Zacchaeus He Came Up Short—Until Jesus Visited

Being a tax collector is often a thankless job. Being one in the Holy Land during Jesus’ life was an invitation to be cursed. For one, the Jews who collected taxes did so for Rome, the occupier and oppressor. For another, these tax gatherers were notorious for padding the tax bill so they, the collector, would profit, and handsomely.

That’s why, we read in Luke 19:2, the “chief tax collector” in Jericho, named Zacchaeus, “was rich.” He knew how his bread was buttered, to borrow an old phrase, and he played the game very well.

But even the worst of us has some nugget of a conscience left—at least we can hope—and Zacchaeus’s conscience must have been bothering him. Why else would he take a break from his extortion to run out and see Jesus passing through town?

The Bible says that while rich, Zacchaeus was “of short stature” (Luke 19:3), and so he had to climb a tree to see Jesus. “And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house’” (v. 5).

The rabbis—perpetually scolding Jesus’ unconventional ministry outreach to those deemed “unclean” by society—scorned the invitation: Jesus was to dine with a sinner! The tax collector rejoiced, perhaps for the first time in a long while.

When visited by Christ, Zacchaeus was convicted—and converted! He declared, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold” (v. 8). That was good enough to satisfy Jesus, who declared salvation had come to the tax collector who’d come up short in God’s ledger.

As one Christian writer states, “Zacchaeus had been overwhelmed, amazed, and silenced at the love and condescension of Christ in stooping to him, so unworthy. Now love and loyalty to his new-found Master unseal his lips. He will make public his confession and his repentance” (The Desire of Ages, p. 554).

Reflect: Has God’s mercy ever inspired you to take dramatic, generous action? Is there anything too great to give up for Jesus when you think of all He gave for you?

Key Bible Texts

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. (Luke 19:8 KJV)