Tax Collectors are Always Mentioned in Context with Sinners



Some have told me that the reason that the scriptures and Yashua put tax collectors in context with sinners is because that most of tax collectors back then were thieves. First of all, prove to me that most of them were thieves. This is an assumption based on a preconceived idea. second of all, if indeed it were true that MOST tax collectors were thieves, then Yashua would be a liar to classify ALL as sinners, unless there was commonan sin that made every tax collector a sinner (ie collecting taxes for Caesar).

    *And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me a sinner!" [Luke 18:13 NKJV].

    *...Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you." [Matthew 21:31 NKJV]

    *And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. [Matthew 18:7 NKJV]

Again, why would Yashua classify all tax collectors as sinners? Were 100% of the tax collectors thieves? Why wouldn’t he just say, “let him be to you like a heathen and a thief”? The reason is because it was unlawful to pay tribute unto Caesar.