Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

Zacchaeus was a wealthy tax collector, despised as a traitor and a thief. When Jesus came to his town, he climbed a tree to see Him. Jesus looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." The crowd grumbled that Jesus would visit a sinner. But Zacchaeus was transformed—he gave half his wealth to the poor and repaid four times anyone he had cheated. Jesus said, "Today salvation has come to this house." Jesus forgives and changes hearts—no one is beyond redemption.