A man from God preaches among the people. But what is this? He is seen sitting among publicans and harlots! People who had previously listened to him are indignant: “Here is a man, a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and harlots!” The situation, taken from the Bible, describes the preaching of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. But why was it considered so reprehensible at that time to associate with tax collectors? And who are publicans?
Who is a publican
In short, a publican is an old word that describes a person whose office is to collect taxes from the common people. It is no wonder that at that time these people were so treated in society! And at all times, people who ripped off the poor were not held in high esteem by the people. What then prompted Jesus, the Son of God, to sit among such people who were not respected at all? What role did these people play at that time and throughout history? Let's try to understand these issues.
What the publicans did in Rome
In the Roman Empire, the collection of taxes imposed onplots of land, were engaged in Roman military leaders. This system was well regulated. However, in principle, anyone with the appropriate influence could have the power to export or import goods transported through the country by merchants. It was enough to get the necessary permission. But this privilege could cost a considerable amount of financial resources. When such “publicans,” or collectors, went about their work, they could profit from tax revenues that far exceeded their normal rate. True, all this activity was not carried out as easily as it might seem. Subcontractors or bosses constantly monitored the legality of collecting taxes in some parts of their territory.
Zacchaeus and Matthew - the tax collectors of the times of Christ
Reading the Holy Scriptures, we find information about a publican named Zacchaeus. From the Gospel of Luke, the nineteenth chapter, the first and second verses, we learn that he was most likely a leader placed over other tax collectors or tax collectors. Publican Matthew is the next one we learn about from the Word of God - the Bible. Jesus, the Son of the Creator, appointed him as an apostle or "messenger" (as the literal translation of this word comes from). Apparently, Matthew not only collected taxes in Capernaum, but also had his own tax office in this city.
Why publicans were not respected
People like Zacchaeus and Matthew were treated with deep contempt and disrespect in those days. They overstated the taxes levied on simplepeople, these people were not very revered by their own compatriots. Also in the Holy Scriptures we find information that some Jews considered disgusting to even eat with such people. They were treated as sinners and put on a par with public prostitutes. The Jews also expressed their contempt for these people because they supported the Roman Empire, which consisted, as it was believed, of "unclean" pagans. If such a person lay unconscious on the street, then it is unlikely that anyone would have helped him.
Tax collectors and Christ
However, when we read the gospel that tells about the life of the Lord Jesus, we notice how strikingly different the views he taught were from those generally accepted at that time. We don't read anywhere that Matthew or Zacchaeus continued to deceive people after they became Christians. On the contrary, as we learn from the Bible, Matthew left his office to follow his Lord. No wonder Christ valued this man so much! He himself repeatedly said: “It is not the he althy who need a doctor, but the sick,” thus showing that the publican is not such a hopeless person, as most people thought in those days. Moreover, the way with which Matthew wrote his account of the life of Christ delights many connoisseurs of world literature. “Reading his Gospel,” they say, “you feel with what warmth he speaks of his Lord.” It can be seen that the message of the Son of God found response in the hearts even of those who found only contempt in the eyes of others.
What does the word mean"publican"
To better understand the meaning of the word publican, you need to explore the origin of this very concept. It turns out that in ancient times the words “myt” and “myto” meant points where vehicles were checked on land and on water. All sorts of duties that were imposed on them placed an unbearable burden on the people. Mytniki in ancient Russia were often "thieves in law" - bandits who were not loved. In Ozhegov's dictionary, this word is given a simple definition. According to him, the publican is the tax collector in Judea. And Dahl's dictionary complements this definition. It contains some additional information. According to this dictionary, a publican is a collector of myt in Russia. Two other words come from this word - "collection" and "ordeal". According to the dictionary of Ozhegov and Shvedova, the first concept conveys the idea of giving someone to ordeals or suffering, and the second indicates flour or suffering. Obviously, the word "publican" has become synonymous with a cruel person, a sadist who makes others suffer. Already by this one can judge the reputation that these people had. Previously, various ancient professions were condemned, but this one in particular.
Obviously, close in meaning to the word "collector" - such a concept as "wash" or "collection", which means to hire or take (Dal's dictionary). This word, among other things, can mean someone's illness, illness or suffering. In addition to all this, this word can indicate someone wholives at the expense of others or parasitizes.
"Trouble" in Russia
In those days, the entire duty or tax that the publicans collected went to provide for the princes who own one or another lot. They had the right to allow or not allow washing on their territory. For example, when two princes agreed on joint cooperation, then both the first and second were obliged, out of courtesy, to allow merchants to transport their goods through the territory of the other without unnecessary obstacles. At the time, it was called "no line" (i.e., no borders) or "no holds" (i.e., no obstacles).
If there were those who wanted to avoid paying the mandatory tax in every possible way, then such people could be fined for violating the oral law. Such a fine was called "washed out". From here comes the word "scrub", which is consonant with the modern "squander", which, obviously, indicated pen alties, due to which a person could lose his last property.
Types of taxes
In those days, there were several types of such a "wash". As we have already learned, both land trade routes and water ones fell under the ordeal. Therefore, several types of washing were distinguished: "floating washing", "coastal washing", "mostovshchina" and "ground washing". Such a duty tax could be paid in cash or in goods. Mostovshchina, on the other hand, meant paying tax when passing through bridges.
In addition to all of the above types, the tax was chargedfor the transportation of goods, its demurrage and during its sale. It is not surprising that for ordinary people, and for the we althy, it was tantamount to ripping off.
Tatar-Mongols and duties
The Tatar-Mongols have increased the already unbearable burden of the people. Since the time of the Horde conquest, they introduced a new type of myt, which was called "tamga". If one wanted to participate in trading in the marketplaces or fairs, which were so popular at the time, this type of tax also had to be paid. According to Ozhegov's dictionary, tamga is a duty that was collected by the customs service for stamps attached. The size of this tax did not depend on how much was supplied in one place or another, but on how much a particular product cost. In a similar way, even monasteries could approve auctions on their territory and take tamga from the goods that were brought. These were the ancient professions.
Modern "publicans"
It is worth noting that the tax collector is a profession that has always been persecuted by the common people, and even in our time, people who deprive the common people of the latter are hated by others. There is also a great deal of dishonesty today in government tax circles. Thus, the customs service, which checks luggage and checks the certification of goods transported abroad, also often acts dishonestly. You can hear a huge number of complaints about slow service and delays in order to get at least something out ofof people. Thus, the customs service today is the same as the tax collectors of ancient times.
Jump into history
As we learned from this article, the collectors in ancient Russia were those people who were very disliked. We also learned how Christ, the Son of God, treated such people. In addition, we had the opportunity to draw a parallel with our time, with various tax offices and customs services.
