Context Matters: New Testament BackgroundsSample

Topic 9: Tax collectors of old

Throughout the Gospels, the Pharisees often complained that Jesus ate with and befriended tax collectors and other sinners. Why were tax collectors so despised in first-century Israel? Israel was under Roman occupation and was looking forward to a coming Messiah who would free them from Roman rule and establish Israel as a sovereign nation. Tax collectors were viewed as collaborators with Rome.

The people hated tax collectors for more than just this reason. Tax collectors were often corrupt. They were allowed to search anyone (except Roman citizens) to see if they might owe more taxes. They often extorted people, charging them more than they owed for the sake of their own profit. An ancient business document mentions a bribe of 2,220 drachmas, the daily wage of an average worker, for “extortion”—listed that way on the receipt!

It’s no wonder they were not viewed favorably. This background makes Jesus’s willingness to associate with tax collectors all the more remarkable. He ate with them and even made one his disciple.

At one point, Jesus told a parable about a self-righteous Pharisee and a repentant tax collector with the tax collector as the one going home justified. Understanding the historical background of tax collectors helps emphasize just how far God’s grace extends.

Learn about insights from New Testament background studies in the video below.