Jesus And Tax Collectors

Throughout this first week, we shall be looking at a sinner, a man called Zacchaeus, whom Jesus held as first, in His view. Amidst all the people who stood around Him and walked with Him as He went about His Father’s business, Jesus chose to call out Zacchaeus, a tax collector.

The story of Zacchaeus is still one of the stories told to children. In other words, it is viewed by many as a ‘Children’s Story’, but however you view it, in this offering, you are being shown this very well-known story, not as Zacchaeus’ story, but as showing the mind and heart of Jesus, as He made Zacchaeus His first. Jesus made Zacchaeus a first in terms of priority, accessibility, accountability, hospitality and family. Perchance there is one who does not remember the story, or does not know it, I have offered this introduction.

The story about Zacchaeus, tells of the tax collector who hears that Jesus is going to be in town and wants to see this Rabbi from Galilee. He is a very short man in stature and decides that the only way he can see Jesus, is to climb a sycamore-fig tree. Indeed, it is his only on-the-spot option, as the crowd is massive, blocking him in every way, from seeing Jesus. This curious crowd of people have gathered to see, hear, touch, and get close to Jesus. Whatever the reasons, the fact is that there was a crowd and it was that crowd that caused Zacchaeus to have to find higher ground, to be able to see who Jesus was.

How do we know that this tax collector was a sinner? Is it because all tax collectors are sinners? Is it because he is extremely short in stature, a midget? Is it because he was not a Jew? Let’s study some very interesting moves by Jesus, who was very well versed and acquainted with the political climate of His day. Let’s look at some of the relevant things which Jesus knew. In other words, He was not ignorant of what was going on, yet He never let the mind and ways of the status quo influence His thoughts and actions in any way. He was about His Heavenly Father’s business and that is what He did, without fear or favour. But what did Jesus know about tax collectors?

• He knew that a tax collector was often referred to as a publican. These names were synonymous and they carried the same stigma. They were hated by the Jewish people.

• He knew that they were Jews who worked for the Roman government, Israel’s oppressors.

• He knew that Jews had utter contempt for them and hated them with a passion, seeing them as traitors.

• He knew that they were thieves, extorting more money from the poor people than was due.

• He knew that they were not welcomed by the masses and that they lived lonely lives.

Here is some little foot-note type, informative information. Tax collectors did not collect all taxes and from all people. Ordinary taxes, for example land taxes, were collected by Roman officials themselves. On the other hand, taxes such as tolls, for transporting purposes, were collected by Jews, under contract with the Romans. It was no secret that these publicans or tax-collectors were extortionists. 

Knowing all of this and much more, Jesus never ever ostracized tax collectors or made them the scum of the earth, as other Jews did. In fact, Jesus got into very hot water, with His own people, some of the highest ranking people in His Jewish community. Jesus’ bold, radical, unhidden, manner towards these publicans, these tax-collectors, was used by the teachers, lawyers, priests and leaders, as ammunition against Him.

We want to look, in some detail, at a few things Jesus did openly and spoke openly, concerning publicans and sinners.