Are you sure?
This bookmark will be removed from all folders and any saved notes will be permanently removed.
Zacchæus
Brief but wonderfully interesting is the incident recorded in the nineteenth chapter of St. Luke, which tells how Zacchæus, "chief among the publicans," wanted to see Jesus as he passed on his way to Jerusalem, but was kept back and hidden in the crowd because he was "little of stature." Refusing to be deterred from his purpose by this, Zacchæus ran on ahead and climbed a sycamore tree, that he might be able to see Jesus—"who he was." As the Master passed by, he looked up into the tree and said to him, "Zacchæus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house." We may imagine that Zacchæus was well-nigh overwhelmed with surprise and joy, and the incident closes with the Master's benediction to him and his whole household,—"forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham."
Now this story of Zacchæus is simply a straightforward human record, and may not contain as much spiritual meaning as the parable of the sower, for instance, which is important for the types of mortal thought presented in the metaphysical explanation of the sowing of the seed of Truth. It might even be straining at the gnats of pedantry to attach definite metaphysical significance to every little detail of it; nevertheless the story opens out a train of thought which is not without comfort, enlightenment, and even inspiration, for are there not many who feel themselves to be "little of stature" in more ways than one?
Many singularly sweet natures settle down in the back ways of life's city with the profound conviction that they have little of human endowments,—but few talents, few accomplishments, and no gifts worth mentioning. They are more or less content to drag through dull, uneventful days of work and drudgery, and remain in a dwarfed and stunted condition, shrinking from all intimations of development and progress with a frightened cry of "Oh, but I couldn't do that! I shouldn't know how to!" Others may feel they possess greater capacities, but that they are limited and restricted by their environment. The crowd of mortal thought, education, custom, and obligation presses them down and forces them into the narrow ruts and grooves of convention and conservatism.
Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.
![](/mediafile/file/scans/SEN/SEN_1917_019_50/SEN_1917_019_50_0001_thumb_medium.jpg)
August 11, 1917 issue
View Issue-
Zacchæus
MYRTLE STRODE JACKSON
-
A Ray of Light
CHARLES F. KRAFT
-
Ending Wars
ROSEMARY BAUM HACKETT
-
Sunday School Training
J. L. MOTHERSHEAD, JR.
-
"Get understanding"
JESSIE C. E. KIRBY
-
Science and Peace
JEANETTE L. NADEL
-
"Keeping at it"
ANNA W. HOLLEBAUGH
-
In a recent letter a clergyman states, "I no more think...
Charles M. Shaw
-
In the Herald of recent date an evangelist in his mistaken...
W. D. Hinchsliff
-
It is true that Mrs. Eddy founded a great religious movement,...
B. W. Oppenheim
-
In the article entitled "The Doctor" Christian Science is...
M. J. Badenach
-
A Ship Going to Tarshish
William P. McKenzie
-
Why We Should Work
Annie M. Knott
-
Making Excuses
William D. McCrackan
-
The War Relief Fund
Editor
-
The Lectures
with contributions from Roy A. Mather, Elmer Clute, K. F. Knudsen, W. G. Manning, Cora Izzard, Roland L. Strauss
-
Several years ago my two little children accompanied the...
Corinne C. Sanderson
-
During the past eight and a half years I have had many...
Minnie S. Berry with contributions from L. A. Berry
-
The testimonies in our periodicals have so often helped...
Mary C. Richards
-
Never having read a testimony in the Sentinel from this...
Inez A. Baillie
-
Ten years ago, when I came back from Canada to France...
S. Aimée Kern
-
From Our Exchanges
with contributions from John A. Patten, Canon W. E. Reginald Morrow, A. Maude Royden, Frederick R. Griffin