Thematic Bible: Publicans


Thematic Bible




When the Pharisees saw it, they asked his disciples: Why does your Teacher eat with the tax collectors and sinners? Verse ConceptsFaultsComplaintsStatusTax CollectorsPharisees Concerned About ChristFinding Fault With Jesustaxespharisees

If he will not listen to them, let it come to the attention of the congregation. If he will not listen to the congregation, let him be to you as a heathen and a tax collector. Verse ConceptsChurchProblem SolvingPagansSin, God's Judgment OnTax CollectorsDisfellowshipAvoiding ForeignersEach Local ChurchTreating OthersConflictGoing To ChurchFamily Conflict

Which of the two pleased his father? They replied: The first. Jesus said to them: I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes will go into the kingdom of God before you. Verse ConceptsKingdom Of God, Entry IntoReceived OutcastsPeople Going BeforeEntering The KingdomTwo SonsObeying PeopleThe Will Of MenGoing To Heavenwhorestaxessurprises

The Pharisee stood and prayed like this: God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. Verse ConceptsExtortion, Examples OfAttitudes, in prayerHypocrisy, Description OfPrejudiceStandingStatusTax CollectorsHypocrites, Description OfSelf DelusionEvildoersNot Like PeopleAvoid AdulteryWe Thank GodConfession of sin

What good is there, when you love only those who love you? Even [corrupt] tax collectors do that! When you are kind only to your friends [and brothers] what makes you different from anyone else? Even people of the nations do that.

Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Verse ConceptsTwin Brotherszealotstaxes



After that he met a tax collector named Levi sitting at his place of business. He told him: Follow me. Verse ConceptsCommitment, to Jesus ChristChristlikenessApostles, Descriptiondiscipleship, nature ofInstructions About Followingtaxes

Tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him: Teacher, what must we do? Verse ConceptsSinnersTeachablenessBaptised By JohnOne's Deeds

When the people heard, they acknowledged God's justice. They received their baptism from John. Verse ConceptsJohn's BaptismPrejudiceTax CollectorsReceived OutcastsBaptised By JohnBaptismtaxes

John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him. Even the tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. When you saw this, you did not regret your sins and did not have faith in him. Verse ConceptsPrejudiceRepentance, Importance OfUnbelief, As Response To GodWay, TheSkepticismBelieving ProphetsNot Believing PeoplePeople Changing Their MindsRepentancePeople Who Did RightRewards Of Ritual

There was an important, wealthy, chief tax collector called Zacchaeus. He tried to see who Jesus was. Being a short person he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore (fig-mulberry) tree near where he would pass by in order to see him. read more.
When Jesus came to the place he looked up at Zacchaeus and said: Come down quickly for today I must visit your home. He hurried down to receive him joyfully. Many in the crowd complained saying: He is staying with a man who is a sinner. Zacchaeus stood before Jesus and said: Lord, I now give half of all my possessions to the poor. If I have defrauded any one I will give back four times the amount taken. Jesus said to him: Salvation has come to this house today. He is also a son of Abraham. The Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.

He then spoke this illustration to some who trusted in themselves. They were very self-righteous. They looked down on others: Two men went to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed like this: God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. read more.
I fast twice per week. I give tithes of all that I get. But the tax collector stood far away and would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven. He beat his breast, saying: God, be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you the tax collector and not the Pharisee was right with God when he went home. He who exalts himself will be humbled! He who humbles himself will be exalted!