I liked what you said.......nothing to do with it, I just got to thinking about this passage
I dont think Jesus was talking about saving unto eternal life. by selling goods.........eternal life came by believing on his name by believing he was Christ, the Son of God........Zacchaeus must have done this, maybe in verse 6 where he received him and verse 8 where he called him Lord
I think selling goods saved him to enter the kingdom on earth
The reference to eternal life is not in the picture of Zacchaeus the publican but found in the first rich man I referenced here in Luke 18:18 where he asks Jesus this
Luke 18:18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
And Jesus responded
Thou knowest the commandments
He responded
And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
And Jesus responded
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.
And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
Between the two pictures (the one in Luke 18:18 in the above and the one in Luke 19:8) appear to contrast between them a worldly sorrow and godly sorrow
Look at it from the point of a publican (that believed John) who would enter the Kingdom of God before the Pharisees. For example, John said, I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance and 2 Cr 7:10) says, for godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation. Zacchaeus was the chief among the publicans, Jesus said to the pharisees Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God
before you. Saying, For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
Zacchaeus then, would be who of the same who believed John (who was looking for Jesus) "he that cometh after me is mightier than I (John said).
Zacchaeus, calls out to the Lord saying, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor
That seems to fall under John's teaching, for example, when the people asked what should they do,
John answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none;
and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. (Luke 3:11)
If you had 2 coats (and gave one away) and did the same with meat also that would be giving half
Luke 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord;
Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor
And he continues
and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
Restoring fourfold, or Four sheep for a sheep is found here
Exodus 22:1 If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox,
and four sheep for a sheep.
Shown also in David
2Sam 12:6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing
And so in Zacchaeus (a publican, which were those who Jesus said believed John) but we can see an outworking of his teaching, and a godly sorrow working repentance to salvation 2 Cr 7:10
To whom Jesus (who come after John) would respond to Zacchaeus this way.
Luke 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
Repentance is also unto life
