Why did Jesus Christ court tax collectors?

Post Reply New Topic

There are two interpretations: One is that the tax collectors were guilty for taking money from people and wanted forgiveness, the other is that the tax collectors were known to have a lot of money (aka deep pockets) and if Jesus could make the rich, wealthy tax collectors feel guilty and offer forgiveness, Jesus would receive a lot more money in his weekly church collection plate passings in Jerusalem, Israel. Which view do you subscribe to? Today, 2011, I lean toward the notion that Jesus saw the tax collections as pewrenters with deep pockets so went after them for their money. My view is based upon a large number of revelations which vary from Daystar Christian TV (adultery is ok for the founder), child abuse is ok for Italian Catholic ministers from Rome, Italy, preaching is the thing to do for saved ministers like Jim and Tammy Bakker and the Rev. Jimmy Swaggart, and bankruptcy is ok for the Crystal Cathedral Christians. It's all about money - not about salvation for the tax collectors. Oh, I forgot to mention the godless Spanish Inquisition and the habit of burning heretics at the stake who disagreed with Rome's Godless dogma.

First off- stay away from Daystar, TBN, INSP, LeSEA and 99% of all televangelists. They are peddling the false doctrine known as "Prosperity Gospel". They just want your money, and they misquote scripture by telling you that by planting a "harvest seed" of perhaps a thousand dollars, God will reward you with more money.

I believe the tax collectors wanted forgiveness, no more no less.

The crystal cathedral sickens me, as do the Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer types, they are just out to con poor Christians out of their money. Jesus told us that to be close to him, we have to forsake all our material wealth and become like children, eager to learn about him.

If we have little or no material wealth to trust in, then we will put more trust in Him.

As for the crusades and spanish inquisition... they were a bunch of misguided people trying to apply Old Testament style Christianity incorrectly, they failed to realize that GRACE is the key, not LAW.

Tax collectors were pretty unloved people...thanks to their job. Some surely deserved it, but the disdain for them held them in the same regard as prostitutes.

By Jesus fellowshipping with them, He was showing people that these people were not "untouchables" and deserved to be loved like everyone deserves to be loved.

What is the value of a savior to people who already possess salvation. Until his death, the old law was the only sure way into heaven. Surly Christ's time was best spent among those who needed him the most? Otherwise, he might as well have remained in Heaven.

Why did the tax collectors need forgiveness? They were rendering unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, to wit tax revenue taken from the people. It seems that Jesus advocated that too.

ruveyn

Jesus was a socialist who believed in paying taxes and the greater good.

Jesus was a chill surfer-kind of guy who made tables for a living and tried to get a long with everybody. He's quite upset with the way people took his message of peace, these days, and thus, is not coming back from his vacation in space Hawaii

---
That's what the scriptures say, that is, Jesus is surfing at the right hand of God today...oops...seated at the right hand of God today. Yes, heaven in the sky above Jerusalem, Israel (the heavenly Jerusalem) sounds to me like Hawaii (Paradise) in outer space.

His dad is always telling him to turn down the Jack Johnson, stop surfing, cut his hair and get a real job but he's way too much of a free spirit