Luke 19:1–10: Zacchaeus: When Jesus Changes Your Heart

September 17, 2026 

The Ten Signposts of the Bible

CAMDE—400—CALY

Creation. Abraham. Moses. David. Elijah. 400. Christ. Apostles. Letters. Yet-to-Come.

Extremely wealthy, that is probably the best way to describe the man we will look at today, who had a special encounter with Jesus. He lived in the affluent part of town, in one of the nicest houses, and wore the finest clothing. He made his money from tax booths strategically placed in the area. He had bought the rights from Rome to own several of these, much like a business owner today might own several Chick-fil-A or Chipotle franchises. But that wealth came at a steep cost: tax collectors made their money through extortion and bribery.

Luke tells us about Jesus’ interaction with Zacchaeus, whose name means “pure” and “innocent,” yet his public reputation was the opposite. Rather than being known for purity and innocence, he was marked by ill-gotten gains that had corrupted his heart. The people in the area, especially the Jews, hated him for it. And if that was not enough, Zacchaeus was also a Jew. His countrymen saw him as a traitor. 

We don’t know what Zacchaeus understood about Jesus. He wasn’t sick and in need of healing, nor was he a beggar in need of food. By human standards, he lived a secure and comfortable life, yet his heart remained empty. Perhaps, beneath his expensive clothes and manicured beard, he felt ashamed of the way he prospered and made his living. When Jesus passed through Jericho, Zacchaeus’ hometown, he “was seeking to see who Jesus was…” (Luke 19:3). God was at work in his heart. 

It seems Zacchaeus wanted at least to see Jesus and perhaps have a chance to speak with him, but there was a problem: “He was small in stature” (Luke 19:3). The average height for Jewish men in Jesus’ day was 5’4” to 5’6”. We do not know exactly how small Zacchaeus was, except for this detail from the text: he could not see over the people in front of him. We do know from the children’s song many of us are familiar with that Zacchaeus was a “wee little man.” But it isn’t specific about how small “wee little" is! 

What Zacchaeus did next was highly unusual. Wealthy people usually carried themselves with confidence and control. They did not hurry through town; they moved at their own pace, and people waited for them. But Zacchaeus ran full speed to get ahead of Jesus, and when he reached the right spot, he climbed a sycamore tree. The wealthy tax collector acted with childlike eagerness — sprinting and scrambling up a tree — simply to have a better vantage point to see who this Jesus was. Clearly, God was at work in Zacchaeus’ heart! 

When Jesus came to the sycamore tree, “he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today’” (Luke 19:5). 

There are two things to note here. First, Jesus knew Zacchaeus’ name. This was a sign of a prophet. Second, he didn’t say, “Hey, Zacchaeus, what do you think about me coming for dinner?” or “Do you have time for coffee?” Jesus declared, “I must stay at your house today.” This was a divine appointment. 

Remember, Zacchaeus was a very wealthy Jew who walked the streets of Jericho with an aristocratic, even authoritative, air. But on this day, he acted differently—like a child. He “hurried and came down [from the tree] and received [Jesus] joyfully” (Luke 19:6). 

When the religious leaders and the crowd heard that Jesus had invited himself to stay with a tax collector, they “grumbled.” Luke uses a word that describes this like the buzzing of bees. People were saying unpleasant things, including, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner” (Luke 19:7). Neither Jesus nor Zacchaeus was bothered by the crowd's overt disapproval. 

Luke does not record the conversation the two had after they settled in Zacchaeus’ home. However, the tax collector was moved to make some significant changes. He “stood and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold’” (Luke 19:8). 

Though Zacchaeus was seen as an economic and political traitor, he knew the law of Moses and was prepared to take it seriously in making restitution for his regrettable past.^[1] He was willing to give half of everything he had to the poor. He also applied the law’s harshest penalty to himself. Exodus 22:1 says that if a man steals a sheep, he must repay four sheep for the one he stole. Zacchaeus was eager to do what was required to restore what had been taken through his dishonest gain. This meant he would no longer be wealthy. What a contrast to the rich ruler! (Luke 18:18–27). 

In Zacchaeus, we see true repentance: a change of mind and a change of action. Because of his new trust in Jesus, the Lord said, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.” Zacchaeus was already a Jew by birth; now he became God’s chosen one through rebirth. 

After Zacchaeus’s response, Jesus shares his earthly mission with this new believer: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). What a powerful reminder! Jesus did not come as a reformer to change the Jewish religion or prove the Pharisees wrong. [He] came to seek and to save the lost. That mission required the cross. 

You have to wonder what happened to Zacchaeus. Was he swept up in the moment, making radical promises he couldn’t keep? Did his love of money return and take root in his heart after Jesus continued on to Jerusalem? Was he truly changed?

Scripture is silent about Zacchaeus after this account, but one of the church fathers, Clement (150–215 AD), was not. Clement was the bishop of Alexandria, and his writings still exist. In one of his messages, he said that Zacchaeus continued to grow in his faith and served Christ throughout the rest of his life. He also noted that Zacchaeus served as the bishop of Caesarea.^[2]

When God works in our hearts, our lives are transformed…forever!

Read and reflect on Luke 19:1–10: Zacchaeus’ repentance became visible through his actions, especially in how he handled his money and made things right with the people he had wronged. If someone examined your life, what evidence would they see that Jesus is transforming your heart?

Talking to God: Ask God to help you honestly evaluate the evidence, or lack of it, in your life. 

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