“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
In Jericho, a rich chief publican named Zacchaeus was too short to see Jesus over the crowd, so he ran ahead and climbed a tree. Jesus stopped, called him by name and came to his house. The crowd murmured, but Jesus said salvation had come to that house.
As Jesus passed through Jericho, a rich man named Zacchaeus, “the chief among the publicans,” wanted to see Him. He was short and could not see over the crowd, so he ran ahead and climbed a sycomore tree. When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said, “Zacchæus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.” Zacchaeus hurried down and received Him joyfully.
The people murmured that Jesus had gone to be the guest of “a man that is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stood and 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.” Jesus said, “This day is salvation come to this house,” and “the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Who’s who
Jesus Christ: on His last journey to Jerusalem, who seeks the lost
Zacchaeus: a rich chief tax collector who wants to see Jesus
The crowd: who block his view and then murmur
Where and when
In the streets of Jericho and at Zacchaeus’s house.
Eight stops from the streets of Jericho to salvation in one house. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.
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The story, plainly
Four scenes: the crowd, the tree, the door and the table. Look for the Savior in each one.
Read it plainly
The words that trip people up
Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1
Luke 19:2“the chief among the Meaning: tax collectors for Rome.”
Luke 19:3“could not for the Meaning: crowd.”
Luke 19:3“because he was little of Meaning: height.”
Luke 19:5“to day I must Meaning: stay. at thy house”
Luke 19:7“they all Meaning: grumbled; complained.”
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Look closer
Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from Church leaders, Church resources or outside sources. Each card says which.
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All nine. Jericho, the tax table, the crowd, the tree, the door, the whispers, the half, the fourfold and the lantern. Luke 19:1–10
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Where are you?
Can’t see past the crowd, making the effort, judged by others, or ready to change. Which feels most like you right now?
A next step for you
Your choice is saved only on this device.
Try it
Who saw what?
Everyone in Jericho looked at Zacchaeus. Tap each card to see what they saw, then write what you think Jesus sees in you.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
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Their world, their words
A little background on Jericho, publicans, restitution and two Greek words helps the story come alive. Outside sources are labeled.
Church resource · Student manual
The last journey
“Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem for the last time. He passed through Jericho, where he encountered a man named Zacchaeus.”2
Days before the cross.
Church resource · Student manual
The epitome of lost
Zacchaeus “could have been considered the epitome of the ‘lost.’ Not only was he a despised publican, but he was ‘the chief among the publicans.’”2
Never too far.
Church resource · Student manual
Beyond the law
He “gave half of his goods to the poor and made ‘fourfold’ restitution when necessary—well beyond what the law of Moses required.”2
A sincere heart.
Church resource · Student manual
A son of Abraham
“The Savior offered fellowship and salvation even to Zacchaeus, affirming that he ‘also is a son of Abraham.’”2
The same word describes the lost sheep, coin and son in Luke 15. Jesus came to find what was lost.1
What the text does not say
The account doesn’t tell us everything about Zacchaeus’s past. The student manual describes him as “a good man” who was “sincere and determined to do all he could to make things right.”2 What Luke makes clear is that the crowd judged him, and Jesus sought him.1
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Look to Him
He stopped under the tree, called Zacchaeus by name and came to his house. He came to seek and to save.
“It was not Jesus as we wanted or wished Him to be, but rather Jesus as He really was and is.”
“That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.” Luke 19:7
Zacchaeus
He promised
“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
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Seek Him today
A question to ask in prayer
Lord, what is keeping me from seeing Thee as Thou really art? Luke 19:3
Ask, then look for one way to climb a little higher this week.
Try it today
One way to seek Him like Zacchaeus each day. It saves on this device, one day at a time.
0 of 7 today
This week:0 of 7 days
Seven days seeking Him. Come again tomorrow.
A quiet moment
“He looked up, and saw him.”
Read Luke 19:1–10 slowly. Picture Jesus stopping under the tree, looking up and saying your name. What would you do next? Luke 19:1–10
A verse to hold
Talk about it
Why couldn’t Zacchaeus see Jesus?
What did he do about it?
What did Jesus say when He saw him?
What did Zacchaeus promise to do?
Open
For adults and deeper study
Go deeper
Longer readings, harder questions, and where to study next. Each one says what it is before you click.
Seventy
Elder James W. McConkie III, “And They Sought to See Jesus Who He Was” (2022)
Seeking to know Jesus as He really is, not as we wish Him to be.3
Everything on this page as a 11-page letter-size PDF: the map, scenes, cards, activity, word studies, tracker, Go deeper and sources. For home, class or a quiet Sunday.
Zacchaeus is part of the Scripture Story Sketch Notes for the New Testament, set alongside Come, Follow Me for May 10–16, 2027 (Matthew 21–23; Mark 11; Luke 19–20; John 12).
Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. The words are in Luke 19:1–10; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.
