Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector in Jericho and a very wealthy man. Tax collectors worked for Rome, collecting money from their own people — and most of them cheated, taking extra money for themselves. Everyone despised Zacchaeus. He was also short, so when Jesus came to Jericho and a crowd gathered, he could not see over the people.

Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus. When Jesus reached that spot, He looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately — I must stay at your house today." Zacchaeus scrambled down at once and welcomed Jesus with great joy. The crowd muttered disapprovingly: "He has gone to be the guest of a sinner."

But something powerful happened in Zacchaeus' home. In the presence of Jesus, his heart transformed. He stood up and said, "Lord, I will give half of everything I own to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times as much." Jesus declared, "Today salvation has come to this house." Jesus did not wait for Zacchaeus to clean himself up before inviting Himself in. He went to the sinner — and the sinner was changed. Jesus said, "The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost." That includes every one of us.