Samaritans and Tax Collectorswho they were and how Jesus treated them

Moses instructed them to pronounce blessings from Mt. Gerizim and curses from Mt. Ebal (the land in between is called Shechem)

Joshua leads Israel to conquer land and carries out instruction that Moses had given

Eli judges Israel and builds a shrine in Shiloh rather than Shechem

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Temple built during Solomon’s reign in Jerusalem

Northern Kingdom conquered by Assyria; 29k natives deported; foreigners settle

Southern kingdom conquered by Babylon; Jerusalem temple destroyed

Jews return to the land and rebuild Jerusalem temple

Samaritans build temple on Mt. Gerizim

Antiochus Epiphanes begins systematic persecution of those who keep the Mosaic Law

John Hyrcanus conquers Samaria and destroys their temple

Samaritan Beliefs

• Bible consisted only of the first five books (Torah)• Strictly observant to the Law of Moses• Mt. Gerizim as place of worship• Belief in coming Taheb, restorer, a prophet like Moses• Intense hatred towards Judeans

Jewish Attitude Toward Samaritans

• When Jesus’ opponents were looking for a vicious name to call Jesus they said, “Do we not say rightly that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” (Jn 8.48)

• The Samaritans rejected the disciples who came to one of their villages to make arrangement for Jesus to spend the night (Lk 9.51-56)

• Jesus’ disciples were shocked he would even speak to a Samaritan woman at the well, “for Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” (Jn 4.9)

Two Famous Samaritans

• Parable of the Good SamaritanLuke 10.30-37

• Samaritan Woman at the WellJohn 4.1-10, 15-30, 39-43

Jewish Attitude Towards Romans

• God gave us this land (through Abraham)

• How dare these Gentiles, these pagans, rule over us?

• It is just a matter of time until Messiah comes and slaughters these imposters

• Passover (silent protest)

Five Reasons Why Tax Collectors Were Hated

• do we really need a reason to dislike the guy who comes and says, “Pay up” (cp. IRS)

• they were working for Rome—the foreign power• they were considered ceremonially unclean

because of their continual contact with Gentiles and the fact that they worked on the Sabbath

• they often extorted more money than was actually required (cf. Lk 3.13)

• they could force you to pay up using Roman power or they could take your farm or other possessions

Reputation in Jesus’ Day• Jesus said that even the tax collectors love those

who love them (Mat 5.46)• Jesus said regarding excommunication of an

unrepentant brother, “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” (Mat 18.17)

• They called Jesus, “a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” (Mat 11.19)

• Tax collectors were lumped in with sinners (Mk 2.15), Gentiles (Mt 18.17), prostitutes (Mt 21.31-32)

Two Famous Tax Collectors

• Zaccheus the chief tax collector of JerichoLuke 19.1-10

• Matthew (Levi) called to follow JesusLuke 5.27-32

Bottom Line

• We are to be like Jesus—love the unlovable, include the outcast, and reach out to the people that this world throws away, locks up, or kills off.

• Demonstrate outrageous love to those who don’t deserve it, especially our enemies, so that they will have an opportunity to be transformed by our God who inspired this love within us.