Object lesson - NT: Life of Jesus: Zacchaeus - Pure in heart
Zacchaeus name: a joke or a promise?
Do you know what the name Zacchaeus means? It means 'pure' or 'pure in heart'. Is this name a joke or a promise? Discover it in this activity...
This idea is part of a complete Sunday school lesson on the Bible story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10.
View the idea below...

What you need:
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10 A4 pieces of paper – with one or two words of the following text written or printed on each piece of paper: Blessed are you if you are pure in heart, because then you will see God
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string
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pegs
Let's start...
Instructions
Do:
Hang the different A4 sheets with this text on them completely out order on the line. Ask the children for help to get the text right.
Then, one by one, remove the sheets of paper and see if the children say the sentence out loud every time a sheet of paper has been removed: "Blessed are you if you are pure in heart, because then you will see God".
Ask:
Who knows who said this sentence?
Tell:
Jesus said this during the Sermon on the Mount.
Ask:
- What do you think it means to be pure in heart?
- What does it mean, do you think, to see God? Is that with your eyes?
- What does "blessed" mean?
Tell:
In the time of Jesus, many names had a meaning.
Ask:
Who knows what the name Zacchaeus means?
Tell:
It means "pure" or "pure in heart".
Ask:
- Is this name a joke or a promise?
- Is Zacchaeus pure in heart at the beginning of the Bible story?
- Is Zacchaeus pure in heart at the end of the Bible story?
- Did he or did he not see God, do you think?
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