The Tax Collectors

Now we want to get to know three events with the Lord Jesus. First, read two stories in the New Testament.

Please turn to the Gospel of Luke. From chapter 18, read verses 9 to 14 and from chapter 19, read verses 1 to 10.

And he spoke also to some, who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and made nothing of all the rest of men, this parable: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer. The Pharisee, standing, prayed thus to himself: God, I thank you that I am not as the rest of men, rapacious, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax-gatherer. I fast twice in the week, I tithe everything I gain. And the tax-gatherer, standing afar off, would not lift up even his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, O God, have compassion on me, the sinner. I say unto you, This man went down to his house justified rather than that other. For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he that humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 18:9-14)

And he entered and passed through Jericho. And behold, there was a man by name called Zacchaeus, and he was chief tax-gatherer, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was: and he could not for the crowd, because he was little in stature. And running on before, he got up into a sycamore that he might see him, for he was going to pass that way. And when he came up to the place, Jesus looked up and saw him, and said to him, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must remain in your house. And he made haste and came down, and received him with joy. And all murmured when they saw it, saying, He has turned in to lodge with a sinful man. But Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I return him fourfold. And Jesus said to him, today salvation is come to this house, inasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which is lost. (Luke 19:1-10)

Now I need to explain to you what a Pharisee is. You read about it in Luke 18:10. The Pharisees were people who pretended to be very pious. They wanted everyone to think: "What good and righteous people they are." But unfortunately, this was all just a pretense. In reality, they were just as bad as other people.

Next, we hear about a tax collector. The tax collectors had to collect tolls and taxes. In doing so, they often took more money than they were allowed to. Therefore, everyone who saw a tax collector thought: "Oh, a sinner!"

1

Arrange the sentence parts correctly!

Your response:

"But the tax collector,

would not even lift up

but beat his breast

be merciful to me,

his eyes to heaven,

standing far away,

and said, 'God,

the sinner!'" (Luke 18:13).

2

Did the tax collector in Luke 18:13 know that he was a sinner?
What does he say?

Your response:

"O God, be merciful to me, the !"

God heard the prayer of the tax collector and forgave him his sins.

However, the Pharisee believed that he was not a sinner. So he did not ask God for forgiveness and kept his sins.

On another day, the Lord Jesus was invited to a meal by a tax collector.

How do you think He behaved then? He also knew that they are cheaters. Do you think He went, or did He not want to have anything to do with these evil people?

Yes, He did go to dine with this tax collector.

The Pharisees were very surprised by this and wanted to know why the Lord Jesus goes to such people.

He explains to them this way:

And Jesus having heard it says to them, They that are strong have not need of a physician, but those who are ill. I have not come to call righteous men, but sinners. (Mark 2:17)

The Lord Jesus compares Himself here to a doctor who wants to help sin-sick people and therefore goes to them.

The Bible Course for Children