ABRAHAM’S SONSHIP
God found favour with Abraham because he avoided idolatry and worshipped the only one and true God. Those who followed his faith, by renouncing false gods, were his descendants. Paul wrote, “Abraham ‘believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’ Realize then that it is those who have faith who are children of Abraham” (Gal 3:6-7) – the Jews were proud that they had Abraham as their father (Mt 3:9); yet, “not all who are of Israel are Israel, nor are they all children of Abraham because they are his descendants” (Rom 9:6-7), but only those who are faithful to their covenant with God like Nathanael who had no duplicity in him (Jn 1:47). When the prodigal son came to his senses, he returned to his father with repentance saying, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son” (Lk 15:21). Zacchaeus, though a biological descendant of Abraham, had lost that true sonship because of his sinful life, forgetting God’s precepts, and exploiting people. He had recovered from it by his renewal of faith through his confession and restitution for corruption. So, Jesus said Zacchaeus has regained sonship of Abraham (Lk 19:9).