Publicans, in the context of the New Testament, were tax collectors employed by the Roman Empire to collect taxes from the Jewish populace. The term "publican" is derived from the Latin word "publicanus," which refers to a person who managed public revenue. In the Jewish society of the time, publicans were often viewed with disdain and considered sinners due to their association with the Roman authorities and their reputation for extortion and corruption.

Role and Reputation

Publicans were responsible for collecting various taxes, including land taxes, customs duties, and poll taxes. They were often Jews who worked under the Roman system, and their position allowed them to collect more than the required amount, keeping the excess for themselves. This practice led to widespread resentment among the Jewish people, who saw them as traitors and collaborators with the oppressive Roman regime.

The negative perception of publicans is evident in the Gospels, where they are frequently mentioned alongside "sinners" and other marginalized groups. For instance, in Matthew 9:10-11 , it is recorded: "While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, 'Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?'"

Publicans in the Teachings of Jesus

Despite their low social standing, publicans are significant in the teachings of Jesus, who often used them to illustrate themes of repentance, humility, and God's grace. Jesus' association with publicans was a radical departure from the norms of Jewish society, emphasizing His mission to seek and save the lost.

One of the most notable parables involving a publican is the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, found in Luke 18:10-14 : "Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.' But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified."

This parable highlights the virtue of humility and the importance of recognizing one's need for God's mercy, contrasting the self-righteousness of the Pharisee with the contrition of the publican.

Notable Publicans

Several publicans are mentioned by name in the New Testament, most notably Matthew and Zacchaeus. Matthew, also known as Levi, was a tax collector called by Jesus to be one of His twelve apostles. His calling is recounted in Matthew 9:9 : "As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. 'Follow Me,' He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him."

Zacchaeus, another tax collector, is featured in Luke 19:1-10 . His encounter with Jesus led to a profound transformation: "But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord! Half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.' Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.'"

Conclusion

Publicans, though reviled in their time, serve as powerful examples of redemption and the transformative power of Christ's message. Through His interactions with them, Jesus demonstrated that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace, and that true repentance and humility are valued in the Kingdom of God.754. architelones -- a chief tax collector
... chief among the publicans. From arche and telones; a principle tax-gatherer --
chief among the publicans. see GREEK arche. see GREEK telones. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/754.htm - 6k

The Publicans' Friend
... THE PUBLICANS' FRIEND. 'And He went forth again by the sea side; and all
the multitude resorted unto Him, and He taught them.14. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the publicans friend.htm

The Friend of Publicans and Sinners
... THE FRIEND OF PUBLICANS AND SINNERS. ... If ever churches forget their obligations
to the publicans and sinners, they will cease to grow. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the friend of publicans and.htm

And There came unto Him Publicans and Sinners to Hear his Word. .. ...
... Section XXVI. And there came unto him publicans and sinners to hear his word.?
[1, 2] [1807] And there came unto him publicans and sinners to hear his word. ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xxvi and there came.htm

Matthew the Publican Called from the Custom-House. --Familial ...
... Matthew the Publican called from the Custom-house."Familial Intercourse of Christ
with the Publicans at the Banquet."The Pharisees blame the Disciples, and ...
/.../section 141 matthew the publican.htm

Travelling in Palestine --Roads, Inns, Hospitality, Custom-House ...
... Chapter 4 Travelling in Palestine"Roads, Inns, Hospitality, Custom-House
Officers, Taxation, Publicans. It was the very busiest ...
/.../sketches of jewish social life/chapter 4 travelling in palestineroads.htm

Of the Feast at which it was Objected at once that Christ Ate with ...
... Matthew, accordingly, goes on to say: "And it came to pass, as He sat at meat in
the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxvii of the feast at.htm

Matthew's Feast. Discourse on Fasting.
... b 15 And it came to pass, that he was sitting { ^a as he sat} at meat in the {
^b his} ^a house, ^c and there was a great multitude of publicans [Matthew had ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lvii matthews feast discourse on.htm

Certain General Principles of Parabolic Interpretation These ...
... Or else, if any doubts that in the land of Judea, subjugated as it had been long
since by the hand of Pompey and of Lucullus, the publicans were heathens, let ...
/.../tertullian/on modesty/chapter ix certain general principles of.htm

The Friend of Sinners
... And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and
sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xxxiii the friend of.htm

Zacchaeus
... and Roman officials and soldiers, with strangers from different quarters, were found
there, while the collection of customs made it the home of many publicans. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 61 zacchaeus.htm

Publicans (16 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Publicans (16 Occurrences). Matthew 5:46 For if ye love
them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? ...
/p/publicans.htm - 11k

Publican (7 Occurrences)
... In order to collect the taxes, the publicans employed subordinates (5:27; 15:1;
18:10), who, for their own ends, were often guilty of extortion and peculation. ...
/p/publican.htm - 9k

Eateth (81 Occurrences)
... Eateth (81 Occurrences). Matthew 9:11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto
his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? ...
/e/eateth.htm - 31k

Custom (51 Occurrences)
... The tax-gatherers were termed publicans (qv), who had their stations at the gates
of cities, and in the public highways, and at the place set apart for that ...
/c/custom.htm - 28k

Meat (387 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many
publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. ...
/m/meat.htm - 36k

Wine-bibber (2 Occurrences)
... Matthew 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a man
gluttonous, and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. ...
/w/wine-bibber.htm - 7k

Winebibber (2 Occurrences)
... Matthew 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man
gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. ...
/w/winebibber.htm - 7k

Drinketh (33 Occurrences)
... Mark 2:16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners,
they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with ...
/d/drinketh.htm - 16k

Taxing (3 Occurrences)
... internal taxes. This fact conditions all that is to be said about "tribute"
and "publicans" in connection with the New Testament. It ...
/t/taxing.htm - 35k

Tax (43 Occurrences)
... internal taxes. This fact conditions all that is to be said about "tribute"
and "publicans" in connection with the New Testament. It ...
/t/tax.htm - 47k

What is a publican in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Why does the Bible speak so negatively about tax collectors? | GotQuestions.org

Does salvation affect more than just the afterlife? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus