Zacchaeus: Bible Story for Kids

The Tree Built for Climbing

Divine Design
Self-Worth
Grace

Bible reference:: Luke 19:1-10
Ages:: 3-10
Reading time:: 5 minutes
Pages:: 32

The story of Zacchaeus, told by the tree he climbed. A short trunk, rough bark, branches hanging far too low - not tall and graceful like the palms of Jericho. The tree has always believed it was made wrong. Then a small, unwanted man comes running down the road.

Good for: Feeling Small

Read the full illustrated story in the app

The story arc

Four moments that carry the story. Tap any Bible reference to read the passage.

1
The Awkward Tree
The sycamore tree feels useless and ugly compared to the tall, graceful palms of Jericho.
Luke 19:1-4Read the Bible passage
¹He entered and was passing through Jericho. ²There was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. ³He was trying to see who Jesus was, and couldn’t because of the crowd, because he was short. ⁴He ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was going to pass that way.
Luke 19:1-4 (World English Bible, British Edition)
2
The Desperate Climb
Zacchaeus is an outcast who is too short to see over the crowd, so he climbs the knobby tree to see Jesus.
Luke 19:4Read the Bible passage
⁴He ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was going to pass that way.
Luke 19:4 (World English Bible, British Edition)
3
The King Looks Up
Jesus ignores the crowd, stops under the awkward tree, and calls Zacchaeus by name.
Luke 19:5Read the Bible passage
⁵When 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.”
Luke 19:5 (World English Bible, British Edition)
4
Perfectly Made
Zacchaeus's heart is changed by grace, and the tree realizes it was made perfectly ready for this exact moment.
Luke 19:6-10Read the Bible passage
⁶He hurried, came down, and received him joyfully. ⁷When they saw it, they all murmured, saying, “He has gone in to lodge with a man who is a sinner.” ⁸Zacchaeus 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.” ⁹Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Luke 19:6-10 (World English Bible, British Edition)

Core truths

DIVINE DESIGN

The tree wasn't made wrong; it was made ready. God uses our ‘flaws’ and awkwardness for His beautiful purposes.

THE FRIENDSHIP BADGE

Awarded for understanding that Jesus sees and chooses the ones no one else wants.

GRACE

Zacchaeus was a cheater, but Jesus's unearned love changed his heart from the inside out.

Why it matters

Flips the script on self-worth: teaches kids that what makes them ‘different’ is exactly what God can use.
Shows that Jesus pursues the outcast, the lonely, and the ‘bad guys, not just the rule-followers.
Teaches that true heart-change comes from experiencing God's love, not just following rules.

Let's talk and pray

Talk

Zacchaeus was too short to see, so the tree helped him. Why did Jesus stop at that tree? (Because He knew Zacchaeus was there). Jesus knows exactly where you are, too.