Jesus' Attitude Towards Tax Collectors

Even before getting to Zacchaeus, I remember Matthew. Was Jesus so daring and so bold to have one who was a publican, on His team? Note well! Jesus never called them under the cover of dark, neither did He call them secretly. He was open and very public about this action of His. What do the Gospels have to tell us about Jesus calling tax collectors or publicans? What responses and reactions do Jesus receive?

And as he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. Follow me, Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. Mark 2: 14. From the text, it is obvious that Jesus and Levi went to Levi’s house, where we are shown Jesus as having a meal with him. It is precisely because of how Jesus openly treats this tax collector, with love and care, with inclusion and oneness, and not being in any way prejudiced against them that many friends of Levi came and ate with Jesus and His disciples. What a travesty of custom and tradition! The teachers of the law became very outraged and asked the disciples of Jesus, Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? Mark 2: 16b. Jesus hears and replies forthwith. It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. Mark 2: 17b

Matthew informs us of this, about Jesus. As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collectors booth. Follow me, he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9: 9. The radical actions of Jesus, calling a tax collector to be a member of His mission team, and going to a tax collector’s house, meet the same hostile response of which Mark speaks. Matthew gives us Jesus’ reply to the self-righteous Pharisees, who are bitterly opposed to every action of Jesus, concerning tax collectors. It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. Matthew 9: 12b - 13

John does not report on this happening, but Luke joins Matthew and Mark in sharing this, with some special details. Like the other two Gospel writers, Luke tells us that Jesus saw Levi, who by the way, is also named Matthew, in pretty much the same way as Peter is also called Simon or Saul is called Paul. Luke tells us that when Jesus called Levi, he left everything and followed Jesus. Then we are given this information. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. Luke 5: 29. This of course, sparks controversy among the Pharisees and teachers of the law and Jesus again responds to them. Jesus’ words here are a bit different, but He is sending the same message. It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Luke 5: 31b - 32

We look at Jesus and see many things clearly and vividly, when it comes to His Heart for tax collectors and publicans. He does not see them nor treat them as the religious leaders and teachers do. Of course, Jesus sees them as sinners, for He has referred to them as sinners, when speaking about His reasons for fellowshipping with such enemies and traitors. He made it abundantly clear that His mission was to call, sinners to repentance. They were sinners to be saved, to be loved, to be offered new life, to know all their sins forgiven, to know the matchless, free gift of God.

The Heart of Jesus has not changed regarding sinners and so His attitude to sinners who would hear His call and leave all and follow Him, is still the same. They know awesome fellowship with Him, in their homes and among all their family, friends and neighbours.

Isn’t it just so like Jesus to go to the home of Matthew, a tax collector, after He has called him and go to his home and eat with him and all his publican friends?

What a free and unintimidated Jesus we love, serve and follow!