Bible reading Luke 19:1-6 [1] Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. [2] A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. [3] He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. [4] So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. [5] When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." [6] So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

Bible reading Luke 19:7-9 [7] All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner'." [8] But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "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." [9] Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham”.

Setting the scene As Jesus was entering Jericho, crowds of people wanted to see Him. They had heard of the wonderful miracles He had performed. There was great excitement, would He do any here? His teachings were so fresh and helpful that many hoped He would stop and preach to the crowds. We can imagine some small children being lifted onto their father’s shoulders to get a better view. In the crowd was a man who was so small he could not see Jesus and he really wanted to have a look at this new prophet. The man’s name was Zacchaeus.

Zacchaeus The story gives a great deal of information about Zacchaeus. Jericho was a very rich city, where the tax collectors made a lot of money for themselves. Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector and was very wealthy. Tax collectors were hated men, no one liked Zacchaeus.

Zacchaeus So, when he tried to get a view of Jesus, no one would let him get to the front. Standing behind people he could not see anything at all. He desperately wanted to see Jesus, for he had heard that Jesus had welcomed tax collectors in other towns.

Zacchaeus So he ran on ahead, climbed into a sycamore-fig tree and waited. When Jesus reached the spot, He stopped, looked up into the tree and called to Zacchaeus, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today”. Jesus knows our names, and He speaks to us using our names, for each one of us is precious to Jesus.

What did Zacchaeus do ? He was thrilled to bits, he came down from the tree and welcomed Jesus into his home. Jesus went into any home to which He was invited. He waits to be invited into our homes. Some of the people criticized Jesus for being the guest of such a man. As the Saviour, Jesus has come for everybody, He does not cut anyone out.

What happened to Zacchaeus? After being with Jesus for a short time, he realized how wrong he had been in over taxing and cheating the people. He became a changed man. It happened so quickly. To show the change that had taken place in his heart, he said, “Lord, here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody of anything, I will pay back four times the amount”.

The promises Zacchaeus made The day he became a changed man, he immediately did the right thing. Straight away he gave half of what he owned to the poor. Then he wanted to help the people he had cheated by repaying them four times as much as he had taken from them. Here he was putting his faith into action.

Jesus had the last word Jesus said that Zacchaeus was lost before, he did not fit in with the people. He cheated them, and as a result he was hated by everyone. Now he had met Jesus and everything changed. He was happy in giving money away. He was welcomed by the people.

Summing up Once Zacchaeus met Jesus, his whole life changed. This was shown in what he did. Has your life been changed by Jesus?

In the story, Jesus was entering the city of Jerusalem. False – he was entering Jericho Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector. True Zacchaeus climbed an apple tree to see Jesus. False – he climbed a sycamore -fig tree.

Jesus told Zacchaeus to come down from the tree for He was going to stay at his house. True The people were glad to see Jesus going with Zacchaeus. False –All the people began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner'."

Zacchaeus said he would give half of his goods to the poor. True Zacchaeus said he would pay back anyone he had cheated twice what he had taken. False – he said he would pay back four times. Jesus told Zacchaeus, “Today salvation has come to your house”.

Place the answers to the questions in the grid What city was Jesus passing through?   A

Place the answers to the questions in the grid What city was Jesus passing through? Jericho   A

Place the answers to the questions in the grid What city was Jesus passing through? Jericho   A  J E  R I C  H  O

Place the answers to the questions in the grid What was Zacchaeus' job?   A  J E  R I C  H  O

Place the answers to the questions in the grid What was Zacchaeus' job? Tax Collector   A  J E  R I C  H  O

Place the answers to the questions in the grid What was Zacchaeus' job? Tax collector  T  A   A  X  C  J E  R I C  H  O  L  E  R

Place the answers to the questions in the grid What portion of his possessions did Zacchaeus give to the poor?  T  A   A  X  C  J E  R I C  H  O  L  E  R

Place the answers to the questions in the grid What portion of his possessions did Zacchaeus give to the poor? Half  T  A   A  X  C  J E  R I C  H  O  L  E  R

Place the answers to the questions in the grid What portion of his possessions did Zacchaeus give to the poor? Half  T  A H  A L  F   X    C  J E  R I C  H  O  L  E  R

Place the answers to the questions in the grid Who did Jesus say Zacchaeus was a son of?  T  A H  A L  F   X    C  J E  R I C  H  O  L  E  R

Place the answers to the questions in the grid Who did Jesus say Zacchaeus was a son of? Abraham  T  A H  A L  F   X    C  J E  R I C  H  O  L  E  R

Place the answers to the questions in the grid Who did Jesus say Zacchaeus was a son of? Abraham  T  A H  A L  F   X B  C  J E  R I C  H  O  L  E M   R

As Jesus entered _______ and was passing through there was a man called Zacchaeus who wanted to see Jesus. He was a chief __ ______ and was _____. He was a _____ man and he could not see Jesus because of the _______. So he ran ahead and _____ a sycamore-fig _______ to see him. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and told Zacchaeus to come down for he was going to ______ at his house.

As Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through there was a man called Zacchaeus who wanted to see Jesus. He was a chief __ ______ and was _____. He was a _____ man and he could not see Jesus because of the _______. So he ran ahead and _____ a sycamore-fig _______ to see him. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and told Zacchaeus to come down for he was going to ______ at his house.

As Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through there was a man called Zacchaeus who wanted to see Jesus. He was a chief tax collector and was _____. He was a _____ man and he could not see Jesus because of the _______. So he ran ahead and _____ a sycamore-fig _______ to see him. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and told Zacchaeus to come down for he was going to ______ at his house.

As Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through there was a man called Zacchaeus who wanted to see Jesus. He was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He was a _____ man and he could not see Jesus because of the _______. So he ran ahead and _____ a sycamore-fig _______ to see him. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and told Zacchaeus to come down for he was going to ______ at his house.

As Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through there was a man called Zacchaeus who wanted to see Jesus. He was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He was a small man and he could not see Jesus because of the _______. So he ran ahead and _____ a sycamore-fig _______ to see him. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and told Zacchaeus to come down for he was going to ______ at his house.

As Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through there was a man called Zacchaeus who wanted to see Jesus. He was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He was a small man and he could not see Jesus because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and _____ a sycamore-fig _______ to see him. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and told Zacchaeus to come down for he was going to ______ at his house.

As Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through there was a man called Zacchaeus who wanted to see Jesus. He was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He was a small man and he could not see Jesus because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig _______ to see him. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and told Zacchaeus to come down for he was going to ______ at his house.

As Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through there was a man called Zacchaeus who wanted to see Jesus. He was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He was a small man and he could not see Jesus because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and told Zacchaeus to come down for he was going to ______ at his house.

As Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through there was a man called Zacchaeus who wanted to see Jesus. He was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He was a small man and he could not see Jesus because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and told Zacchaeus to come down for he was going to stay at his house.

The people began to mutter that He has gone to be the guest of a ______. But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! I give _______ of my possessions to the _______, and if I have _______ anybody out of anything, I will pay back _______ times the amount." Jesus said to him, “Today _______ has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham”.

The people began to mutter that He has gone to be the guest of a sinner. But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! I give _______ of my possessions to the _______, and if I have _______ anybody out of anything, I will pay back _______ times the amount." Jesus said to him, “Today _______ has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham”.

The people began to mutter that He has gone to be the guest of a sinner. But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! I give half of my possessions to the _______, and if I have _______ anybody out of anything, I will pay back _______ times the amount." Jesus said to him, “Today _______ has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham”.

The people began to mutter that He has gone to be the guest of a sinner. But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have _______ anybody out of anything, I will pay back _______ times the amount." Jesus said to him, “Today _______ has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham”.

The people began to mutter that He has gone to be the guest of a sinner. But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back _______ times the amount." Jesus said to him, “Today _______ has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham”.

The people began to mutter that He has gone to be the guest of a sinner. But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! 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." Jesus said to him, “Today _______ has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham”.

The people began to mutter that He has gone to be the guest of a sinner. But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! 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." Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham”.