The tax collector is ... The meaning of the word "publican"

The 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 were indignant: "Here is a man, a drunkard, a friend of publicans and harlots!" The situation, taken from the Bible, describes the preaching of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. But why at that time was it considered reprehensible to talk with publicans? And who are the tax collectors?

Who is a publican

In short, a publican is an old word that describes a person whose service is to collect taxes from the common people. Not surprisingly, at that time these people were treated like this in society! And at all times people who ripped off the poor were not respected among 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 occupy in those days and throughout history? Let's try to understand these issues.

What did the tax collectors in Rome

In the Roman Empire, the collection of taxes imposed on land plots was conducted by Roman military leaders. This system was well settled. However, in principle, anyone who possessed the appropriate influence could possess the power to export or import goods transported through the country by merchants. It was enough to get the necessary permission. But the cost of this privilege could be a considerable amount of financial resources. When such "tax collectors", or collectors, were engaged in their work, they could profit from tax revenues, which far exceeded the amount of their usual rate. True, all this activity was not at all as easy as it might seem. Subcontractors or chiefs constantly monitored the lawfulness of tax collection in some parts of their territory.

Zacchaeus and Matthew - collectors of the taxes of Christ

Reading the Scriptures, we find information about a publican called Zacchaeus. From the Gospel of Luke, the nineteenth chapter, the first and second verses, we learn that he was, most likely, a superintendent placed over other publicans or tax collectors. Matthew the publican is the next person we learn about from the Word of God - the Bible. Jesus, the Son of the Creator, appointed him an apostle or "messenger" (as he proceeds from the literal translation of this word). Apparently, Matthew not only engaged in collecting taxes in Capernaum, but also had his tax office in this city.

Why tax collectors were not respected

To such people as Zacchaeus and Matthew, in those days were treated with deep contempt and disrespect. They overstated the taxes levied on ordinary people, these people were not very revered by their fellow countrymen. Also in the Holy Scriptures we find information about what some Jews thought disgusting to even eat with such people. They were treated as sinners and put on a par with public prostitutes. Jews also expressed their contempt for these people because they supported the Roman Empire, which was, as it was thought, from "unclean" pagans. If such a person were lying unconscious on the street, then hardly anyone would help him.

Tax collectors and Christ

However, by reading the Gospel narrating about the life of the Lord Jesus, we notice how strikingly different views he taught from the generally accepted at that time. We do not 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 in order to follow his Lord. No wonder Christ so appreciated this man! He himself often said: "The healthy do not need a doctor, but the sick" - thus showing that the tax collector is not such a hopeless person as the majority believed in those days. Moreover, with what feelings Matthew wrote his narrative about the life of Christ, he admires many connoisseurs of world literature. "Reading his Gospel," they say, "you feel the warmth with which he speaks of his Lord." It is evident that the message of the Son of God found the hearts of those who, in the eyes of others, found only contempt.

What does the word "tax collector" mean?

To better understand the meaning of the word publican, one must investigate the origin of the very concept. It turns out that in ancient times the words "Myt" and "Myto" meant the points where vehicles were inspected on land and on water. All kinds of duties that were imposed on them pinned the people on an unbearable burden. Mytniki in ancient Russia - it was often "thieves in the law" - bandits who were not loved. In the dictionary of Ozhegov this word is given a simple definition. According to him, the tax collector is the tax collector in Judea. And Dahl's dictionary supplements this definition. It contains some additional information. According to this dictionary, the tax collector is the collector of the wash in Russia. From this word there are two others - "publicizing" and "trial". According to the dictionary of Ozhegov and Shvedova, the first concept conveys the idea of giving someone to trials or suffering, and the second indicates torment or suffering. Obviously, the word "publican" has become synonymous with a cruel person, a sadist who gives others suffering. Already on this can be judged on the reputation that these people had. Previously, various ancient professions were condemned, but especially this one.

Obviously, the "tax collector", close in meaning to the word, is such a thing as "to wash" or "to tear down", which means transferring to hire or to take (Dahl's dictionary). This word, among other things, can mean someone's illness, illness or suffering. In addition to all this, this word can indicate who lives at someone else's expense or is parasitic.

"Torture" in Russia

In those days, the whole duty or tax that tax collectors collected, went to ensure the princes who own this or that lot. They had the right to allow or not allow garbage on their territory. For example, when the two princes agreed on joint cooperation, then both the first and second were obliged out of courtesy to allow merchants to transport their goods without obstacles in the territory of another. At that time it was called "without a frontier" (ie without borders) or "without hooks" (i.e., without obstacles).

If there were those who wanted in every possible way to avoid paying a compulsory tax, then such people could be fined for violating the oral law. Such a fine was called "washed". Hence the word "rummage", which is consonant with the modern "to squander", which obviously indicated penalties, because of which a person could lose his last property.

Types of taxes

In those days, several types of such "wash" were distinguished. As we have already learned, both land-based trade routes and waterways fell under the ordeal. Therefore, several types of soap were distinguished: "floating wash", "coastal washing", "mowers" and "ground washing". Such a duty could be paid in monetary terms or in goods. Mostovshchina meant payment of a tax when traveling through bridges.

In addition to all the above types, the tax was levied for the transportation of goods, its simple and at its sale. Not surprisingly, for ordinary people, and for the well-to-do, this was tantamount to ripping off.

Tatar-Mongols and Duties

Tatar-Mongols have increased the already inordinate burden of the people. Since the time of the Horde conquest, they have introduced a new kind of soap, which was called "tamga". If someone wanted to participate in trading on market squares or fairs that were so popular at that time, also had to pay this kind of tax. According to Ozhegov's dictionary, tamga is a duty that was collected by the customs service for the enclosed stamps. The size of this tax depended not on how much was supplied in this or that place, but on how much a particular product cost. Similarly, even monasteries could assert on their territory trades and take from the goods that were brought, tamga. Such were the ancient professions.

Modern "publicans"

It is worth noting that the tax collector is a profession that has always been pursued by ordinary people, and even in our time people who deprive the last ordinary people are hated for others. Today, you can also meet a lot of dishonesty in government circles that are taxing. For example, the customs service, which checks luggage and checks the certification of goods transported abroad, is also often dishonest. You can hear a huge number of complaints about slow maintenance and delay in order to catch at least one of the people. Thus, the customs service today is the same as the tax collectors in ancient times.

Leap into history

As we learned from this article, the Masons in ancient Russia were those people who were very disliked. We also learned how such people were treated by Christ - the Son of God. In addition, we had the opportunity to draw a parallel with our time, with various tax offices and customs services.