07_Biblica_2_AM_B_Kilgallen_Layout 1 30/01/13 13:17 Pagina 598 07_B 598 JOHN KILGALLEN For our purposes, the most striking feature we find in this story is the fact that we have been given a clear example of the result which comes from Jesus’ fraternizing with sinners. Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector (= sinner), emerges from a time spent with Jesus and announces his intention of fulfill- ing the ideal of the law governing the return of stolen property 18. Jesus’ com- ments on this assurance of repentance is also a forceful claim which supports his earlier recognition of his mission to save the “lost”, a neat literary re- minder of Jesus’ parables about the lost sheep, coin and son. There is no missing the obvious link of means and end, which was not absolutely, ex- plicitly assured in the previous examples wherein Jesus was accused of doing wrong in associating with tax collectors and sinners. A literary feature of Luke further draws our attention to the point under consideration here. Just after our author notes how Zacchaeus hurried from his perch in the tree to welcome Jesus joyfully, the crowd as critics is introduced. One can, with a certain logic, expect that this look to the criticism of the crowd 19 interferes with the development of the story, a development which should assure that the reception of Jesus will be fol- lowed without “distraction” by the response of Zacchaeus about his re- pentance. Yet if the purpose of the story, as we think it does, includes a sign of repentance as justification for Jesus’ lodging with a sinner, the logic of the story as it stands is quite acceptable and sensible 20. It also seems best to say that the disposition of Zacchaeus before his moment of repentance was a “benevolent” curiosity. There is no clear in- dication that Zacchaeus’ desire and effort to “see” Jesus actually con- cealed an incipient repentance. No, it is only the actual time spent with Jesus that accounts for repentance. Exodus 21,1, Lev 6,5, and Num 5,6-7 are examples of the sense of ret- 18 ribution that explains the kind of repentance Zacchaeus expresses. L.T. JOHNSON, The Gospel of Luke (Sacra Pagina; Collegeville, MN 1991) 19 285, comments that the clause idontej pa,ntej diego,gguzon (v.7) “would include v, the disciples and the crowd and the opponents”, since “all” complained. It seems better to say that “all” is one of many examples of Lucan writing which should not be taken at face value; since the story’s only expressed precedent for pa,ntej is oclou (v. 3), it seems right to conclude that it is the “crowd”, which had not expe- ; rienced Jesus’ earlier associations with sinners and tax collectors, that complains. “[Zacchaeus’] use of the present tense in ‘I’m giving’ and ‘I’m paying 20 back’ for what he has yet to do emphasizes that these actions are so sure and soon to be done that they’re as good as in process right now”, R. GUNDRY, Commentary on the New Testament (Peabody, MA 2010) 316. For a discus- sion of the interpretations of the words of Zacchaeus in regard to the time of his monetary expression of repentance, cf. L. TICHY, “Was hat Zachäus geant- wortet? (Lk 19,8)?”, Bib 92 (2011) 21-38. © Gregorian Biblical Press 2012 - Tutti i diritti riservati