Zacchaeus Story Summary for Kids
Zacchaeus was a tax collector. Zacchaeus wasn't just any old tax collector, though. He was a very rich man! Back in those days, people didn't like tax collectors any more than we like people who work for the IRS or your government's tax-collecting agency today. In addition to collecting legitimate taxes, tax collectors back in those days had mostly free rein to collect whatever they could. They would many times steal and manipulate people for their own gains. So he wasn't just a tax collector, he was also a thief.
(Can you think of another person who was prominent in the Bible who was a tax collector? That's right, Matthew, one of Jesus' disciples, was a tax collector.)
Once again, Jesus wanted to hang out with this man that the religious people of his day thought was a "sinner" (well, they were right!). But Jesus didn't let that get in the way of showing him love. In that time (much like today), going to someone's home to eat is a sign of respect and approval to that person.
We don't know exactly what Jesus said or did at dinner, but apparently it had a huge impact on Zacchaeus. He decided that he was going to be done with his stealing ways. Here are the things he did in response to Jesus that day:
- He gave half of what he owned to the poor.
- He gave back everything he cheated from people, but four times the amount!
Jesus concludes by telling him that salvation has come to his house today. We know that just giving away money to poor people and stopping cheating ways doesn't save us. But Jesus clearly told Zacchaeus that it was evident he had been saved that day. (see Matthew 7:16-20)
Where Is the Story of Zacchaeus in the Bible?
This story is only found in the book of Luke, in Luke 19:1-10. Luke has a habit of telling stories and teachings from Jesus that have something to do with money, so it isn't surprising that he included this story.
This story happened in Jericho, while Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem (when the Triumphal Entry occurred). Help your students remember when they have learned about Jericho in the past:
- Jericho was the first city Israel conquered as they moved into the Promised Land after wandering the desert.
- Joshua led the way into Jericho after crossing the Jordan River, with the help of Rahab
- Jericho is also the city Jesus used in his Parable of the Good Samaritan
Lessons from the Story of Zacchaeus
It is straightforward to glean some moral lessons from the story of Zacchaeus, like "be honest" or "give to the poor" or "stop cheating." It is tempting to make Bible stories nothing more than fables with a lesson about how kids should try harder to be a good person. That's not the Good News of Jesus and that's not the purpose of this Bible story. Even kids can understand that Zacchaeus gave half his money to the poor and returned the money back to those he had cheated because of his encounter with Jesus. He was not saved by his good works. He performed those good works because he was saved.
My Notes
What You Will Need
Supplies
- Middle eastern map, or computer where you can show them where Jericho is in comparison to Jerusalem, the Jordan River, the Dead Sea, etc.
Snack
Fig Newtons (Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore-fig tree)
Video Options
From Crossroads Kids Club
From Kids on the Move
From Kids on the Move
Resource Sheet
This coloring sheet depicts Jesus calling Zacchaeus down from the sycamore-fig tree.
1Warm Up get your kids talking and engaged
Have you ever heard your mom or dad talking about taxes? Do they like paying taxes?
(For those with sales taxes) How about you? Have you ever been to a store and thought you had enough money to buy something, but you got to the register and they added in the tax, and you couldn't pay?
We don't like to pay taxes, do we? What if you found out that not only did you have to pay taxes, but the person collecting your money at the checkout line at the store was making you pay more than you should have and they were stealing your money? You wouldn't be very happy with that person, would you?
Today, we're going to learn about a man in the Bible who was doing just that - he was cheating people out of their tax money. And Jesus decided he was going to go to his house and eat dinner!
2Teach the Story teach a holistic story
Read story from a Children's storybook Bible for younger children.
For older children, read the story from an age-appropriate Children's storybook Bible or read directly from the Bible.
3Bible Mastery give them basic Bible skills
4Comprehension Questions make sure they understand the story
First, ask the children if they have any questions about the story. What to do if you don't know the answer?
- What city was Jesus in when he met Zacchaeus?
- Jericho
- What did Zacchaeus do for a job?
- Tax collector
- Why did people dislike him so much?
- He cheated people and stole money from them
- Why did Zacchaeus have to climb a tree to see Jesus?
- Because he was short!
- What kind of tree did he climb?
- Sycamore fig tree
- What did Jesus say to him when he saw him up in the tree?
- To come down, that he wanted to eat dinner with him that night
- What did all the people around Jesus say when Jesus went to eat dinner with him?
- They mumbled to themselves that Jesus was eating with a sinner
- What did Zacchaeus promise to do after he ate with Jesus?
- To give half of what he had to the poor, and repay those he had cheated by giving back 4 times as much as he stole from them
5Faith Questions open up a conversation about faith and the gospel; close with prayer
- Zacchaeus gave money back to those who he cheated in response to Jesus.
- How has your life changed since you received salvation from Jesus?
6Memory Verse hide God's Word in their heart
All 13 activities below are free to use with no sign-up — complete with instructions, supply lists, and an age label for all-ages, early elementary, or late elementary classes.
Money Bag Snack
- Use wonton wrappers to make a dessert snack. Coat in cinnamon sugar, put a small amount of filling inside. Fold in half, then gather edges together.
- Put into muffin tins and bake until light golden.
Sycamore Tree
- Show students pictures of a sycamore tree from Israel
- You can find pictures by searching Google Images for "Israel sycamore tree"
- Sycamore trees in the middle east are different than American or other sycamore trees
Money Bags
- Cut 6 inch circles out of felt.
- Cut small holes around the edges of the felt.
- Gather the edges of the circle together.
- Weave the string through the holes, so it will tie shut.
- Give each student several coins to put into their money bags.
- Have small food items (canned fruit, vegetables, spaghetti noodles, etc) set up in the classroom.
- Allow your students to "buy" the food with their coins to help someone in need.
- Donate all of the food to a family in need or to a local food bank.
Let's Eat Together! Object Lesson
- Have a snack prepared for the students, or allow them to help prepare the snack.
- If possible, leave an empty chair beside each student at the table. If that is not possible, leave one empty chair at the table.
- Who would you like to sit with you to eat? (It has to be someone not in the room.)
- Think about who you would not like to sit next to you.
- Jesus went to be the guest of someone that the other people did not like.
Zacchaeus Climbs a Tree Craft
- Print the sheets on card stock.
- Stick a small piece of velcro onto one of the tree branches.
- Stick the other velcro piece to the back of the Zacchaeus cut out.
- Tape a piece of string to the Zacchaeus cut out.
- Tape the other end of the string to the picture, near the velcro.
- Students can make Zacchaeus sit in the tree and come down to be with Jesus.
Zacchaeus Song
- sing Zacchaeus Was a Wee Little Man
- Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he.
- (Hold your hands out to show the height of someone small)
- He climbed up in the sycamore tree, for the Lord he wanted to see. (climb up a tree, hand above eyes to see)
- And as the Savior passed that way, He looked up in the tree,
- (march, hand above eyes to see)
- And he said, "Zacchaeus, you come down;
- (point and say)
- For I'm going to your house today, for I'm going to your house today."
- (clap on the beat)
Big and Small
- Show pictures to students and discuss that God made us in all different sizes.
- Show the students the objects and have them compare the objects. Which one is bigger, smaller, etc
Paper Bag Tree
- Make a tree by cutting slits in the top of the paper bag and twist each section
- Glue green construction paper leaves to the tree.
- Glue Zacchaeus to tree
Zacchaeus, Come Down!
- Play the classic Duck, Duck, Goose, but instead of "duck" have them say "Zacchaeus" and instead of "goose" have them say "come down!"
What Can You See?
- If you have good climbing trees, allow students to climb. If no trees are available, provide a ladder for the students to climb.
- Ask them to observe what they can see from being higher up.
Zacchaeus Cryptogram
- Complete the cryptogram.
- Figure out the missing letters, based on the letters that are provided.
Sycamore Tree Craft
- Look at pictures of Middle Eastern sycamore trees.
- Paint a tree trunk
- Add green buttons for leaves
Zacchaeus Comic Strip
- Fill in speech bubbles to tell the story of Zacchaeus.
- If your kids get stuck, here are some suggestions for the bubbles
- Give me all your money!
- Hey, down in the front! I can't see anything back here.
- Yay! I can see! Look, It's Jesus!
- Come down, Zacchaeus. I am going to your house
- Why are you going to HIS house?
- I will give you back all of your money!
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Paper Bag Tree Example
Paper Bag Tree Example
Sycamore Tree Craft Example
