When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

Tax collectors were hated in biblical times and were regarded as sinners. They were Jews who worked for the Romans, so this made them traitors. Tax collectors were not paid an actual wage by the Romans, they were expected to take extra money and keep some for themselves.

The very system Zacchaeus worked under encouraged corruption. He must have fit in well because he made himself wealthy from it. He cheated his fellow citizens, taking advantage of their powerlessness.

The sycamore tree has appeared in both religious texts and other forms of literature. No matter what your beliefs stem from, it’s clear that the existence of a sycamore tree in a text can mean a number of different things, but ultimately, it’s a symbol of strength, protection, reliability and clarity.

1. Zacchaeus teaches us that when you make a solid effort to experience Jesus, you are rewarded. It means seeking him with all your heart and doing everything he would have you do!

The story of Zacchaeus is used by some to illustrate the saying of Jesus: “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8), because the name Zacchaeus means ‘pure’. Zacchaeus also becomes a contrast of character with the Rich Young Ruler (Luke 18:18–23).

Girdling is an effective way to kill a sycamore tree, as it cuts off the tree’s sap, which is necessary for it to live. This method is safe and effective and requires only the use of an axe. Subsequent treatment of the girdled area with herbicide will prevent the tree from putting forth new shoots.

The girth of a tree can be used to estimate its age, as roughly a tree will increase it’s girth by 2.5cm in a year. So, simply measure around the trunk of the tree (the girth) at about 1m from the ground. Make sure you measure to the nearest centimetre. Then divide the girth by 2.5 to give an age in years.

While oaks, poplars, and ash trees are undoubtedly the most common causes of foundation issues, there are many other types of trees that can cause issues. Some are deciduous trees, such as the black locust, boxelder, Norway maple, silver maple, sweetgum, sycamore, and tuliptree.

“In order to get the most useful shade on a house, you should place a shade tree about 20 feet from the house,” Jim says. If you plant trees too close to your home, three main problems can arise: Mechanical damage from roots exerting pressure on the foundation.