“A Tax Collectors Faith”
BIBLE
READING: Luke 5
Of all the jobs that a person could take, tax collector was
not at the top of anyone’s list. In the first century, to become a tax
collector was to become a traitor to you own people. You see, the Jews
were forced to live under Roman rule, meaning that even though they were
considered a free nation, they were still bound by Roman laws. The most
hated of all Roman law, may still be the most hated of modern-day law,
taxes. To collect their taxes on the Jews, the Romans would select a Jew
to do their dirty work for them. They would then require that Jewish man
to collect a certain amount of taxes from his own people. He was required
a specific amount but was able to collect more to pay his own salary. For
instance, in today’s world he would be required to collect $100 from each
person. However, he would ask for $110 from each person clearing a profit
of $10 per person. The Jews hated tax collectors and viewed them as
greedy, selfish and dishonest men. That is why it was so strange to have
Jesus select Levi (Matthew) as one of His 12 disciples. To an average
Jew, they would not consider any tax-collector to be an honest God- fearing
man. However, when Jesus comes into contact with Levi, He sees something
special in him. As soon as Jesus utters those words “Follow me” in Luke
5.27, we see this reaction. “And leaving everything, he arose and
followed Him” (Luke 5.28). That doesn’t sound greedy to me at all.
How many of us would leave our job, our bank accounts, our homes and our
families to follow Jesus. Not near enough my friend, not near enough!
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