Zaccheus the rich tax collector from Jericho had amassed so much wealth by extortion, that the tax payers in his district despised him. Probably feeling wretched within himself, he cast his pride and dignity aside, ran before the crowd that followed Jesus and climbed a tree just to have a glimpse of the Master. Jesus called Zaccheus down and invited Himself to stay in his house to the sheer astonishment of Zaccheus.

Mt 19:23 – Mt 20:16

Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven”. When the disciples heard this they were astonished (Mt 19:23-25). When He emphasized the same truth in the gospel of Mark, it is recorded that the disciples were first amazed and then exceedingly astonished (Mk 10:24, 26).