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People of the Bible
Who Was Zacchaeus?
In short
Zacchaeus was a wealthy but despised tax collector, so short that he climbed a tree just to catch sight of Jesus passing by. To everyone's surprise, Jesus called him down by name and went to his house.
That encounter changed everything: Zacchaeus gave back all he had cheated, fourfold. Jesus had come, He said, to seek and to save the lost.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Luke 19:10 · King James Version (public domain)
Zacchaeus at a glance
| Name | Zacchaeus |
|---|---|
| Where to read about them | The Gospel of Luke |
| Key passage on this page | Luke 19:10 |
| Passages linked to that verse | 10 |
| Translation on this page | King James Version (public domain) |
Read it in context
Scripture explains Scripture. These passages are linked to this one most often by readers.
- Ezekiel 34:16
- Matthew 1:21
- 1 Timothy 1:13-16
- Luke 5:31-32
- Luke 15:4-7
- Matthew 9:12-13
- Romans 5:6
- Matthew 15:24
- Luke 15:32
- Hebrews 7:25
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY.
Questions people ask
Where can I read about Zacchaeus in the Bible?
Zacchaeus appears in The Gospel of Luke. Start with the key passage on this page, then read the whole chapter around it.
What other passages sit beside Luke 19:10?
Readers most often set it next to Ezekiel 34:16, Matthew 1:21, 1 Timothy 1:13-16, Luke 5:31-32.
Why does Zacchaeus matter to Christians today?
Because the story of Zacchaeus is told to point to Christ and to teach us to love one another. Read it as part of the one story of Scripture, not as a stand-alone biography.
Pray this
Lord Jesus, you see Zacchaeus and you know every person there by name. We bring you Zacchaeus, The Gospel of Luke. Let your Body in that place love one another and be one. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Live this
Three small things you can do this week.
- Read the key passage, Luke 19:10, aloud once today.
- Write one sentence about what Zacchaeus's story says about God, not only about Zacchaeus.
- Tell one person what you noticed, and ask what Bible story has stayed with them.
Where this fits in the walk with Christ
Nothing here is a finish line. It is one door into a life with Christ and with His people.
Read the story of Zacchaeus
You can read the story of Zacchaeus in The Gospel of Luke on The Living Bread, free, with audio, and with Simon to answer your questions along the way.
