couldn’t see over the crowd because he was short in stature.  He wasn’t very tall.

 

Therefore, undeterred, he ran ahead of Jesus and the crowd, and found a tree that he climbed to get a view.  The song says, “Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he.  He climbed up in the sycamore tree to see what he could see.”

 

When Jesus passed by, He looked up and told Zacchaeus that He was coming to his house.  Zacchaeus was fired up, came down, and welcome Jesus joyfully.

 

BTW…Verse 5 reminds us, contrary to what our English translations may indicate, long before Zacchaeus sought Jesus, Jesus was seeking Zacchaeus.  The words place, today, and must demonstrate divine sovereignty in the salvation process.

 

Jesus went to the exact place where Zacchaeus was because He knew in advance. That day had been planned before the foundation of the world, and the word “must” means that He had to do it according to God’s sovereign plan.

 

How do you think this meeting at Zacchaeus’ house was received?

 

 

2. Criticism from the Religious Leaders, Luke 19:7

7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” 

 

Verse seven says when they saw Jesus’ interaction with Zacchaeus and what was happening, they complained. 

 

 First of all, who was they?  They was the religious leaders of scribes and Pharisees.  They looked righteous on the outside, but were self-righteous on the inside.

 

They complained or grumbled.  They griped and whispered underneath their breath expecting Jesus to want to come their house.

 

The couldn’t believe that Jesus, who claimed to be the Messiah, wanted to go to Zacchaeus’ house, a rotten, stealing, traitor and tax collector.

 

The verse ends with them calling Zacchaeus a sinner.  Isn’t that ironic?

 

It was ironic because they were sinners too.  We are all sinners.

 

Did you know that every single person in this room and who has ever lived is a sinner?  There is only one exception, and that is the Jesus Christ the Son of God.

 

Because we are all sinners, we are separated from God, and we need a savior.  The good news is that Jesus Christ is seeking us like the hound of heaven.

 

 

3. A Conversion to Righteousness, Luke 19:8-10

8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”  9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

 

After Zacchaeus received Jesus, and that was his salvation experience, his life changed forever. Verse 8 says he stood up publicly and said he was giving half of his good to the poor, and his way paying back all that he had stolen and more. 

 

Keep in mind, this acts weren’t saving him.  He was already saved, and these acts were proof of his conversion.

 

Jesus recognized such in verse 9.  He affirmed Zacchaeus’ conversion to Christ and righteousness and a changed life. 

 

Our story ends with the theme verse of Luke’s gospel, and it tells us all we need to know about Jesus’ mission.  HE is the Savior, the Son of man.

 

He is seeking you to save you because you are lost without Him.  Today’s invitation invites you to respond.

 

 

Conclusion

1. F. O’Conor said about the Hound of Heaven:

 

“The name is strange.  It startles one at first.  It is so bold, so new, so fearless.  It does not attract, rather the reverse.  But when one reads the poem this strangeness disappears.  The meaning is understood.  As the hound follows the hare, never ceasing in its running, ever drawing nearer in the chase, with unhurrying and unperturbed pace, so does God follow the fleeing soul by His Divine grace.  And though in sin or in human love, away from God it seeks to hide itself, Divine grace follows after, unwearyingly follows ever after, till the soul feels its pressure forcing it to turn to Him alone in that never ending pursuit.”

 

If you are lost today, Jesus Christ is seeing you.  Like Zacchaeus, will you receive Him?