On Zacchaeus the Publican

Of Mar Jacob: A Memra on Zacchaeus the Publican. Because of evils, the Lord cast his way in the world. He was seeking to gather those who had strayed from their Father's house. He prepared his discipline for the sake of sinners, that he might turn them. And he sought to find the straying, that they might be lost. He left the found and sought the lost in his journey. He abandoned the perfect and turned with the penitent. From the victor, he was constrained and received. And with sinners, they called him and he was comforted. He was called a companion of publicans and victors. He sought broken limbs, and did not love those that were not broken. He did not descend to the healthy, that the good physician might bind; for the sick would not have need of his cures. To a place that was not dead, he did not compel concerning a wound; and a place that had not sinned, even forgiveness was excessive for it. A place that is broken seeks a limb that may be joined to it. And he who is wounded calls the physician to come to him. The medicine of wounds is only for wounds; it is never applied otherwise. The limb of diseases is only for the diseased; they do not seek it. The broken of heart have need only of the heart. Also the afflicted of spirit are constrained concerning consolation. A place that has wounds has need of remedies, that when it is healed, it may become a remnant for its companions.

He who multiplied his mercy for the sake of the Lord (his guilt). Concerning forgiveness: the youth hung himself because he was distressed. He who was wearied in his soul by iniquity and pain (by his chastisement). For that one, the medicine of mercy that approached him was necessary. As one who washes away sins and laments like a Pharisee: Behold, he was distressed over the difficulty that was prepared for him. He who swallowed him up in the pit of wickedness over his members: He seeks the pearl of his pain, to be smoothed. He who sin fell upon him like a lion: He seeks mercy to soothe him from harm. The Savior rightly knows the way toward sinners: That he might go about like a physician to the sick. Through Zacchaeus the publican, the market made repentance: So that everyone who comes might trade in it without ceasing. In that den he gave a pledge to the sons of iniquity: That those who repent are not separated from sorrow. Like a mirror he set before the eyes of those who are lost in him: So that those who are saved are not reminded of their transgressions. He ceased: the hope of his soul when he looks upon him: With the company of publicans, a companion to the apostolate. He who then hoped for his debts that are unforgiven: He sees the thief who is mixed with the disciples. He who did not run to take refuge in repentance: Because there is in it power that even from stones it can make sons.

He who would not come after this good shepherd: who hunts the wolves that were lambs in the midst of his flock. He who multiplies, he increases the life of him who would flee: from him, this physician who exerts his strength in wounds. The publican mingled with the disciples for the sake of opportunity: that he might cast the hook of blood upon sinners. He who would not be disturbed that he might hunt the son of God: for the publican, a trap that he might be an apostle for the repentant. This one who filled his house with plunder from the poor: and who bore another’s possession as plunder abundantly. This one who collected everything he could from merchants: and who did not know how to squander plunder. This one who sinned without shame all his days: now he is constrained by law and by authority. A sinner and confident, and he was furnished with authority: he worked iniquity, and his face was revealed as he worked it. His sin was manifest and not hidden: from the judges, his wickedness was known and not concealed, what he did. His deed, that of a publican and of a tax-collector, was manifest wickedness: not in secret does the sinner seize who is not furnished. He plunders, he plunders when he is seen, and is not ashamed: he robs, he robs when he is seen, and is not rebuked. His sin (is that of a rebel from shame: and from the law, and he is not hidden from the beholders when he acts).

The iniquity of the publican, when he raised his voice to pursue him, the plunder of every day, while being renewed in every form. Now he had heard that Jesus was passing through the land of Judah, and he went out after him with love, to see him openly. He was sick with iniquity and heard of the remedy of the physician who had come, and he cast aside his pain and went out to see him, that the blood might be staunched for him. There was great confusion in his soul, for he was rebellious, and he hastened to bring him out to hunt for the root of life, our Lord. That son of the fig tree saw the barrenness and closed its mouth, and with good thoughts it stood to be blessed by him. The publican heard, "Behold, the hunter passes by," and he abandoned his habits, those in which he was accustomed to be transformed. The light dawned in the soul of Zacchaeus from grace, and he knew that the son who forgives sins would be clothed in him. For repentance, like a school of beginnings, he entered, that he might hide in it from that army of publicanry. The straying sheep heard of the remedy of the shepherd who had come, and ran after him to have mercy on his soul within his flock. He saw the troops that surrounded him in multitude, and the ranks of the people that ran before him mightily. The youth cast himself to see the son, and they did not give him place, the troops that pressed from all sides to be baptized by him.

His stature was small and he was short, pressing through the crowd and the people, but he could not get through. His pain was severe, and he sought a physician who could heal him. He was eager for sins and swift to evil, as he saw. The small man was greatly agitated, and he could not reach the one he loved, to see him. Not so was Zacchaeus, small in his appearance. He was small, but his mind was vast and broad, even from the world. His stature was short compared to many who were near him. His thoughts, however, passed through the clouds as he loved. In this man, if you look discerningly, he was a hero of names in his high intellect. A great soul was seen in a small body, for his stature was short among creatures and their forms. His limbs were short, but his thoughts were long. He was small in his appearance and great in his desire, more than many. He saw that he could not see the son as he wished, and he ran to the fig tree, the wise one, to accomplish his purpose. And as he spoke thus to the fig tree, Zacchaeus said, "Make me a way, as is my custom from the beginning. You clothed Adam with leaves when he was stripped. Weep, and my desire will be fulfilled now that I have seen the son.

Give me your height, that I might climb and stand upon your branches, and be consoled in the Lord of the sign, who came to the sycamore. Make me a place in your top, a high place, that I might stand and see him, who was hidden from all my eyes, along with his parent. Bear with me a little while, until I see: I come and be consoled, I come to the fruit of life that was sent to us from the Most High. My stature is small, and if I do not stand upon your height, I cannot see your Lord among the crowds. I have no height, and you have no fruit of the gazelle: come, give me height, and I will be fruit for you. Fill my place of standing for me, come, when I have climbed to you, and I will fill the place of fruit for you. The wise one climbed and stood upon the fig tree, and behold, he sees in it the Lord who comes, and the crowds with him, who are gathered to him. His small stature was not sufficient for his faith, and the height he asked for was added to him, that he might see the son. Love kindled him, and he climbed and stood upon the tree, that his whole vision might be filled with the son of God. He saw that he was lowly and could not reach to see the son, and he seized a height not his own and stood to see him. His faith made for him a new stature, that from the whole crowd he might see in one hour. The lowly one climbed and stood in height upon the tree, that he might see the high one, who had descended to lowliness.

He was exalted, that he might be sought in the one who was lowly. He ascended to the height of the one who went down to the depth. Behold! He looked at him, the Lord of the great tax, and was justified. He saw him from afar, and as from near, he loved him. The hidden serpent, Zacchaeus, the great chief of the publicans, was crushed. And he looked at the Son, and the bitterness of his members was stilled. The blow of the thunderbolt hastened him when he perceived it. And he ran and saw the one by whose mystery the Hebrews live. The place of the serpent, that of the affliction, fills the Lord. (To the great one of the publicans, whose injustice was like a curse. Sin in his person was like a bitter, fleeting spirit. And when he looked at the Son, his bitterness was stilled from him, and he was justified. The sight of the Lord made a new creation for the publican. For from the moment he looked at him, he was changed from his evils. He looked at him alone and found all righteousness. For wherever he wishes to look, love makes a doer. What is seen by the spirit sees something beloved. He participated willingly, though not near. The motions of the spirit create a divine creation. Whether by petition or by supplication, it does not reach the limits. The spirit of falsehood does evil, even in its sight. And the spirit of truth is wholly mingled with God. From the tree, Zacchaeus saw God by the spirit. And the warmth of his love joined him with him in communion.

The place of the height made him something to be sought in him. How far off was the near one because of his love! There is no mountain that can hinder the sight from the tax. How the mixed sight is wholly in what it sees in him! Better than all the crowd, Zacchaeus stood far off. And upon the sight he looked at Christ, his tax with him. The mountain of love became a ladder for him, warmly. And he looked at the son and took him by the sight upon his thoughts. If love had not served its maker there, far off would Zacchaeus have been from the Savior. Outside the crowd he stood upon the fig tree to be sought in him. And love brought him within from all that was there. He looked while loving and saw the son while being inflamed. And how was the near one? Thus, except if it were. And when the blessed one saw his thirst upon the Savior, and drank from him as from a spring to fill life. And when he snatched the son with his eyes from among the crowds, that only in him he delighted in the sweet fruit. And when he rejoiced that he had found a place as he desired, that has a height from which to see the one he loved. Then our Lord looked at the sycamore as he passed by, and saw Zacchaeus standing upon its branches.

He looks at him with love and begins to hunt him, that he might speak. Come to you, Zacchaeus, and I say, I have seen you as you have seen me. Come to you, publican, be to me an apostle to the penitents. And teach that I have mercy, even forgiveness. Come, sinner, go out, proclaim my tidings with my disciples, that I receive a man who repents from his evils. Descend, little one, and run on the path of proclamation, and call to the lost ones with a loud voice. Come, I will send you against the wicked, that you may teach that I have compassion and receive those who are fitting for me. Come, I will fashion a beautiful image of repentance, that the whole world may desire you and be amazed at you. Come, be a ladder for my mercy toward sinners, that I may think to forgive the debts of those who are fitting for me. Through you, peoples and worlds and regions will learn that a shepherd I am, and a straying sheep is dear to me. Come, descend, Zacchaeus, in your house I must be a day. Descend, set for me a table, that I may delight in your hospitality. This is the guest who from himself came by his will, and when he was not summoned, he was pleased to be a guest. He did not ask of him, and in your house I will not lodge. Love saw in him and went with him, and he rejoiced greatly. O the farmer who tilled the earth that was barren, until he found that even thorns turn into wheat.

He cast the refuse of his teaching upon the evil thorns, until they gave sweet fruits in the whole world. From the olive of tears he took as a firstfruit, and the chief of the publicans, whom he looked upon alone, he made his apostle. Also from thorns he brought forth fruits through his crucifixion; even the barren trees gave him fruit to follow his path. In the wilderness, bread, and in the midst of the desert, good wine; for the hungry, satiety, and for the sorrowful, all kinds of help. He did not pass through a region without taking a tithe from it, so that even from the barren fig tree he might seek and give fruit. From within the sea he took a pearl without price, and from that dry tree he took a sweet fruit from among fruits. He loved the fruit of this fig tree, which was fruitful, for from its branches the Messiah plucked it as he passed by. He saw Zacchaeus like a firstfruit among the trees, and hastened to pluck him, that he might become sweet in his taste. Nor could anything be found like that fruit which he plucked from that fig tree as he passed by Jericho. He was not like Adam, who fled among the trees and took leaves from that fig tree, and nothing more; for he saw the son lusting from the tree, not like Adam, who was hidden from the Creator.

He was burned with love and filled with the taste of repentance, until even God was pleased that he might be offered. From Jericho and from that fig tree which was barren, this fruit did Christ make by his skill. The city of the sword and the tree that was stripped of leaves—a sweet taste he gave to the Gospel, that it might be honored by him. Great is the power of repentance when it is stirred, for it can by its might bring even swords to peace. In that which has no leaf, it produces fruits to completion. On the barren tree, a beloved fruit, three in Jericho. The Son of God made new things on the way of the poor. And at every opportunity he called the world to repentance. As a firstfruit he took Zacchaeus from among the sinners, that he might be a sign for those who would come to repentance. Come down, Zacchaeus! And he hastened and descended, the publican, with a good heart, that he might receive the King of kings. He feared to enter, the great wealth that would meet him, for he did not expect that he had a treasure such as he might find. The tax collector, that is, prayer was upon his eyes over the merchant, and he led him in, to plunder from him great wealth. He saw the error of mercy passing by on the way there, and he desired to bring it in, that within his house it might dwell entirely.

The string came down and there was a cord from above. And Zacchaeus took it, who seized what was his and would not let it go. The chief of the publicans, the lodging-place of the full of blessings. From that place, the hidden string came down toward the earth-dwellers. He seized with love that merchant of mercies, who came. And into his house he brought him, that he might grow rich from his treasures. O you, Zacchaeus, who plunders the earth and also the sky. You even cause God to enter his house and lodge. From you all merchants turn aside in their paths. From you orphans pass by, oppressed in their thoughts. From you all travellers receive in their ways. Even the beggars run to you in their alms. Mercies on earth descended, they were walking, and you plundered them. A cord was pursuing from above, and you received them. Grace came to pass through your place again, and to its garment, that it might set forgiveness for the world and its plunderers might be deprived. The gift came, which is fitting for the earth, and behold, it is in your house. Heaven and earth, that you might be strong, fittingly. You have conquered, Zacchaeus, and what your word is I do not know. I am amazed at you, O victorious one, full of victory. A publican was called, you are an apostle among the repentant. You are a disciple, O distributor among the plunderers. In all the flock you are, and I am weak, I cannot speak to you. To the publicans a chief, to the apostles a brother and companion.

In the world is your wealth and the name of the victor in apostleship. Your poverty is stripped away, and with the disciples your praise is mingled. You are seated in the treasuries, and you are a skilful one in the chambers. That you may seize: there is in you, and you scatter again, it is not difficult for you. You are a thief and quick to plunder and to squander. There is in you the power to bend and to plunder and to be justified. In one place, plunder and full booty: your hand. On the other side, it casts down every judgment, all righteousness. In your life, iniquity, and within your house, a son of God. And because of this, Zacchaeus: that he might cease from your praise. To the house of Zacchaeus, the son of God hastens himself. That he might give life to those who were distressed over forgiveness. He was a physician who heals the diseases of iniquity. And crooked pains were between his hands as he healed. Why then to the house of the publican, full of evils? Why does he mingle with sinners and love them? Why does he not turn away from the side of the evil and leave them? And because of this, he is mingled and associates with the wicked. Why does he not reject the workers of iniquity, if he is true? Why does he press with the wicked and they are dear to him? He was a shepherd when he sought the lost sheep. And he, in his request, was considered like a skilful one. He hastened, a diligent one, and he cut the thorns of iniquity, a helper. And they run upon him over those whom he healed; he was for the healers.

Hope for the wicked and the sinners in that beginning: that he who was seated in it forgives sins among the penitents. Behold: Zacchaeus saw the great wealth (that was upon his branches: and he cast his treasures for that treasure, a vessel that he found. He feared for himself and saw that his worldly wealth was unjust: and he began to seek to cast it from himself upon the many. He saw his Lord of the world, that he was bent over upon his beginning: and he despised the world and began to flee from his evils. He approached as a tax-collector and bowed down to the Son, saying to him: I bow down to you, physician of my leprosy, which I was defiling. I thank you, my Lord, for the soul that was corrupted by stains: that your grace may empty it, so that it may see your beauty clearly. I entreat you, healer of many wounds in him: that you may not be grieved by my pains in your gathering. My weak mouth thanks your mouth that calls by my names: (sweet voices: that have turned to you from obstacles. The kisses of my lips at your footsteps, physician full of remedies: for from my leprosy my limbs were weakened and were sick. Dust from your holy footsteps: with your treadings I pursue the injustice that dwelt with me. Half of my treasures, the reward of your feet, physician, let it be: for your journey I was not worthy to come before you.

All that was hidden he repays, O Lord, while rejoicing; and the iniquity that was wrought he turns into righteousness. That which was seen with its abundance he makes manifest. And all that was snatched in the branches he brought to the place of the sinner. Woe is me henceforth: iniquity enters within through the gates. Or shall wickedness serve as a helper in your midst to its destroyers? The gate upon which the great King of the assembly alighted: it will not open again to the sin that enters through it. A great deed did Christ perform in that beginning: for it was not that he ate bread hungrily there without cause. A great feast did he make there for repentance: in the house of the publican, and he invited all sinners to it. It was a banquet that was laden: in it righteousness, and the Lord went rejoicing from there with the penitents. Upon the son of the fig tree he drove out the iniquity that was there, so that darkness could not dwell with the light. Zacchaeus began to scatter his treasures upon the poor, and he cast all his possessions upon the needy. He scattered alms upon his right and upon his left, and he distributed with both his hands generously. He hastened to cast as one who hastens to gather, so that in every place he was generous in all that met him. He opened his gates and began to bring out to the outsiders, and he raised his voice: "All that was plundered, come and take!

O you sinners, take from the plunderer. The day of judgment does not feel, it comes to you. O you poor, take righteousnesses from the oppressor. The needy of the region, help them a little, cast the hidden things. O you lacking, they were to me workers for a good wage. And bear, bring out this iniquity which they multiplied, their debts. It was pleasing to him when he ran upon righteousnesses. And he casts his hidden things upon all that come from all sides. The plunder of little cause, little by little, while rejoicing. In one hour he brought out, gave it, while exulting. He saw the son, and the beauty of his eye was filled from him. And he was not able to look upon the world lovingly. When Christ, the shoot of little of apostleship. And it was pleasing to him to bend his shoulder towards mammon. He wrote to the gospel half of his hidden things, while half remained in him. And he did not delay to go out, to give the mouth of confession. His hands stretched out righteousnesses to distribute. His eyes called out towards the poor to receive. His feet ran upon the paths towards passersby. That he might distribute with love his hidden things to whoever was needy. This deed was used in that beginning. And the foolish scales which do not press with sinners. It was not great that he raised the dead after he was buried. As this is great, that a tax collector became an apostle.

O you sinners, take from the plunderer. The day of judgment does not feel, it comes to you. O you poor, take righteousnesses from the oppressor. The needy of the region, help them a little, cast the hidden things. O you In truth, it was a wonder, the filling of the ditch: that a man named Zacchaeus would distribute all that he had plundered. Great is this, that the soul would live from evils, more than that the body would rise from destruction. This is a great sign, that the Son of God wrought: that from a sinner he made a righteous man in one moment. Where are the thoughts that would judge him, when he entered the house of the publican to eat bread with sinners? They did not know what he was about to do in him. He was wise of heart, who was considered among the wealthy. He cast a net, that hunter of the deep, and to the ruler of the whole town, he hunted him with his mercies. For the chief of the publicans he gathered in the net that he cast there, so that nothing would escape, but he hunted thus only the Lord. In the world, the Son of God cast his net, and the publican was caught, and his little ones with him were caught. If the Lord had not gone to eat bread there, this hunt would not have entered this net. If he had passed by and it had not happened that his hunt came, this finding of repentance would not have been found. For he knew what he would do when he was there, and because of that, he did not fear from within. Our Lord saw Zacchaeus and rejoiced in the young man who was small, and began to call him son of Abraham because of his love.

O you sinners, take from the plunderer. The day of judgment does not feel, it comes to you. O you poor, take righteousnesses from the oppressor. The needy of the region, help them a little, cast the hidden things. O you The day of judgment, life was not in it in this house: The life that showed in it and death that ruled in it fled. Behold, the garment of the wicked, all of them, and of the sinners: That they might be able to go and do good in repentance. Behold, the new things that the Son of God wrought in his way: Blessed is he who proclaimed the good news to the publicans. Completed: On Zacchaeus the Publican and the beginning.