Who Was Zacchaeus in the Bible? The Tax Collector Who Climbed a Tree

Zacchaeus was a wealthy chief tax collector in Jericho who climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Jesus because he was too short to see over the crowd (Luke 19:1-4). Jesus called him by name and stayed at his house, and Zacchaeus promised to give half of his possessions to the poor and repay anyone he had cheated four times over (Luke 19:5-8). Jesus declared that salvation had come to his house (Luke 19:9). His story appears only in the Gospel of Luke, in Luke 19:1-10.

Quick Facts About Zacchaeus

Fact	Details
Name meaning	From the Hebrew name Zakkai, usually understood as "pure" or "innocent"
Testament	New Testament
Key books	Luke 19:1-10
Time period	Shortly before Jesus' final entry into Jerusalem, about AD 30-33 (traditional dating)
Home	Jericho (Luke 19:1-2)
Known for	Climbing a sycamore-fig tree to see Jesus and repaying those he had cheated

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Who Was Zacchaeus in the Bible? A Chief Tax Collector

Luke describes Zacchaeus as a chief tax collector who was wealthy (Luke 19:2). The Greek word for "chief tax collector," architelōnēs, appears only in this verse in the New Testament, according to the Blue Letter Bible lexicon. The title suggests he oversaw other tax collectors, though the text gives no further detail about his position.

Tax collectors appear often in the Gospels, and they were grouped with sinners in the eyes of many Jewish leaders (Luke 5:30; 15:1-2). When tax collectors came to John the Baptist asking what they should do, he told them not to collect any more than they were required to (Luke 3:12-13). That instruction points to a common temptation in the job.

Jesus had already called a tax collector named Levi to follow him (Luke 5:27-28). The Gospel of Matthew gives the same man's name as Matthew and records him sitting at the tax collector's booth (Matthew 9:9).

Jesus Passes Through Jericho

Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem for the last time (Luke 18:31). As he approached Jericho, he healed a blind beggar sitting by the road (Luke 18:35-43). Then he entered Jericho and was passing through (Luke 19:1).

Jericho had a long history in Scripture. It was the first city Israel conquered under Joshua, when its walls fell (Joshua 6:20). Rahab, who hid the Israelite spies, lived in Jericho (Joshua 2:1).

Climbing the Sycamore-Fig Tree

Zacchaeus wanted to see who Jesus was, but he was short and could not see over the crowd (Luke 19:3). So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree along the route Jesus was taking (Luke 19:4).

The sycamore-fig is not the same as the North American sycamore. It is a fig tree that grew in the region; the prophet Amos described himself as one who took care of sycamore-fig trees (Amos 7:14). Luke records Zacchaeus's effort to see Jesus without explaining his motive beyond curiosity about who Jesus was.

Jesus Calls Zacchaeus by Name

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and spoke to him:

"Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." (Luke 19:5)

Zacchaeus came down at once and welcomed him gladly (Luke 19:6). The text does not say how Jesus knew his name. Jesus' words "I must" match other places in Luke where Jesus speaks of what he has to do (Luke 4:43; 13:33).

The Crowd's Complaint

All the people who saw this began to mutter that Jesus had gone to be the guest of a sinner (Luke 19:7). Earlier in Luke, the Pharisees and teachers of the law had muttered in the same way when Jesus welcomed sinners and ate with them (Luke 15:2). In response to that complaint, Jesus told the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son (Luke 15:3-32).

Zacchaeus's Response

Zacchaeus stood up and made a public promise 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." (Luke 19:8)

The Law of Moses required a thief who had slaughtered or sold a stolen sheep to repay four sheep (Exodus 22:1). When a person wronged someone and confessed it, the law required full restitution plus a fifth of the value (Numbers 5:6-7). Zacchaeus offered far more than the second standard. When the prophet Nathan told King David a story about a rich man who took a poor man's lamb, David said the man must pay four times over (2 Samuel 12:6).

Jesus had earlier told a rich ruler to sell everything and give to the poor, and the man became very sad (Luke 18:22-23). Jesus then said it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God, but what is impossible with man is possible with God (Luke 18:24-27). Zacchaeus is a wealthy man in the next chapter who responds to Jesus by giving.

"Salvation Has Come to This House"

Jesus told Zacchaeus that salvation had come to his house that day, because he too was a son of Abraham (Luke 19:9). The crowd saw him as a sinner, and Jesus affirmed that he belonged to the people of God's promise. Earlier, Jesus had called a woman he healed on the Sabbath a daughter of Abraham (Luke 13:16).

Jesus then summarized his mission:

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10)

This verse connects the account to the parables of Luke 15, where a shepherd searches for a lost sheep and a father welcomes home a lost son (Luke 15:4-7, 15:20-24). In Luke's Gospel, Jesus' next teaching is the parable of the ten minas, told because he was near Jerusalem (Luke 19:11-27). Soon after, he rode into Jerusalem (Luke 19:28-38).

What Happened to Zacchaeus Afterward?

The Bible does not mention Zacchaeus again after Luke 19. It does not record whether he followed Jesus to Jerusalem or what he did in the early church. Later Christian writings contain traditions about him, but these are not part of Scripture.

Luke wrote his Gospel after carefully investigating the events from the beginning, using accounts handed down by eyewitnesses (Luke 1:1-3). Zacchaeus's story is one of several accounts found only in Luke, along with the parables of the good Samaritan and the lost son (Luke 10:30-37; 15:11-32).

Key Lessons From Zacchaeus's Life

• Jesus seeks people others reject. The crowd called Zacchaeus a sinner, and Jesus chose his house (Luke 19:7).
• Salvation shows itself in changed behavior. Zacchaeus responded with generosity and restitution (Luke 19:8).
• Making things right is part of repentance. His promise went beyond what the law required for confessed wrongs (Numbers 5:7; Luke 19:8).
• What is impossible with man is possible with God. A rich man gladly gave half his possessions to the poor, one chapter after Jesus spoke of how hard that is (Luke 18:24-27).
• Jesus' mission is to save the lost. He stated it plainly at Zacchaeus's house (Luke 19:10).

Where Zacchaeus Appears in the Bible

• Luke 19:1-10: The only passage that mentions Zacchaeus
• Related passages: Luke 3:12-13 (John the Baptist and tax collectors), Luke 5:27-32 (the call of Levi), Luke 15:1-2 (tax collectors and sinners), Luke 18:9-14 (the Pharisee and the tax collector), Luke 18:18-27 (the rich ruler)

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Zacchaeus in the Bible?

Zacchaeus was a wealthy chief tax collector in Jericho (Luke 19:1-2). He climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Jesus, and Jesus stayed at his house (Luke 19:4-5).

Why did Zacchaeus climb a tree?

Zacchaeus wanted to see who Jesus was, but he was short and could not see over the crowd (Luke 19:3). He ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree along Jesus' route (Luke 19:4).

What did Zacchaeus promise to Jesus?

He promised to give half of his possessions to the poor and to pay back four times the amount to anyone he had cheated (Luke 19:8). Jesus responded that salvation had come to his house (Luke 19:9).

Was Zacchaeus a tax collector?

Yes. Luke calls him a chief tax collector who was wealthy (Luke 19:2). Tax collectors were often grouped with sinners by the religious leaders of the time (Luke 15:1-2).

Is Zacchaeus mentioned in other Gospels?

No. Zacchaeus appears only in Luke 19:1-10. Matthew and Mark record Jesus passing through Jericho but do not mention him (Matthew 20:29; Mark 10:46).