Sermons on tax collectors:

"Engagement Or Exclusion?"

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on Jul 28, 2006

This is a look at our outreach as a Church and as individuals. Its a call to relavent engagement.

Engagement or Exclusion? Mark 2.13-17 We see here the beginings of conflict with the Pharisees. It is an underlying theme set right through the gospel; Between the Pharisees and Jesus over the character of God and forgiveness. The four stories that follow continue this theme: Eating with tax ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

Praise The Lord, I Saw The Light!

Contributed by Craig Condon on Mar 23, 2015

We must follow God and start inviting ourselves and go out into the world and seek out others-just like Jesus and Zacchaeus sought each other out.

There is a story about a fitness centre that was offering $1,000 to anyone who could show that they were stronger than the owner of the place. Here’s how it worked. The owner would squeeze a lemon until all the juice ran into a glass, and then hand the lemon to the challenger. Anyone who ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Anglican

Why Bad People Can Get To Heaven

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Jul 27, 2008

Message based on Jesus’ words to the religious leaders who were missing the message while the tax collectors and prostitutes were hearing and responding.

Why Bad People Can Get to Heaven Matthew 21:28-32 July 27, 2008 NOTE: THE ME/WE/GOD/YOU/WE FORMAT USED IN MY MESSAGES IS BORROWED FROM ANDY STANLEY’S BOOK, "COMMUNICATING FOR A CHANGE." Me: During my freshman year in college, I went back to my high school to visit and to play in the band for a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:28-32

Denomination: Wesleyan

Respond Humbly Series

Contributed by Todd Stiles on Oct 12, 2006

This message explores the contrast of the Pharisee and the tax collector, helping us see why humility matters.

“Respond Humbly” (Luke 18:9-14) Humility. It seems to be a distant character trait in our world today, doesn’t it? Even in our circle of churches, pride can creep in and become way too evident in our midst. Sometimes when I look around at our Christian culture, it reminds of this video… [Show ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Baptist

Check Your Attitude At The Door

Contributed by Carl Willis on Oct 20, 2005

A message addressing the condition of the heart during prayer. This message is based on the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.

Luke 18:9 (NLT) Then Jesus told this story to some who had great self-confidence and scorned everyone else: Sunday 11AM – The Most Segregated Hour in America  The proud and the broken  The haves and have nots  Those with agendas and those with needs  Rich and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Response To Jesus: Zacchaeus Series

Contributed by Daren Mitchell on Nov 20, 2012

So, Zacchaeus was named bright, clean or pure. Unfortunately he grew up to be the complete opposite. One of the first things we learn of Zacchaues from Luke 19 is that he is the chief tax collector in the region. He’s not just a tax collector like Matt

The Hebrew name Zacchaeus is taken from a Hebrew word Zakak which means to be bright, clean or pure. I can imagine that when Zaccheaus was a wee little baby his mom and dad had bright hopes for him. Names had significant meaning for the ancient Jew. Mary named her son Jesus the Greek version of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-9

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"Pride, Humility, Forgiveness

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Oct 19, 2004

A sermon for the 21st Sunday after Pentecost Proper 25 Parable about the Pharisee and tax collector

21st Sunday after Pentecost Proper 25 Luke 18:9-14 Sermon "Pride, Humility, Forgiveness 9* ¶ He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: 10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11* ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Lutheran

Standing Before God

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Oct 24, 2019

What determines our standing before God? The Pharisee, tax collector, and disciples give us an answer.

Can there be anything more nerve wracking than being evaluated at work or school? When we are criticized or graded, we are vulnerable and exposed. We may wonder and think, “What will people say or think of me? Is what they are saying true or accurate? Do they truly see my talents and abilities, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-17, Luke 18:9-14, Luke 18:15-17

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus' Guest List

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Apr 19, 2024

You’re probably heard the saying, “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”. You would think that Jesus could please all of the people all of the time. But he didn’t.

You’re probably heard the saying, “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”. That sounds true from my experience. No one can please all of the people all of the time, but … if there ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:13-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Two Men, Two Prayers, And Two Faiths

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 21, 2010

At the Temple were two men, two prayers, and two faiths. One trusted in himself and his righteousness. He went home dead in his sin. The other humbly confessed his sin and believed in salvation outside himself. He went home justified by God’s grace.

Intro At the Temple were two men, two prayers, and two faiths. The first man was a Pharisee. He’s the good guy. He’s respected. He’s forgotten more about the Scriptures than most of us can remember. He’s an example of how to live an upstanding life. Do as he says and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-17

Denomination: Lutheran

True Repentance Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Mar 15, 2022

“Come, let us return to the Lord.” (Hosea 6:1) Jesus went to the house of many tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees saw this and asked why Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners. In that context Jesus Quotes Hosea 6:6 (found in Matthew 9:13).

The story of the prodigal son gives us a great picture of repentance. The prodigal has messed up big time and ended up in a terrible situation, eating pig slop just to survive. That situation made him turn back to his father. But you don’t have to wind up on skid row to need repentance. A Christian ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 6:1-11, Hosea 5:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

True Repentance

Contributed by William Baeta on Sep 22, 2011

“Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the Kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him: but tax collectors and harlots believed him: and when you saw it, you did not after

Theme: True Repentance Text: Ez. 18:1-4, 25-32; Phil. 2:1-13; Matt. 21:23-32 Many people today think that by saying they believe in Christ and go to Church makes them a Christian. But as the saying goes sleeping in a garage does not make you a car. To become a Christian you need to repent and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:23-32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus Eats With Sinners And Tax Collectors: The Parable Of The New Wine Into Old Wineskins Series

Contributed by Justin Steckbauer on Sep 12, 2022

The last few weeks we were in the vineyard, working the fields, sweating, watering vines, pruning vines, getting sweaty, talking servanthood, talking pride vs. humility, talking about the kingdom of God pattern in regard to gifts received, timing, all of it.

The last few weeks we were in the vineyard, working the fields, sweating, watering vines, pruning vines, getting sweaty, talking servanthood, talking pride vs. humility, talking about the kingdom of God pattern in regard to gifts received, timing, all of it. Now we’re coming in from the vineyard ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:27-32, Luke 5:33-39

Denomination: Salvation Army

Why Did The "Sinners" Love Hanging Out With Jesus?

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Dec 30, 2013

It's a fact worth pondering: the tax collectors and sinners LIKED being with Jesus. That's not usually how the lost feel around us. What did Jesus have that we don't?

AN IMPORTANT FACT: The tax collectors and “sinners” liked hanging out with Jesus. - Matthew 9:10. - It’s easy to rush past verse 10 and get to the rest of this story, but it’s worth settling for a moment here and thinking about its implications. The tax collectors and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-10

Denomination: Baptist

What John Taught (Luke 3)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Oct 5, 2024

Is what John the Baptist taught relevant to us? Let's look at Luke 3.

What did John the Baptist teach about fruits of repentance? What did he say about the poor, tax collectors and soldiers? What did God say at Jesus’ baptism? Let’s look at Luke 3. How are we introduced to John the Baptist’s ministry? Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible