Zacchaeus: Bible Character Study

Introduction

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector in Jericho and he was rich. That meant he had grown wealthy collecting for Rome, likely taking more than he should. When Jesus came through town, Zacchaeus wanted to see him but could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree.

Jesus stopped, looked up, called him by name, and said he would stay at his house that day. The crowd grumbled. Zacchaeus came down joyfully, and before long he stood up and promised to give half his goods to the poor and repay four times anyone he had cheated.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
(ESV)

Name means: “Pure” or “innocent”
Home: Jericho
Role: Chief tax collector, wealthy
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Zacchaeus's story

Beginning
Up the tree
Too short to see over the crowd, he runs ahead and climbs a sycamore.
High point
Called by name
Jesus looks up and tells him to hurry down. The crowd grumbles that Jesus is going to a sinner's house.
Ending
Down from the tree
He promises half his goods to the poor and fourfold repayment. Jesus says salvation has come to his house.

Starts as a rich man up a tree. Ends as a son of Abraham with an open hand.

Where Zacchaeus lived and went

Only places Scripture records. Softer, dotted pins are traditional or uncertain sites. Tap a pin for the passage.

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Zacchaeus appears only in Jericho.

How Zacchaeus is wired

Why there's no type here

Scripture gives us one afternoon in his life, so a type would be guesswork.

Strengths & struggles

What's good in Zacchaeus

Eager and unembarrassed (). Joyful welcome (). Repentance that costs him something ().

Where Zacchaeus struggles

Before Jesus came, he had defrauded people ().

What Zacchaeus wanted most

To see who Jesus was ().

What Zacchaeus feared most

Scripture does not say.

Zacchaeus's people

Jesus

Matthew

The Lord

JesusSaw him in the tree, called him by name, and brought salvation to his house.

Friends

MatthewAnother tax collector Jesus called (Matt 9:9).

Tension

The crowdBlocked his view, then grumbled when Jesus chose him ().

Those he cheatedHe promised to pay them back four times over ().

Family of Faith

See where Zacchaeus fits

AbrahamJesus

c. 20 BC – AD 40 (debated). Knew Jesus face to face.

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Where this points to Christ

Zacchaeus went looking for Jesus, but Jesus had come looking for him.

He climbed the tree to see, and Jesus already knew his name. Jesus calls him a son of Abraham, and says salvation has come to his house, not because of his giving but because Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Changed generosity followed grace; it did not earn it.