Zacchaeus

1Jesus came into the town of Jericho. He was walking through it.

And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

NoteJericho was a very old town. It sat down in a valley near the Jordan River. From there the road climbed up to Jerusalem.

2A man there was named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.

And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

NoteTax collectors took money from people for the rulers of Rome. Rome ruled the land at that time. Many tax collectors took extra and kept it for themselves. So most people did not like them. A chief tax collector was the boss of the others.

3He wanted to see who Jesus was. But he was short, and the crowd was in his way.

And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

4So he ran on ahead. He climbed a sycamore tree, because Jesus would pass that way.

And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

NoteA sycamore tree there was big and shady. Its branches grew low and wide. That made it easy for a short man to climb.

5Jesus came to that spot and looked up. He said, "Zacchaeus, hurry down. I must stay at your house today."

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

6So Zacchaeus hurried down. He was glad to welcome Jesus into his home.

And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

7Everyone who saw it grumbled. They said, "He has gone to stay with a man who sins."

And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

NoteBack then, eating at someone's house meant you were friends. The crowd did not want Jesus to be friends with Zacchaeus.

8Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord. I give half of what I own to poor people. If I cheated anyone, I will pay back four times as much."

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.

NoteGod's old law said a cheat must pay back what he took, and extra too. Zacchaeus promised to pay back much more than the law asked.

9Jesus said to him, "Today God's saving help has come to this house. This man too is a son of Abraham, part of Abraham's family."

And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

NoteAbraham lived long, long ago. The Jewish people were all his family, his great-great-grandchildren. To call someone a son of Abraham meant he belonged with God's people.

10"The Son of Man came to look for lost people and save them." Son of Man was the name Jesus used for himself.

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

NoteLost here does not mean someone who cannot find the way home. It means people who have wandered away from God.