Luke’s Praiseworthy Publicans

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Background on Publicans:

  1. Publicans were officials who collected duties, customs, or tariffs for the Roman govt. These taxes were usually collected prior to entrance into a city and were paid in addition to the census / poll tax. Note! Being a publican does not necessarily imply Jewishness!

  2. Publicans received their position by right of being the highest bidder to the Roman government for the position. That is, they paid a fee for the right to collect customs along certain roads.

  3. Collection of fees required a thorough inspection of all goods being brought into a particular city. Thus, there was an invasive nature to the task. They were, in the eyes of the Jews, the very personification of the Roman intrusion into their lives.

  4. A publican’s "salary" was whatever he collected above the amount for which he bid the job. The rate of collection was arbitrary, vague, and indefinite, so the position was liable to extortion and abuse. In many cases, publicans were dishonest and as such were held in contempt by the people.

  5. "Publican" or "publicans" appears 22 times in the New Testament, and is generally associated with a position of contempt:

    1. Matt 5:46-47 - "do not even the publicans do the same?"

    2. Matt 9:10-11 - "publicans and sinners" (cf Matt 11:19)

    3. Matt 18:17 - "let him be unto you as a heathen and publican"

    4. Matt 21:31-32 - "publicans and harlots"

  6. However, in Luke’s gospel account, we find three instances where publicans are held up as examples for good, and our study today will examine these three men.

  7. Levi, the PURSUING Publican — Luke 5:27-32 = MATTHEW

    1. He was called Levi before Jesus called him. Levi = "joined" — Matthew - "the gift of God"

    2. Luke 5:28 — "He left all, rose up, and followed Him"

    3. Of that there were more Matthew’s in the world/church today!

      1. Romans 12:1-2

      2. 2 Corinthians 8:5

      3. Philippians 1:20-21

  8. The PRAYERFUL Publican — Luke 18:9-14

    1. Purpose of the parable - verse 9 Teaches the blessing of HUMILITY & the danger of PRIDE

    2. Imagine the attitude of the Pharisees toward their brother vs their attitude toward the publican.

    3. The prayer of the Pharisee wasn’t really a prayer at all - it was a "braggin list:"

      1. He admitted no SIN; He showed no HUMILITY; He confessed no NEED; He sought no MERCY

      2. Isaiah 64:6 — our righteousness is as FILTHY RAGS

    4. The Bible nowhere speaks well of pride:

      1. Proverbs 6:16-19 it is an ABOMINATION

      2. Proverbs 16:18 it precedes DESTRUCTION

      3. Proverbs 21:4 it is SIN

    5. The publican showed great humility, and as such he went down JUSTIFIED (Luke 18:14; James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6)

  9. Zacchaeus, the PENITENT Publican — Luke 19:1-10

    1. He DESIRED to see Jesus — 19:3

      1. John 12:21

      2. John 14:1-3

      3. Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 5:8

    2. He was DETERMINED to see Jesus — 19:4

  10. Principles from the Publicans

    1. We can live right in a wicked world

    2. God desires all men to be saved, and accordingly, no one is above / beneath the saving message of the Gospel

 

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