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BenSinner
Guest
Why does scripture hold such an unfavorable view on them and always put them in lists of really sinful occupations?
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Maximilian75
Guest
There is a twofold reason for this
- It is partially cultural - If you were a gentile and a tax collector (Most of them were for the Romans) you were viewed as an outsider and intruder
If you were a Jew and a tax collector, you were viewed as a turncoat and a traitor to your people. - Tax collectors during this time were known to take a little off the top for themselves while collecting extra from the citizenty.
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Vonsalza
Guest
On point two, that’s how they got paid.
Caesar estimated that Judea owed 2 million in taxes. He sold the right to collect to Bob the Rich Jewish guy for 1.5 million. Bob further subcontracts for a cut or hires guys to collect the full 2 million. This is where the disciple comes in. They were often shake-down and extortion masters.
All to pay the mortgage, right?
Caesar estimated that Judea owed 2 million in taxes. He sold the right to collect to Bob the Rich Jewish guy for 1.5 million. Bob further subcontracts for a cut or hires guys to collect the full 2 million. This is where the disciple comes in. They were often shake-down and extortion masters.
All to pay the mortgage, right?
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Thom18
Guest
I read that the job of tax collector was given to someone else every year, and it paid well. On top of that, they extorted the tax payers to get more from them than they owed, in order to pocket it for themselves.
So, they were viewed as extremely greedy.
So, they were viewed as extremely greedy.
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Kts1816
Guest
I think they loved so much the material.
Remember either God or Silver.
If silver you will forget God,if God forget the silver
Remember either God or Silver.
If silver you will forget God,if God forget the silver
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hymin
Guest
Depending on that the will acts in kinship with the rule of reason, that seeks the one above all else. We cannot serve both God and Mammon. Saint Matthew the former tax collector saw him and followed.
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midori
Guest
Everyone’s pretty much spot on.
Suppose that, say, China invades Hawaii and conquers it.
Now, suppose that Hawaiians go around collecting taxes on behalf of the Chinese. Suppose they’re supposed to collect ten million dollars. But they don’t just collect ten million… they collect eleven million, and only send ten million to their conquerors, and they keep an extra million or so for their own pockets.
The people of Hawaii would feel really betrayed, right? Because they’d understand that kind of behavior from invading outsiders. But not from people who are their kinsmen. Or who had been American citizens beforehand. And not just betrayed because their kinsmen/fellow citizens had allowed themselves to be employed by the Evil Invaders, but because they were personally benefiting from the situation by taking extra money out of the pockets of their kinsmen/fellow citizens.
So you take a people like the Israelites, who not only live in a common territory, but who are descended from the same tribes, and are kinsmen, and are united by a common religion and a unique culture in a sea of paganism… and all of a sudden, their own people are signing up to work for the pagan conqueror overlords and line their pockets at the expense of their neighbors.
Suppose that, say, China invades Hawaii and conquers it.
Now, suppose that Hawaiians go around collecting taxes on behalf of the Chinese. Suppose they’re supposed to collect ten million dollars. But they don’t just collect ten million… they collect eleven million, and only send ten million to their conquerors, and they keep an extra million or so for their own pockets.
The people of Hawaii would feel really betrayed, right? Because they’d understand that kind of behavior from invading outsiders. But not from people who are their kinsmen. Or who had been American citizens beforehand. And not just betrayed because their kinsmen/fellow citizens had allowed themselves to be employed by the Evil Invaders, but because they were personally benefiting from the situation by taking extra money out of the pockets of their kinsmen/fellow citizens.
So you take a people like the Israelites, who not only live in a common territory, but who are descended from the same tribes, and are kinsmen, and are united by a common religion and a unique culture in a sea of paganism… and all of a sudden, their own people are signing up to work for the pagan conqueror overlords and line their pockets at the expense of their neighbors.
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