The tax farmers in Israel, here called tax-collectors, were somewhat different from IRS agents. They were more like Mafia enforcers, employing thugs to shake down local citizens and merchants. The Romans specified how much each tax man was supposed to pay them, and the architelōē or
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Catholic
Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 24, 2023
If but some vengeful god would call to me
From up the sky, and laugh: “Thou suffering thing,
Know that thy sorrow is my ecstasy,
That thy love's loss is my hate's profiting!”
Then would I bear it, clench myself, and die,
Steeled by the sense of ire unmerited;
Half-eased in that a
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Matthew Kratz on May 23, 2007
OEM: G. K. Chesterton said:
O God of earth and altar,
Bow down and hear our cry,
Our earthly rulers falter,
Our people drift and die,
The walls of gold entomb us,
The swords of scorn divide,
Take not Thy thunder from us,
But take away our pride.
From all that terror teaches,
From lies of tongue and
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Denomination:
Other
Contributed by Matthew Kratz on May 28, 2007
POEM: G. K. Chesterton said:
O God of earth and altar,
Bow down and hear our cry,
Our earthly rulers falter,
Our people drift and die,
The walls of gold entomb us,
The swords of scorn divide,
Take not Thy thunder from us,
But take away our pride.
From all that terror teaches,
From lies of tongue
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Denomination:
Other
Lastly and perhaps most importantly this 8th commandment encourages us to become generous persons. I love the story of the IRS auditor who was talking with a minister on the phone---He asked, “Now this Joe Smith that I’m talking about…does he attend your church?” “Yes, he does,” the preached
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Denomination:
Christian/Church Of Christ
Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 1, 2022
Morris Siegel, the owner of a small Kosher New York deli, was being questioned by an IRS agent about his tax return.
He had reported a net profit of $60,000 for the year.
Why dont you people leave me alone? the deli owner said.
I work like a dog, everyone in my family helps out, the place is
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Independent/Bible
Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Mar 20, 2010
ON TAX COLLECTORS
In Kiev, MONEY CHANGERS sit in little booths with a small window. You can't see their faces, and they mutter to you in Russian as you hand over American dollars in exchange for Grivnas. Whenever I exchanged money, I seemed to be getting more Grivna for my dollar because the
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Steve Malone on Apr 5, 2001
based on 171 ratings
| 1,887 views
Sometimes we are like the little boy who was overheard talking to himself as he strutted through the backyard, wearing his baseball cap and toting a ball & bat. "I’m the greatest hitter in the world," he announced. Then he tossed the ball into the air, swung at it, and missed. "Strike One!" he
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Christian/Church Of Christ
Contributed by Richard Wafford on Nov 24, 2004
based on 1 rating
| 3,346 views
Charles Swindoll says that competitive excellence requires one hundred percent all of the time. If you doubt that, try maintaining excellence by setting your standards at 92 percent. Or even 95 percent. People figure they’re doing fine so long as they get somewhat near it. Excellence gets reduced
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Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Jose Vega on Dec 7, 2006
Esta era una bicicleta construida para dos personas. Y una mujer llamada Jennifer estaba por primera vez andando en esa bicicleta pero en el asiento de atrás. Ella estaba sumamente asustada.
• Ustedes dirán pero por que si sentarse en el asiento de atrás de esas bicicletas no da miedo es tan solo
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Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 12, 2001
based on 67 ratings
| 1,019 views
Conflict results when we perceive that our rights or needs are being violated in some way. Most of you probably remember the horrible tragedy that occurred in Massachusetts this past December. On the morning of December 26, 42 year old software tester, Michael McDermott, entered Edgewater
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Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007
based on 1 rating
| 1,652 views
There’s a story about a local fitness center, which was offering $1,000 to anyone who could demonstrate that they were stronger than the owner of the place. Here’s how it worked. This muscle man would squeeze a lemon until all the juice ran into a glass, and then hand the lemon to the next
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Contributed by Luis Marquez on Dec 13, 2012
William Carey fue un zapatero cuando un día oyó hablar de los millones de personas en la India que no había oído la Buena Nueva de Jesucristo. Él creía que la gran comisión de "Id por todo el mundo y predicad el evangelio." Creía que ese versículo estaba hablando directamente a él. Así que se
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Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Timothy Smith on Sep 3, 2005
based on 1 rating
| 7,693 views
Max Lucado in his book on the Lord’s prayer, The Great House of God talks about this metaphor. He writes, “Forgive me for broaching the issue, but I must. I realize the topic is personal, but it’s time we went public. I need to talk to you about being overdrawn at the bank. Your paycheck was late.
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Denomination:
Christian Church
Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2002
based on 28 ratings
| 6,040 views
SERVICE REQUIRES ACTION
A man fell into a pit and couldn’t get himself out.
A subjective person came along and said, "I feel for you down there."
An objective person walked by and said, "It’s logical that someone would fall down there."
A Pharisee said, "Only bad people fall into pits."
A
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Contributed by Richard Burkey on May 25, 2005
based on 14 ratings
| 3,917 views
When it comes to life’s circumstances and what goes on each day, how do you respond with gratitude, grit, or grouch? And is your response determined by your circumstance or by your character?
I have come up with a quiz to assess your response. Let’s start with question 1: You are in the 10 item,
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Denomination:
Lutheran
Sermon Central