The episode of Jesus meeting Zaccheus is always an interesting read. Somehow it has a certain simplicity and earthiness about it. Perhaps it has to do with Zaccheus climbing the tree - a joyful, children's play.
However, contrary to popular belief that since Zaccheus was a tax collector and hence certainly a corrupt official, I think that he was basically a good and honest person, all along. First of all, to believe that all - everyone? - tax collectors were cheats, would be too much of an exaggeration. Not fair! There certainly would have been some kind-hearted ones - at least a handful in a whole nation! Secondly, for one to immediately have a change of heart, that too so radically is not really possible. That the confession and repentance was genuine, we know from Jesus' interaction with him. Jesus would have called his lie, if Zaccheus wasn't speaking from his heart. So Zaccheus would basically have been a good man, with perhaps some illegal dealings once in a way; and that dishonesty would have been stirring his conscience over time. The encounter with Jesus actually is the tipping point.
And practically speaking, if he were that corrupt, repaying back all those whom he cheated, four times over that too after giving away half his property to the poor, would have made him an utter destitute! He would have had to borrow in order to repay them all!!
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