What is the Story of Zacchaeus, the Tax Collector Whose Heart Was Changed?

There comes a time in the life of every soon-to-be believer when just hearing or reading about Jesus is not enough. Like Zacchaeus in the Gospel of Luke, our hearts begin to be pulled away from the periphery of faith. The Holy Spirit sparks a passion in us, and we realize we’ve got to get to Jesus. We need to know that He sees us, cares about us, knows us better than we know ourselves, and yet still accepts us.

The story of Zacchaeus likely contains something that all of us can relate to. Jesus’ laser beam focus on him in the midst of others, and Zacchaeus’ response make it such a beautiful example of how Jesus loves–and how our hearts can overflow with love for Him as a result.

What is the Story of Zacchaeus in the Bible?

The story of Zacchaeus takes up only 10 verses in the 19th chapter of the Gospel of Luke, but there was so much meaning in those words. We learn in the first verse that Jesus was “passing through” the city of Jericho, about 15 miles northeast of Jerusalem. Even though it sounded like He had no intention in the city, Luke introduces us to a Jewish man named Zacchaeus who was a wealthy chief tax collector. As such, he was likely despised by other Jews (as was Matthew, the tax collector-turned-disciple). Jews who collected taxes from other Jews for their Roman oppressors were very unpopular (and wealthy) because they had a habit of overcharging people and keeping a portion for themselves.

It is obvious from the mention of his name immediately after Jesus’ entry into Jericho that Zacchaeus is included in this chapter for a reason. The writers of the gospels wanted their readers to know the people they included really existed and could be verified by name, even though their accounts of Jesus were written many decades after the Resurrection, and Luke thought that Zacchaeus' story was not one to be overlooked.

A crowd had gathered that day in Jericho, though the Bible doesn’t tell us if it was a group of people who wanted to see Jesus or just an ordinary crowd. Zacchaeus mingled among them as Jesus came upon the scene with his disciples because He wanted to catch a glimpse of Jesus.

Why Did Zacchaeus Climb a Tree to See Jesus?

There were practical and spiritual reasons why Zacchaeus climbed a tree that day. He was described as a short man, so he thought in order to see Jesus, he would need to lift himself up into a nearby sycamore tree. But why did he want to see Jesus? 

Was Jesus the latest novelty that everyone was talking about so Zacchaeus didn’t want to miss a chance to view “the show”? Or was he drawn perhaps to what he had heard about Jesus? Maybe he had learned of His teaching and His love–certainly the healings were a popular topic as well when Jesus was discussed. At the moment that he climbed the tree, the Bible doesn’t tell us what he was thinking. But soon we would learn that his thinking was changed upon encountering Jesus.

How Did Jesus Respond to Zacchaeus?

Zacchaeus never could have guessed what would happen next. As Jesus was passing by the sycamore tree, “he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today’” (Luke 19:5). The Son of God noticed him and was calling out to him to come down? Not only that, but He planned to come to Zacchaeus’ home for dinner that night? It was more than Zacchaeus could have dreamed or hoped.

The crowd saw this and was appalled. “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner’” (Luke 19:7). They obviously didn’t hear much of Jesus’ teaching and weren’t aware that He spent much time with “sinners." That was His mission: to reach the lost. And that day Zacchaeus was on His radar.

What Happened to Zaccheus after Meeting Jesus?

There are many stories in the Bible about lives being completely changed in an instant upon meeting Jesus. For example, Peter and Andrew threw down their fishing nets and followed Jesus the moment He called them. His “follow me” was an offer that no one could or would want to refuse. In Zacchaeus’ case, he came immediately down from the tree and told Jesus He was most welcome at his home.

Not only that, but Zacchaeus’ heart was sincerely converted after Jesus’ invitation. In front of the crowd, he said to Jesus, “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.” Those aren’t words of a miserly tax collector, but of someone whose life was changed by being called by Jesus. According to Matthew Henry's commentary, Zacchaeus “...does not look to be justified by his works, as the Pharisee; but by his good works he will, through the grace of God, show the sincerity of his faith and repentance.”

Jesus’ response was one of forgiveness: “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost” (Luke 19:9-10). Likely these words were just as much for the education of the crowd as it was for the edification of Zacchaeus.

What Can Christians Learn from Zacchaeus’ Story?

We can learn so much from every encounter Jesus has with someone in the Bible. First, it’s interesting to note that Zacchaeus was a Greek name that means “pure or innocent.” While he could hardly be characterized as such before he met Jesus, he certainly was afterward. That’s the case for all those who come to faith in Christ by renouncing their sins, asking for forgiveness, and accepting Jesus’ sacrifice on their behalf. 

Second, Zacchaeus’ story reminds us that Jesus calls everyone to faith. “God is not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9). No one is too far gone for God to redeem and to turn their lives around if they place their faith in Him. 

Finally, the story can cause us to examine our hearts and see if we have truly turned our lives over to God. Is there any sin that is keeping us from experiencing the peace that Jesus promised? Can we imagine ourselves in that sycamore tree and think about what it would be like if Jesus wanted to come to our home because of His great love for us? Is there any thought, emotion, or action that we would want to lay down at Jesus’ feet, knowing that He came to seek and save us when we were lost?

Zacchaeus’ story is a great one to share with others who think they are not good enough for God–who think they need to “clean up their act” before they approach Him. Zacchaeus was a changed man after He encountered Christ’s love, which caused him to lay down those things that he had valued more than God. Why not tell someone about the little man who climbed the sycamore tree today?

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/bruev

Mary Oelerich-Meyer is a Chicago-area freelance writer and copy editor who prayed for years for a way to write about and for the Lord. She spent 20 years writing for area healthcare organizations, interviewing doctors and clinical professionals and writing more than 1,500 articles in addition to marketing collateral materials. Important work, but not what she felt called to do. She is grateful for any opportunity to share the Lord in her writing and editing, believing that life is too short to write about anything else. Previously she served as Marketing Communications Director for a large healthcare system. She holds a B.A. in International Business and Marketing from Cornell College (the original Cornell!) When not researching or writing, she loves to spend time with her writer daughter, granddaughter, rescue doggie and husband (not always in that order).