The Prostitutes,
Tax Collectors and
The Pharisees
3 January 2022
As I explained in my first blog The Rich and the Kingdom of God, the Pharisees belonged to the class of people I referred to as the ‘Temple Class,’ and the Prostitutes and Tax Collectors were considered sinners.
But who actually classified them as sinners? Was everyone else perfect? Let us understand each of them better.
The Prostitutes
Not all prostitutes were considered outcasts prior to Roman occupation. The Old Testament describes two types:
- Temple or cult prostitutes: Associated with non-Jewish cults and performing sexual acts as part of worship (Deut 23:17-18). These were despised.
- Prostitutes for livelihood: Women who turned to prostitution to sustain themselves (Prov 6:26). They earned very little and were generally visited by unmarried men or travelers.
Prior to Roman rule, such prostitutes lived as normal citizens with full rights. Examples include:
- Rahab in Joshua 2, who helped the Israelites and later married Salmon, becoming the great-grandmother of Jesse - The Father of King David (Matt 1:5).
- Gomer, whom God instructed the prophet Hosea to marry (Hosea 1).
During Jesus’ time, Roman soldiers with high pay and required celibacy increased the demand for prostitutes. This made some wealthy, which the Pharisees, as protectors of the moral code, could not tolerate. They condemned prostitutes as sinners, making them outcasts.
The Tax Collectors
Tax collectors were local citizens employed by Rome to collect taxes. Being locals, they understood the area and earned well, creating a wealthy class outside Israel’s normal hierarchy.
There is no biblical proof that all tax collectors were corrupt. For example:
- John the Baptist instructs tax collectors not to collect more than prescribed (Luke 3:12).
- Zacchaeus pledges restitution if he had defrauded anyone (Luke 19:8), implying honesty in general.
The Pharisees branded tax collectors as sinners because they resented the rise of this group from the working class to wealth.
The Pharisees
The Pharisees were scribes who claimed deep knowledge of the law. Scribes were professional copyists and translators of documents, including legal and scriptural texts. Those who specialized in scripture became Pharisees and self-declared teachers of the law.
They monitored others teaching scripture to maintain control, but Jesus did not conform to their interpretations. He publicly challenged them (Matt 5:20, Matt 23, Luke 11).
Examples of their confrontations with Jesus:
- Matt 9:11, Mark 2:16, Luke 5:30: They questioned why Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners.
- Matt 12:2: They complained about disciples eating on the Sabbath; Jesus defended them.
Jesus prioritized the spirit of the law, emphasizing the commandments: “Love God” and “Love your neighbor.” Everything else followed these principles.
Conclusion
The Pharisees were the real sinners, manipulating God’s Word for personal gain. They created outcasts and divided society to maintain power, contrary to Jesus’ teachings.
Lessons for Us
Even today, people divide society for control. Just because someone labels a group as sinners or fools does not mean we should. Understanding individuals on our own leads to fairness and justice.
Like in Jesus’ time, modern systems sometimes keep the poor oppressed and the rich in power. Those challenging this structure may face resistance, but true justice requires courage and discernment.
Related Posts
- Understanding the Bible - The Rich and the Kingdom of God
References
- Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. © 1989 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
- Photo Credit: Photo by cottonbro from Pexels
