THE TAX MAN COMETH
In the past, the Roman Empire was extremely powerful; unfortunately, it was also overwhelmingly corrupt. Its rulers governed its people with the philosophy of the “iron fist”. The Romans believed in expanding their empire through conquering other nations - and they were good at it. Since Rome was victorious in their defeat of many nations, the mixture of its people was vast. It had much ethnic, moral, and religious diversity. Of course, as in any governmental system, the people paid taxes. Sorry to say, there wasn’t a lot of representation in their taxation for the mass of people.
It was common practice for Rome to use people of one particular ethnic group to be tax collectors to people with similar ethnic backgrounds. The Jewish people were no-less different. Zacchaeus was one such tax collector. In fact, he was a “chief tax collector and was rich” (Luke 19:2). He was a Jewish tax collector to the Jewish people for the oppressive Roman government (cf. Luke 19:9). Therefore, Zacchaeus, and other such tax collectors, were considered traitors and sinners among the common people. “And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus hurry and come down for I must stay at your house today’. So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they [the Jewish people] saw it, they all grumbled, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner’” (Luke 19:5-7). These tax collectors were considered part of the government oppression and were treated as such.
Unfortunately, the tax collector was commonly thought of as corrupt. They were usually known to tax beyond what was required which they would use to line-their-own-pockets. “Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him [John the Baptist], ‘Teacher what shall we do?’ And he said to them, ‘Collect no more than you are authorized to do’” (Luke 3:12-13; cf. Luke 19:2). Similarly, Zacchaeus was a man searching for something beyond treachery, oppression, and governmental kickbacks. He wanted hope, help, and Jesus. Notice that after Jesus taught Zacchaeus, he wanted to show fruits of his repentance by offering to pay back those whom he had defrauded. He said, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold” (Luke 19:8; cf. Matthew 3:7-9). He sought to change his life and Jesus recognized his true heart. “And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to his house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the son of man came to seek and save the lost’” (Luke 19:9-10).
Any government can become corrupt, as well as, morally destitute. People, even people in governmental capacities, are very capable of defrauding, cheating, and stealing. Unfortunately, many working class people, in most nations, have very little say in how their regime governs them. If the government taxes, boy, can they tax. Thank God that people aren’t saved by government. Thank God that He is much kinder and thoughtful to His people. Truthfully, people are only saved by following Jesus. And this is true even for corrupt governmental servants. Remember, you may feel oppressed by your government but never forget that Jesus died for them too, “For the son of man came to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
The Lord’s humbled – John A. Reeves
It was common practice for Rome to use people of one particular ethnic group to be tax collectors to people with similar ethnic backgrounds. The Jewish people were no-less different. Zacchaeus was one such tax collector. In fact, he was a “chief tax collector and was rich” (Luke 19:2). He was a Jewish tax collector to the Jewish people for the oppressive Roman government (cf. Luke 19:9). Therefore, Zacchaeus, and other such tax collectors, were considered traitors and sinners among the common people. “And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus hurry and come down for I must stay at your house today’. So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they [the Jewish people] saw it, they all grumbled, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner’” (Luke 19:5-7). These tax collectors were considered part of the government oppression and were treated as such.
Unfortunately, the tax collector was commonly thought of as corrupt. They were usually known to tax beyond what was required which they would use to line-their-own-pockets. “Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him [John the Baptist], ‘Teacher what shall we do?’ And he said to them, ‘Collect no more than you are authorized to do’” (Luke 3:12-13; cf. Luke 19:2). Similarly, Zacchaeus was a man searching for something beyond treachery, oppression, and governmental kickbacks. He wanted hope, help, and Jesus. Notice that after Jesus taught Zacchaeus, he wanted to show fruits of his repentance by offering to pay back those whom he had defrauded. He said, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold” (Luke 19:8; cf. Matthew 3:7-9). He sought to change his life and Jesus recognized his true heart. “And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to his house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the son of man came to seek and save the lost’” (Luke 19:9-10).
Any government can become corrupt, as well as, morally destitute. People, even people in governmental capacities, are very capable of defrauding, cheating, and stealing. Unfortunately, many working class people, in most nations, have very little say in how their regime governs them. If the government taxes, boy, can they tax. Thank God that people aren’t saved by government. Thank God that He is much kinder and thoughtful to His people. Truthfully, people are only saved by following Jesus. And this is true even for corrupt governmental servants. Remember, you may feel oppressed by your government but never forget that Jesus died for them too, “For the son of man came to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
The Lord’s humbled – John A. Reeves
Article published on April 9, 2010 at The Idalou Beacon in Idalou, Texas
Published in the blog "The Lord's Humbled" in 2010
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