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when a man named Zakkai appeared who was a chief tax-collector and a wealthy man.
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He was trying to see who Yeshua was; but, being short, he couldn't, because of the crowd.
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So he ran on ahead and climbed a fig tree in order to see him, for Yeshua was about to pass that way.
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When he came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zakkai! Hurry! Come down, because I have to stay at your house today!"
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He climbed down as fast as he could and welcomed Yeshua joyfully.
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Everyone who saw it began muttering, "He has gone to be the house-guest of a sinner."
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But Zakkai stood there and said to the Lord, "Here, Lord, I am giving half of all I own to the poor; and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four times as much."
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Yeshua said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, inasmuch as this man too is a son of Avraham.
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For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost."
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While they were listening to this, Yeshua went on to tell a parable, because he was near Yerushalayim, and the people supposed that the Kingdom of God was about to appear at any moment.
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Therefore he said, "A nobleman went to a country far away to have himself crowned king and then return.