Zacchaeus the Tax Collector: Sunday School Lesson
Luke 19:1–10
Big Idea
Jesus came to seek and save the lost — no one is too small, too sinful, or too overlooked for Him.
Story Summary
Zacchaeus was a rich chief tax collector in Jericho — and a short man whom nobody liked because he cheated people out of their money. When Jesus came through town, Zacchaeus could not see over the crowd, so he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycomore tree. Jesus stopped right under the tree, looked up, and called him by name: 'Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.' Zacchaeus came down joyfully, gave half of his goods to the poor, and paid back everyone he had cheated four times over. Jesus said, 'This day is salvation come to this house.'
Memory Verse (KJV)
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Luke 19:10
Discussion Questions
- Why didn't people like Zacchaeus?
Teacher hint: He was a tax collector who cheated people out of their money (Luke 19:7-8).
- Why did Zacchaeus climb a tree?
Teacher hint: He was little of stature and could not see Jesus over the crowd (Luke 19:3-4).
- What did Jesus do that surprised everyone?
Teacher hint: He called Zacchaeus by name and went home with him — even though others called him a sinner.
- How did meeting Jesus change Zacchaeus?
Teacher hint: He gave half his money to the poor and paid back four times what he had stolen (Luke 19:8).
- Is there anyone you treat as 'too small' or 'too bad' to be loved by Jesus?
Craft Idea: Pop-Up Sycomore Tree
Supplies
- Green and brown construction paper
- A small Zacchaeus figure drawn on card stock
- Scissors and glue
- A Luke 19:10 label
Steps
- Cut a brown trunk and a fluffy green treetop and glue them to a folded card.
- Glue the little Zacchaeus figure peeking out of the leaves.
- On the inside of the card, write 'Jesus called me by name.'
- Stick the Luke 19:10 label on the back as a takeaway memory verse.
Printable Worksheet
The printable bundle includes the story page, a Luke 19:10 memory-verse card, a 10-question quiz worksheet with answer key, and a Zacchaeus in the Tree coloring page.
Lesson flow (45 minutes)
- Welcome (5 min): Pray, then read the memory verse aloud three times together.
- Story (10 min): Tell the story summary in your own words; open a KJV to Luke 19:1–10.
- Discussion (10 min): Walk through the questions above. Let every child answer at least once.
- Craft (15 min): Make the pop-up sycomore tree.
- Wrap-up (5 min): Hand out the worksheet to finish at home and recite the memory verse one last time.
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Ages 5–11 · ~40 min
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Where to go next
Teaching Zacchaeus the Tax Collector? Here is what to grab next for your class.