1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; 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. 9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:1-10 KJV)
Jesus and Zacchaeus
Many, no doubt, were converted to the faith of Christ of whom no account is kept in the Gospels, but some conversions are recorded for their extraordinary nature, like that of Zacchaeus. Christ passed through Jericho (Luke 19:1), a city originally built under a curse, yet honored now by his presence—showing that the gospel removes the curse. Christ was on his way to Bethany to raise Lazarus, but as he often did, he made use of the journey to do spiritual good along the way.
Zacchaeus, a Jew, was the chief tax collector—likely the head of others and perhaps a contractor of the revenue—and he was rich. Most tax collectors were despised and often dishonest, yet Zacchaeus was curious about Jesus and eager to see who he was (Luke 19:3). Though many wealthy people found it hard to follow Christ, Zacchaeus would prove to be an exception.
Being short and unable to see over the crowd, Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree. Despite his status, he humbled himself to see Jesus. Those who sincerely seek Christ will overcome obstacles, even if it means appearing undignified. Many short in stature have great souls. Zacchaeus’s eagerness teaches that when people truly desire Christ, they’ll use whatever means they can to draw near to him.
Jesus, arriving at the spot, looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today” (Luke 19:5). Zacchaeus didn’t expect such notice. He came to see Jesus, but Jesus already knew him. Christ called him by name and told him to hurry down—not just physically, but spiritually: to humble himself and receive Christ gladly, without delay. Zacchaeus came down joyfully and received Jesus into his home, showing he also welcomed him into his heart (Luke 19:6). When Christ calls, we must not hesitate. His presence brings joy and salvation.
The crowd grumbled. They murmured that Jesus had gone to be a guest of a sinner (Luke 19:7). But their judgment was unfair. Though Zacchaeus had been a publican and possibly a sinner, that did not mean he remained so. Christ saw the change in his heart, which others couldn’t perceive. It was Christ’s mission to seek and save sinners. The crowd, quick to judge, failed to understand that Jesus did not avoid sinners but reached out to them for healing.
Zacchaeus publicly proved his repentance and faith: “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount” (Luke 19:8). He stood to speak—declaring his intentions solemnly before Christ, not to the people. This wasn’t boastful like the Pharisee’s self-righteous prayers (Luke 18:11); it was a vow of genuine transformation.
As a wealthy man, Zacchaeus had previously lived selfishly. Now, he resolved to be generous: he would give half of his goods to the poor—not after death, but immediately. He likely remembered Christ’s earlier call to a rich man to sell his possessions and give to the poor (Matthew 19:21). Unlike that man, Zacchaeus responded at once.
He also promised restitution for any wrongdoing. If he had extorted money or falsely accused anyone, he would restore four times what he had taken (Exodus 22:1). He did not wait to be sued or forced—he would do it voluntarily. This was evidence of true repentance. Giving to the poor could not substitute for justice. First, he must restore what he had unjustly taken. God hates robbery for burnt offerings. Charity must come after restitution, not instead of it.
Jesus responded: “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham” (Luke 19:9). Zacchaeus was saved—rescued from sin and its power—and all the benefits of salvation were his. Salvation came not only to him personally but to his household. A truly converted person brings blessings to their family, both spiritually and practically.
Zacchaeus, once considered unworthy because of his profession, was now counted among the faithful. Though born a Jew, his status as a publican had made him an outcast. But Jesus restored his standing. As a believer, he was a true son of Abraham—not just by birth, but by faith.
Jesus concluded with the great mission statement of his ministry: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). This echoed what he said earlier (Matthew 9:13). The whole world, by sin, is lost—like a city in revolt, a traveler in a desert, or a patient with a terminal illness. But Christ came to seek and save it.
He came from heaven to earth on a long journey to find the lost, to rescue them, and restore them. He sought out those who didn’t seek him—like Zacchaeus—and he saved them when all others had given up hope. His mission wasn’t just to teach or to heal but to bring salvation to those who were otherwise without hope.