The Collectors

Imagine being despised for the way you made a living.

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” - Matthew 9:9-13

Tax collectors in Jesus' day were Jews who paid a franchise to the Roman government so that they could collect the tax owed to Rome.

There were two types of taxes people had to pay.  They paid a tax to the Temple to support the operation of the Temple and they paid one or more taxes to Rome.

The tax collectors were profiteers.  They collected as much as they could to make a living, after making an upfront payment to Rome, covering the amount owed to the state.

So, it was as if Rome was selling your debt to a debt collector who raised the amount owed to whatever he thought he could collect.

Tax collectors were often quite wealthy as a result.

Why would Jesus choose to eat with them?  And why would he want one on his team?

Jesus said he came to heal the sick, so he called those most in need of a doctor, the sinners and the ones who took advantage of the people.

If they could be turned around and saved, anyone could.

But I wonder if there was another reason Jesus chose tax collectors.  If they stopped collecting taxes, then Rome would not get its money.  The taxes were oppressive at 30-40 percent or more, and there were taxes on individuals and businesses, even taxes on the use of the roads.

I imagine the people were not unhappy that the tax collectors were going out of business.

So, why did it bother the Pharisees?

Maybe they too benefited from the people being oppressed.

More to come...