Luke 19:8

And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore [him] fourfold.

And {G1161} Zacchaeus {G2195} stood {G2476}, and said {G2036} unto {G4314} the Lord {G2962}; Behold {G2400}, Lord {G2962}, the half {G2255} of my {G3450} goods {G5224} I give {G1325} to the poor {G4434}; and {G2532} if {G1536} I have taken {G4811} any thing {G1536} from any man {G5100} by false accusation {G4811}, I restore {G591} him fourfold {G5073}.

But Zakkai stood there and said to the Lord, “Here, Lord, I am giving half of all I own to the poor; and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four times as much.”

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.”

And Zacchæus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wrongfully exacted aught of any man, I restore fourfold.

Luke 19:8 captures the dramatic and immediate transformation of Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector of Jericho, following his encounter with Jesus Christ.

Context

This verse immediately follows Jesus's controversial decision to invite Himself to Zacchaeus's home (Luke 19:5). As a chief tax collector, Zacchaeus was despised by his Jewish countrymen, often seen as a traitor who extorted money for the Roman Empire, enriching himself in the process. The crowd murmured at Jesus's association with such a "sinner" (Luke 19:7). Zacchaeus's declaration here is his spontaneous, heartfelt response to the grace and acceptance he received from Jesus, demonstrating a profound change of heart and immediate fruit of his repentance.

Key Themes

  • Genuine Repentance and Transformation: Zacchaeus's words are not a plea for salvation, but a clear evidence of it. His actions show a radical shift from greed and corruption to generosity and justice. This reflects the biblical concept that true repentance bears fruit (Matthew 3:8).
  • Radical Restitution: Zacchaeus pledges to restore fourfold anything he has taken by false accusation. This goes far beyond the Mosaic Law's requirements for theft, which typically mandated double restitution (Exodus 22:1) or an added fifth for confessed wrongdoing (Numbers 5:7). His willingness to exceed the legal requirement underscores the depth of his contrition and desire to make things right.
  • Profound Generosity: Beyond restitution, Zacchaeus promises to give half of his possessions to the poor. This act of immense generosity highlights a complete reorientation of his values, moving from self-enrichment to compassion and care for others, echoing Jesus's teaching on wealth (Luke 12:33).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "false accusation" translates the Greek word sykophanteo, which literally means "to accuse falsely" or "to extort." This term vividly describes the corrupt practices of tax collectors like Zacchaeus, who often used their authority to defraud people. Zacchaeus's commitment to "restore fourfold" (Greek: tetraploun apodidomi) emphasizes the extraordinary nature of his repentance, signaling a desire not just for legal compliance but for complete reconciliation and justice.

Practical Application

Zacchaeus's story serves as a powerful reminder that true faith in Christ leads to tangible transformation. It teaches us that:

  • Repentance Involves Action: Genuine sorrow for sin is often accompanied by a desire to make amends and rectify wrongs, where possible.
  • Grace Transforms Values: Encountering Jesus can radically shift our priorities from selfish gain to generous giving and seeking justice for others.
  • Salvation is Evidenced by Fruit: As Jesus declares in Luke 19:9, salvation had come to Zacchaeus's house, and his actions in verse 8 are the undeniable proof of that spiritual rebirth.

This verse encourages believers to examine their own lives for areas where restitution or greater generosity might be needed as a demonstration of their faith.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Samuel 12:6

    And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

  • Numbers 5:7

    Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth [part] thereof, and give [it] unto [him] against whom he hath trespassed.

  • Luke 18:22

    Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

  • Luke 18:23

    And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

  • Proverbs 6:31

    But [if] he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

  • Leviticus 6:1

    ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

  • Leviticus 6:6

    And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest:

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