1
Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town.
2
There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich.
3
He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd.
4
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
5
When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
6
Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.
7
But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
8
Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
9
Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham.
10
For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”