Tax Collectors and Sinners!

For Friday, July 11, 2025:

Luke 15:1 NLT: “Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.”

Tax collectors were considered the worst of the sinners, so much so that the Bible often speaks of “tax collectors and sinners,” giving them their own distinct category. Sinners had simply done something wrong, but tax collectors were working for the opposition, the bad guys! They were working FOR Rome, against the Hebrew people. Tax collectors were also known for taxing a little bit extra to line their own pockets. They were skimming, taking more from their Hebrew brothers than Rome required. Needless to say, tax collectors had abandoned their heritage in favor of the almighty dollar. (OK, denarius.)

Tax collectors knew they weren’t welcome in Synagogues, but many were still interested in God and religion, the way they had been raised. So when Jesus taught, they would stop and listen. Their presence angered the Pharisees. Even though Jesus wasn’t “their guy,” they wanted to maintain a certain majesty at religious gatherings, and including tax collectors wasn’t on the Pharisee agenda.

Jesus had previously stated, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Therefore, tax collectors and sinners needed to hear what the Pharisees should have already known! (Mark 2:17)

This raises some tough questions. Does your Sunday church cater to those who already believe, or to the notorious sinners in your community? Look around; see who’s there. Hopefully you’ll see some from each group! Those hosting the meeting need to be welcoming to those just checking things out. We can gently make a case that following Jesus is the better way to live. Let everyone know that being a Christian can be exciting and fun. Tell your face! Love your neighbor, even if they don’t yet have Christian ethics. That’s what Jesus did!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Radical Transformation!

For Sunday, December 31, 2023:

Mark 2:15 NLT: “Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.)”

Levi is known to us as Matthew, whose name graces the first book of the New Testament. He’s a former tax collector. Tax collectors were known for charging a bit extra and skimming a little off the top. Therefore we believe that Matthew lived a comfortable life, a life of opulence. Jesus was gathering disciples and apostles, many of whom had loathsome backgrounds. But Matthew had the resources to host a big dinner party for all of them. This would be their chance to learn from the Messiah!

Pharisees questioned the wisdom of people purporting to be holy hanging out with known sinners. But friends, that’s the only way evangelism works! If the saved never talked to those with questionable morals, there would be no new Christians! If your church is working right, there should be quite a number of disreputable citizens in the pews! Churches need to get off their high horse and get used to it! Jesus answered the Pharisees: “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

The first step may be casting out demons!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Tax Collectors and Sinners

November 07, 2011 Monday Message:

“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Matthew 9:11b NIV

Jesus was always hanging out with the “wrong” kind of people. Tax collectors were among the worst.

In that day, Rome was ruling over Israel. But Roman-citizen tax collectors were greatly despised and might even be killed. Therefore Rome recruited Jews to be their tax collectors. The Hebrew people might not like paying taxes to Rome, but it was thought that they would not kill one of their own.

Levi-the-tax-collector’s ancestry was in the succession of Temple Priests. Now it’s bad enough when one of your own starts working for the enemy. But just imagine how people felt when they found that one of their high priests had gone to the dark side.

But apparently Levi wasn’t too happy with his choices. I believe he was looking for an opportunity to repent and return. When Jesus said, “Follow me,” Levi left the tax-collection booth immediately, and went with the teacher. They gathered for dinner at Levi’s house, and were joined by many other tax collectors and still more sinners.

When the Pharisees asked about this, Jesus said, “It is the sick people who need a doctor, not those who are healthy.“

So if you’re going to work with Jesus, you may find yourself socializing with sinners. You may be called to visit places to which you would not normally go, and to work with those who really need to repent and return. You’ll meet people who don’t look like you, don’t dress like you, and don’t speak like you. Choose to sit at their table and share the Good News. That’s what Jesus did.

Today we know the tax collector Levi by his Greek name; he’s the Apostle Matthew.

May the Lord walk with you this week,

Norton Lawellin