New Testament Stories

Zacchaeus in the Sycamore Tree

And behold there was a man called by the name of Zacchaeus; and he was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.  Luke 19:2

                               When Jesus visited the town of Jericho, a rich man named Zacchaeus wanted to see Him. Now Zacchaeus was a very rich tax collector who worked for the Roman army.

     The day Jesus came, Zacchaeus tried to get through the crowd to peek at Him, but the crowd was too thick. He tried to see over the tops of their heads, but he was too short.

     Then he thought, "I know, I will climb that tall sycamore tree, down the road. Then when Jesus comes by, I will be able to see Him."

     So he ran on ahead of the crowds and climbed up the tree. When Jesus got there, he looked up at Zacchaeus in the tree.

     "Zacchaeus!" called Jesus. "Hurry up and come down. I want to go to your house today."

     Zacchaeus scrambled down the tree and took Jesus to his home. He was filled with happiness.

    "Look at that Jesus!" grumbled some people. "He is eating with a tax collector who cheats people."

     But Zacchaeus stood up at his table and said, "Lord, I want to give half of everything I own to the poor, right now. And if I have cheated anyone,  I will give back four times as much as I took."

     Jesus said to him, "Today, God's love is in this house, and Zacchaeus is saved!"