The parable of the Pharisee and the publican (tax collector) is a powerful story of why humility is far preferable to self-righteousness, but I do not think we realize just how radical and offensive that parable was at the time Jesus told it. Publicans were hated in Judea, for several reasons. First, the publicans were Jews who were betraying their people by collecting taxes for the hated Roman Empire, which was oppressing the Jewish people. Not only were they traitors who were collaborating with an occupying power, but they would often abuse their authority to steal from their fellow Jews by collecting more taxes than were due and keeping the difference to enrich themselves.
Putting the publican and the Pharisee in context
Putting the publican and the Pharisee in…
Putting the publican and the Pharisee in context
The parable of the Pharisee and the publican (tax collector) is a powerful story of why humility is far preferable to self-righteousness, but I do not think we realize just how radical and offensive that parable was at the time Jesus told it. Publicans were hated in Judea, for several reasons. First, the publicans were Jews who were betraying their people by collecting taxes for the hated Roman Empire, which was oppressing the Jewish people. Not only were they traitors who were collaborating with an occupying power, but they would often abuse their authority to steal from their fellow Jews by collecting more taxes than were due and keeping the difference to enrich themselves.