And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And,
behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was
the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not
for the press, because he was little of stature. And he
ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see
him: for he was to pass that way. 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. And he made haste, and came
down, and received him joyfully.
And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, that
he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
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.
And Jesus said unto him, this day is salvation come to
this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that
which was lost.
Luke 19:1-10

1. Zacchaeus, like many rich men, encountered Jesus
Christ when He was passing through his city.
And Jesus entered and PASSED THROUGH JERICHO.
Luke 19:1
“Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.” Jesus Christ
is passing through your city, giving you an opportunity for
salvation. Jesus Christ is seeking to save you today.
For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one
of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and
nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which
is gone astray?
Matthew 18:11-12

2. Zacchaeus, like many rich men, was a sinner and
trusted in his riches.
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which
was the chief among the publicans, and HE WAS RICH.
Luke 19:2
Many rich people are sinners who trust in their riches.
Zacchaeus was a rich sinner. Jesus taught that it was difficult
for rich people to be saved. Indeed, the only person Jesus told us
was in hell was a rich man. Rich people can be saved and this is
proved by the salvation of Zacchaeus.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high
wall in his own conceit. Before destruction the heart of
man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
Proverbs 18:11-12

Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but
trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened
himself in his wickedness.
Psalms 52:7
… But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them,
Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to
enter into the kingdom of God!
Mark 10:24
For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy
treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go
forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together.
Jeremiah 48:7

3. Zacchaeus, like many rich men, was seeking Jesus but
had external obstacles to overcome.
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; AND COULD
NOT FOR THE PRESS, because he was little of stature.
Luke 19:3
Zacchaeus sought to see Jesus but had obstacles that prevented
him from seeing Jesus. The crowds of people thronging Jesus
became external obstacles that prevented Zacchaeus from
seeing Jesus. Because there were thousands of people around,
Zacchaeus could not get anywhere near the Lord.
There are many external obstacles that people have to
overcome in order to receive Christ. The external obstacle may be
a boyfriend, a girlfriend, a relative or even a parent. Sometimes
your job actually prevents you from knowing Christ.
Whatever the obstacle is, you must overcome it and make
contact with the Saviour. Zacchaeus climbed a tree to overcome
the obstacles that stood between him and Christ. You must do
whatever it takes to overcome whatever is blocking your view of
the Lord.

And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way,
TAKE UP THE STUMBLINGBLOCK OUT OF THE
WAY OF MY PEOPLE.
Isaiah 57:14
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill
shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight,
and THE ROUGH PLACES PLAIN: And the glory of the
LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together:
for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Isaiah 40:4-5
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother,
and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and
his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:26

4. Zacchaeus, like many rich men, also had personal
obstacles to overcome in order to see Jesus.
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for
the press, because HE WAS LITTLE OF STATURE.
Luke 19:3
Zacchaeus was a short man (a man of little stature) and this
was a personal problem that he had to overcome in order to see
Jesus.
Zacchaeus was simply too short to see over the crowds of
people. Many people seeking Jesus have personal and internal
problems that they need to overcome in order to receive Jesus.
Internal obstacles like pride, a life of sin, addictions and
family background can form barriers that prevent people from
knowing the Lord.

And IF THY HAND OFFEND THEE, CUT IT OFF: it
is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having
two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be
quenched:
Mark 9:43
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man
his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he
will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will
abundantly pardon.
Isaiah 55:7

5. Zacchaeus was known to Jesus by name.
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.
Luke 19:5
Jesus knows your name and calls you by your name today.
Jesus said, “Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I
must abide at thy house.”
All through the Bible, God has called people out by their
names. Just as Zacchaeus was called out by name, God is calling
you by name.

a. And the Lord God called unto ADAM, and said unto him,
where art thou?
Genesis 3:9

b. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is ABEL thy brother?
And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
Genesis 4:9

c. Now the Lord had said unto ABRAM, Get thee out of thy
country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house,
unto a land that I will shew thee.
Genesis 12:1

d. …And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art SIMON
the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by
interpretation, a stone.
John 1:42

e. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the
day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto
him, CORNELIUS. And when he looked on him, he was
afraid, and said, what is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy
prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before
God.
Acts 10:3-4

f. And there came a voice to him, Rise, PETER; kill, and eat.
Acts 10:13

6. Zacchaeus, like many rich men, had to respond
quickly to Jesus. It is important to respond quickly
and immediately to God.
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.
Luke 19:5
Jesus told Zacchaeus: “MAKE HASTE and come down to
me”. If you are coming to God, it is important to hurry up.
Hurry, because you do not know how much time you have.

While it is said, to day if ye will hear his voice, harden not
your hearts, as in the provocation.
Hebrews 3:15
For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a
time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of
great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
Psalms 32:6

Thus saith the Lord, in an acceptable time have I heard
thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and
I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of
the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the
desolate heritages;
Isaiah 49:8

7. Zacchaeus, like many rich men needed Jesus Christ
in his house. Jesus wanted to come into the heart and
life of Zacchaeus.
And Jesus said unto him, THIS DAY IS SALVATION
COME TO THIS HOUSE, forsomuch as he also is a son
of Abraham.
Luke 19:9
BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR, and knock: if any
man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to
him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:20

8. Zacchaeus, like many rich men, had to repent and
turn away from his sins. To be saved, you must repent
and change your ways.
There will be a major change in your life when you truly
receive Jesus Christ. Zacchaeus did that practically, he received
Jesus and he changed. You cannot remain the same and claim to
be a Christian.
Jesus and Zacchaeus
Zacchaeus said,
…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.
Luke 19:8
Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me
with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping,
and with mourning:
Joel 2:12
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may
be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come
from the presence of the Lord;

Acts 3:19