Bible Verse About Zacchaeus the Tax Collector: God Calls Sinners to Repentance
Bible Verses & Devotional
Bible Verse About Zacchaeus the Tax Collector: God Calls Sinners to Repentance
When people search for a bible verse about zacchaeus the tax collector, they’re often looking for hope: “If God can reach someone marked by sin and dishonor, can He reach me?” Scripture answers with the consistent character of Jesus—He approaches tax collectors and other “outsiders,” then calls them toward repentance and transformation. In Luke 5:27-32, Christ invites Levi to follow Him and declares that He came to call sinners to repentance. In Luke 7:34-35, Jesus is also portrayed as the friend of those society labels unclean. And in John 4:7-26, He offers living water and shows that true worship is in spirit and in truth. These verses don’t merely describe changing behavior; they reveal a God who seeks, speaks, and restores from the inside out.
At a Glance — Verses in This Article
- Luke 5:27-32
- Luke 7:34-35
- John 4:7-26
Bible Verses
Luke 5:27-32 (King James Version)
“And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
This passage shows Jesus calling a tax collector to follow Him and clarifying that His mission is to call sinners to repentance.
Luke 7:34-35 (King James Version)
“The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! But wisdom is justified of all her children.”
Jesus’ reputation as a friend of publicans and sinners highlights His willingness to draw near to people others reject.
John 4:7-26 (King James Version)
“There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.”
By offering living water and speaking truth that reaches hidden life, Jesus demonstrates how He transforms hearts toward true worship.
1) Jesus Looks for the Ones Society Labels “Unworthy”
Many people imagine faith is only for those who already “have it together,” but Jesus repeatedly shows otherwise. In Luke 5:27-32, He finds Levi, a publican sitting “at the receipt of custom,” and simply says, “Follow me.” Levi responds by leaving all and following Jesus, and then he hosts a feast—showing that grace not only changes direction, it changes appetite, relationships, and purpose.
Religious critics “murmured” because Jesus ate and drank with “publicans and sinners.” The accusation is revealing: people were more committed to maintaining boundaries than to recognizing the need for healing. Jesus answers by using a clear picture: “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.” Then He states His mission plainly—“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
That is the heart behind the topic many search with bible verse about zacchaeus the tax collector: the Bible consistently portrays Christ as the One who comes for the hurting and the guilty. If you’ve ever felt judged, overlooked, or defined by past choices, Jesus’ approach is steady and personal. He does not wait for you to clean yourself up first; He calls you to follow, and His presence begins the work.
So the encouragement is not merely, “Try harder.” It is, “Come to Jesus.” He is the Physician; He is the Caller; He is the One who invites repentance without shaming the sinner beyond hope. When grace enters, fear loosens its grip, and a new life becomes possible.
2) Mercy Creates New Community—Even When Critics Complain
Grace doesn’t always look respectable to the onlookers. In Luke 7:34-35, Jesus is described as coming “eating and drinking,” and people accuse Him of being a “gluttonous man” and a “winebibber,” even calling Him “a friend of publicans and sinners.”
But notice the underlying dynamic: the same behaviors that critics use to condemn are exactly how Jesus shows compassion. Friendship with sinners is not approval of sin—it is the doorway to transformation. Jesus lives among ordinary people, not to stay comfortable with their condition, but to bring them into truth.
Luke 7:34-35 also reminds us that “wisdom is justified of all her children.” In other words, when the fruit of God’s work is seen—repentance, faith, changed lives—the accusations lose their power. Sometimes it takes time for the world to understand that Jesus’ “unconventional” closeness is actually love at work.
This connects back to Luke 5:27-32: Jesus calls Levi, and the “great company of publicans” sits down at a feast. The community forms around the presence of Christ. And critics can murmur, but the narrative suggests a deeper point—God’s wisdom brings people into health.
If you’re carrying shame, remember that Jesus’ compassion is not fragile. He can handle your story. He can sit with you. He can speak to you. And when you follow, the evidence of wisdom becomes visible: you begin to want what God wants, to turn away from what destroys you, and to live as one who has been called.
3) Jesus Offers Living Water and Calls Hidden Life Into the Light
Repentance is not only turning away from wrongdoing; it is receiving new life from Jesus. John 4:7-26 shows Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman at a well and beginning a conversation that becomes deeply personal.
The moment starts with something simple: “Jesus saith… ‘Give me to drink.’” Then He shifts from physical thirst to spiritual reality, offering living water: “whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.” The promise is not that life becomes effortless; it’s that God’s gift becomes a wellspring within.
But this encounter is also honest. As the conversation continues, Jesus encourages her to “Go, call thy husband.” She replies truthfully, “I have no husband,” and Jesus responds with precise knowledge: “thou hast well said… for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband.”
That moment matters for anyone seeking a Jesus and Zacchaeus the tax collector verse-style message: Jesus doesn’t avoid the truth. He brings light to what is hidden, not to humiliate, but to heal. The woman’s response—“I perceive that thou art a prophet”—shows that her heart is opening.
Finally, Jesus teaches about worship: “the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” True worship is not performance; it is alignment of the heart with God’s reality.
So the encouragement is twofold. First, Jesus satisfies deep thirst with living water. Second, Jesus transforms worship by transforming what’s inside. When repentance becomes real, worship becomes sincere.
Practical Steps for a Heart Being Called, Healed, and Restored
If you want to live what these passages reveal, start where Jesus starts: with a willingness to be called. In Luke 5:27-32, Jesus’ call—“Follow me”—is the doorway to everything that follows. Today, that can mean choosing one specific step of obedience: pray honestly, confess what you’ve been hiding, and take a practical step toward turning.
Second, let God’s mercy reshape your view of people and yourself. Luke 7:34-35 shows Jesus eating with sinners, drawing near rather than distancing. Ask God to remove two extremes: (1) the belief that you must be “clean enough” to approach Him, and (2) the habit of judging others instead of offering compassion and truth.
Third, receive living water by bringing your thirst to Jesus. In John 4:7-26, the woman tried to manage thirst with ordinary solutions, but Jesus redirected her to the gift that “shall never thirst.” This can look like replacing distracting coping with prayer, Bible meditation, and honest surrender.
Finally, worship “in spirit and in truth.” Noticing Jesus’ teaching about true worship, you can practice by speaking to God plainly, aligning your heart with His character, and letting His truth guide your choices.
Try this week: pray for courage to follow, gratitude for repentance, and sincerity in worship—especially when your past tries to define you. Jesus calls sinners, and His presence makes change possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a specific bible verse about Zacchaeus the tax collector that shows Jesus calling him to repentance?
While the exact Zacchaeus account isn’t included in the verified verses provided here, Luke 5:27-32 captures the same theme: Jesus calls a tax collector and clearly states His mission is to call sinners to repentance. This offers direct encouragement that Christ reaches those society rejects.
What does Luke 5:27-32 teach about Jesus and tax collectors?
It shows that Jesus actively calls someone from a life associated with taxation and scandal, and the call is to follow Him. Jesus also explains the purpose behind His actions: He came not for the “righteous,” but to call sinners to repentance—grace that heals and redirects.
How does Luke 7:34-35 help someone who feels judged for their past?
Luke 7:34-35 reminds you that Jesus is a friend of publicans and sinners. Even when others criticize His closeness, God’s wisdom is vindicated by the fruit of repentance. If you feel disqualified, Christ’s compassion is not fragile—it’s intentional.
What does John 4:7-26 mean for repentance and true worship?
John 4:7-26 connects repentance to transformation. Jesus offers living water that satisfies the deepest thirst and speaks truth into hidden areas of life. He also teaches that true worship happens in spirit and in truth—when your heart responds honestly to God.
A Short Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for coming near to sinners and calling hearts back to You. Teach me to respond like those who followed when You spoke. Give me living water that satisfies beyond distraction and comfort. Reveal truth without fear, and reshape my worship so it is sincere, not performative. Help me live as one who has been called to repentance and restoration. In Your name, Amen.