The story of Zacchaeus teaches children that Jesus came to find and save people who feel lost or far away from God, and that he loves them enough to come to their house. This lesson suits children aged 5 to 11 and takes 20 to 30 minutes, with time for drawing and a short prayer.
Big Idea
Jesus looks for people who feel lost, and he wants to be their friend. Nobody is too small, too short, or too far away for Jesus to notice.
Memory Verse
Luke 19:10
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”
(WEB)
Cup your hands together in front of your chest, as if you are holding something precious. Then open them wide and say the words slowly, opening your arms as you finish. Children can do this with you so the motion sticks.
The Story: Luke 19 for Kids
Jesus was walking through a town called Jericho, and a big crowd was gathered all around him. A man named Zacchaeus lived there. He was a chief tax collector, which means he collected money for the government, and he had become very rich. Many people did not like him, because some tax collectors took more money than they should.
Zacchaeus wanted very badly to see Jesus. But he was short, and the crowd was thick, so he could not see over anyone’s head. So he did something clever. He ran ahead of the crowd and climbed up into a sycamore tree, which had strong branches for climbing.
When Jesus reached that spot, he looked up into the tree and called out, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! Today I must stay at your house.” Zacchaeus hurried down the tree and welcomed Jesus with a happy heart. He was so glad that Jesus chose to visit him.
Some people in the crowd complained. They said that Jesus had gone to stay with a man who had done wrong. But Zacchaeus stood up and told Jesus, “Look, Lord, I will give half of everything I own to the poor. If I have cheated anyone, I will pay them back four times as much.” Zacchaeus was sorry, and he wanted to make things right.
Jesus was pleased and said, “Today salvation has come to this house.” He explained that he came to look for people who were lost, so that they could be found and saved. Zacchaeus had been lost, but now he was found, and his whole family would know the joy of it.
Read It Together
Luke 19:2-4
2 There was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, and couldn’t because of the crowd, because he was short. 4 He ran on ahead, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was going to pass that way.
(WEB)
Point out that Zacchaeus was rich and important, yet he still wanted to see Jesus badly enough to climb a tree. Ask children what they would do to get a better look at something they really wanted to see.
Luke 19:5-6
5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 He hurried, came down, and received him joyfully.
(WEB)
Show how Jesus called Zacchaeus by name and invited himself to dinner. Point out that Jesus did not wait for Zacchaeus to earn his way over, but went to him first.
Luke 19:8
Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. If I have wrongfully exacted anything of anyone, I restore four times as much.”
(WEB)
Help children see that Zacchaeus chose to make things right and to share with people in need. Explain that the change started in his heart and showed up in what he did.
Talk About It
- Why do you think Zacchaeus wanted so much to see Jesus?
- What did it feel like for Zacchaeus when Jesus called his name?
- How do you think people felt when they saw Jesus go to Zacchaeus’s house?
- What is one way you could share something with someone who needs it?
- How can you show someone that Jesus wants to be their friend?
Activity Ideas
Sycamore Tree Collage
You will need paper, brown and green crayons or markers, scissors, and glue. Have children draw a tree trunk and branches, then add green leaves. Let them draw a small figure of Zacchaeus up in the branches, looking down at Jesus. Talk about how high up he was to see over the crowd.
Hurry Down Game
Set up two chairs as the “tree” and have the children stand in a line like a crowd. One child plays Zacchaeus and sits high on a chair, while another plays Jesus and calls, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down!” Zacchaeus climbs down quickly. Switch roles so everyone gets a turn. Keep the game lively and safe.
Family Give-and-Make-Right Jar
You will need an empty jar or box and some coins or paper slips. Each day for a week, have each family member put one coin in the jar and say one kind thing they did for someone else. At the end of the week, decide together where to give the money. This helps children practice sharing and making things right.
Teacher Notes
For adults, the story shows that Jesus seeks out people whom others have written off, and that real repentance produces real change in how we treat others. Zacchaeus’s generosity and restitution flowed from being found by Jesus, not from trying to earn a place with him. The passage also reminds us that salvation is a gift that transforms our relationships and our use of money.
Avoid suggesting to children that God’s love depends on being generous or that giving money earns forgiveness. Keep the focus on Jesus choosing to come to Zacchaeus first and on the joy of being found, rather than on a rule to follow.
A Prayer to Close
Jesus, thank you that you see us and come looking for us. Help us to be glad when you call our names, and help us to share what we have with people who need it. Show us how to make things right when we make mistakes. Amen.
