Zacchaeus
A short man up a tree — and the day Jesus invited himself over.
New Testament · 1st century · Luke
About Zacchaeus
Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector in Jericho, and he was rich. Tax collectors worked for the Roman system and were widely despised. Too short to see Jesus over the crowd, he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree. Jesus stopped, called him by name, and said he would stay at his house. Zacchaeus responded by giving half his goods to the poor and repaying anyone he’d cheated four times over.
Tax collectors bid for the right to collect taxes and often charged extra to profit. A "chief" tax collector oversaw others. Being a guest in someone’s home signalled acceptance — which is why the crowd grumbled.
The story
Chief among the publicans
"There was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich." In Jericho, everyone knew who he was — and how he’d made his money.
Luke 19:1-2
Up a sycamore tree
He wanted to see Jesus, "and could not for the press, because he was little of stature." So he ran ahead "and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way."
Luke 19:3-4
Make haste, and come down
Jesus stopped under the tree, looked up, and called him by name: "Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house." The crowd murmured: he has gone to be the guest of a sinner.
Luke 19:5-7
Fourfold
Zacchaeus stood up: "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." Jesus said, "This day is salvation come to this house."
Luke 19:8-9
Seek and save the lost
Jesus summed up the whole encounter in one sentence: "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Luke 19:10
Key moments
- Rich tax collector: Chief among the publicans. (Luke 19:2)
- Climbs the tree: Too short to see. (Luke 19:4)
- Called by name: "Make haste, and come down." (Luke 19:5)
- Gives it back: Half to the poor, fourfold repaid. (Luke 19:8)
Questions about Zacchaeus
In meetBible these answers are given in Zacchaeus’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
Why did you climb the tree?
Luke says I "sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature." So I ran ahead and climbed a sycamore. Why I wanted to see him so badly, the text doesn’t say — curiosity, perhaps, or something more.
Why did people dislike you?
I was a chief tax collector and rich. Tax collectors were seen as collaborators with Rome who often overcharged. When Jesus came to my house, "they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner." And my own words admit I had taken things by false accusation.
What changed after you met Jesus?
I stood up and said, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." Jesus answered, "This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham."
Connected people
Read it yourself
Start with Luke 19:1-10.