19:1–10 In the preceding episode we saw the healing touch of Jesus restoring the sight and faith of a religious outcast of Israel. In the episode at hand we have another example of the restoration of one who was an outcast, not because of physical problems thought to be caused by sin, but because of his occupation. While passing through Jericho, Jesus encounters a chief tax collector (see note below) named Zacchaeus, a man who was wealthy. His desire to see Jesus was such he climbed a nearby sycamore-fig tree (which surely would have been viewed as undignified for a man of means). To the astonishment of all, Jesus picked Zacchaeus out of the crowd as his host for the day. In response to this selection all the people begin to mutter, for in their eyes Jesus has chosen to be the guest of a s…