Jesus Visits a Tax Collector: An ESL Bible Study on Luke 19:1-10

This Bible study series is for people who are learning English. It is designed for advanced beginner and intermediate learners, but children or adults who prefer simple English may also enjoy it.

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Luke 19:1-10 Printable Discussion Questions

Luke 19:1-10 Printable ERV Passage

Lesson Icebreaker Question

Have you ever climbed a tree? Why did you do it, and what did you see?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn about a man named Zacchaeus who wanted to see Jesus. Jesus was kind to Zacchaeus, even when other people were not. We will talk about how Jesus loves to help people change.

Vocabulary Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

cheat: (verb) To do something dishonest to get what you want.
climb: (verb) To move up toward the top of something.
complain: (verb) To say that you are not happy about something.
lost: (adjective) Not knowing where you are or being unable to be found.
pay back: (phrase) To give money back to someone because you owed it to them.
saved from sin: (phrase) To be rescued by God from the bad things we do.
sinner: (noun) A person who does things that God says are wrong.
staying with: (phrase) To live in someone’s house for a short time.
tax collector: (phrase) A person whose job is to take money from people for the government.
wealthy: (adjective) Having a lot of money.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

above: (preposition) In a place that is higher than something else.
cheat: (verb) To do something dishonest to get what you want.
chosen: (adjective) Picked by God for a special reason.
climb: (verb) To move up toward the top of something.
complain: (verb) To say that you are not happy about something.
hurry: (verb) To move or do something very fast.
important: (adjective) Something that matters a lot.
lost: (adjective) Not knowing where you are or being unable to be found.
must: (verb) To need to do something.
pay back: (phrase) To give money back to someone because you owed it to them.
poor: (adjective) Having very little money or things.
saved from sin: (phrase) To be rescued by God from the bad things we do.
short: (adjective) Not tall or not long.
sin: (noun) Doing things that are against the rules of God.
sinner: (noun) A person who does things that God says are wrong.
Son of Man: (phrase) A special name Jesus used for himself to show he is the savior sent by God.
staying with: (phrase) To live in someone’s house for a short time.
sycamore tree: (noun) A type of tree that Zacchaeus climbed.
tax collector: (phrase) A person whose job is to take money from people for the government.
wealthy: (adjective) Having a lot of money.

Complete Lesson Word Bank

above: (preposition) In a place that is higher than something else.
began: (verb) To have started something.
came down: (phrase) To move from a higher place to a lower place.
cheat: (verb) To do something dishonest to get what you want.
chosen: (adjective) Picked by God for a special reason.
city: (noun) A large town with many people and buildings.
climb: (verb) To move up toward the top of something.
come: (verb) To move toward a person or a place.
complain: (verb) To say that you are not happy about something.
even: (adverb) Used to show that something is surprising.
find: (verb) To see or get something you were looking for.
give: (verb) To hand something over to another person.
God: (noun) The creator and ruler of everything.
going through: (phrase) To travel from one side of a place to the other side.
half: (noun) One of two equal parts of something.
house: (noun) A building where people live.
hurry: (verb) To move or do something very fast.
important: (adjective) Something that matters a lot.
Jericho: (noun) A very old city in the land of Israel.
Jesus: (noun) The Son of God and the Savior of the world!
kind: (noun) A type of thing.
knew: (verb) To have had information about something in your mind.
look at: (phrase) To turn your eyes toward something so you can see it.
look up: (phrase) To turn your eyes toward the sky or something high.
Lord: (noun) A name that shows someone has power or authority.
lost: (adjective) Not knowing where you are or being unable to be found.
more: (adjective) A larger amount of something.
must: (verb) To need to do something.
other: (adjective) Different from the one already mentioned.
pay back: (phrase) To give money back to someone because you owed it to them.
place: (noun) A specific area, room, or location.
poor: (adjective) Having very little money or things.
ran: (verb) To have moved fast on your feet.
saved from sin: (phrase) To be rescued by God from the bad things we do.
short: (adjective) Not tall or not long.
sin: (noun) Doing things that are against the rules of God.
sinner: (noun) A person who does things that God says are wrong.
Son of Man: (phrase) A special name Jesus used for himself to show he is the savior sent by God.
staying with: (phrase) To live in someone’s house for a short time.
sycamore tree: (noun) A type of tree that Zacchaeus climbed.
tax collector: (phrase) A person whose job is to take money from people for the government.
times: (verb) To multiply a number by another number.
too: 1. (adverb) Also. 2. (adverb) More than what is needed.
tree: (noun) A tall plant with a trunk made of wood.
wealthy: (adjective) Having a lot of money.
would: (verb) A word used to talk about something that might happen or something someone wanted to do.
Zacchaeus: (noun) A short tax collector who climbed a tree to see Jesus.

Summary of the Passage

This passage tells a story about a man named Zacchaeus. He lived in a town called Jericho and worked as a tax collector. In those days, many people did not like tax collectors. These men worked for the Roman government, which ruled over the land of Israel. Tax collectors often took more money than the law required so they could keep the extra money for themselves. People felt this was a way to cheat them.

Zacchaeus was a wealthy man, but he was also very short. One day, Jesus came to Jericho. A big crowd followed him. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, but he was too short to see above the people. Zacchaeus ran ahead of the group. He climbed a sycamore tree to get a better look at the road.

When Jesus came to the tree, he looked up and saw him. Jesus called him by name. He told Zacchaeus to hurry and come down. Jesus said he must stay at his house that day. Zacchaeus was very happy. He welcomed Jesus into his home.

Some people in the crowd began to complain. They thought Zacchaeus was a bad man. They called him a sinner. Zacchaeus stood up and spoke to the Lord. He promised to give half of his money to the poor. He also promised to pay back anyone he had cheated. He said he would give them four times more than he took! Jesus said that Zacchaeus and his family were now saved from sin.

This passage teaches us that Jesus knows our names. He loves and cares for people even when others do not. Jesus came to find lost people and bring them close to God.

Read The Passage

Most English learners should use the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), the New International Reader’s Version (NIRV), or the Good News Translation (GNT). If you want to try something harder, you can read one of the other Bible versions.

Zacchaeus
1 Jesus was going through the city of Jericho.
2 In Jericho there was a man named Zacchaeus.
He was a wealthy, very important tax collector.
3 He wanted to see who Jesus was.
There were many others who wanted to see Jesus too.
Zacchaeus was too short to see above the people.
4 So he ran to a place where he knew Jesus would come.
Then he climbed a sycamore tree so he could see him.
5 When Jesus came to where Zacchaeus was, he looked up and saw him in the tree.
Jesus said,
“Zacchaeus, hurry!
Come down!
I must stay at your house today.”
6 Zacchaeus hurried and came down.
He was happy to have Jesus in his house.
7 Everyone saw this.
They began to complain,
“Look at the kind of man Jesus is staying with.
Zacchaeus is a sinner!”
8 Zacchaeus said to the Lord,
“I want to do good.
I will give half of my money to the poor.
If I have cheated anyone, I will pay them back four times more.”
9 Jesus said,
“Today is the day for this family to be saved from sin.
Yes, even this tax collector is one of God’s chosen people.
10 The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them.”
Luke 19:1-10 (ERV)