Page 15 - Bible Character Traits

3 . Most publicans were _ _ c u _ r r u _ p _t _ . They lined their o w n pockets b y collecting more

taxes and duties than required. They did this through:

over charging
a. ________ - Luke 3:13.

b . Extortion b y false accusation - Luke 19: 8d.

_ _
_
_
The Romans permitted their extortion s o long as it did not lead to public _ insurrection
_
4 . Publicans were usually wealthy men - Luke 5:29; 19:2.

B. What People toughts of Publicans?

Publicans were considered to b e pariahs within Jewish society. They were classified along

_
with the worst of _ _ sinners _ _ _ - Matthew 9 : 11; 1 1 :19; Luke 18:11.
_
The strict Jews resented the tax collectors with a passion. They believed only t h e Lord should

receive their tribute. _ _ publicans _ _ _ were barred from being a witness or a judge, and
_
_
_
a
were kept from worshipping t the temple. (The publican in Luke 18 stood afar off.)

C . What About Paying TaJ<es?

1 . Christians are to pay their ______ - Ro mans 13: 6, 7
taxes

_
2 . Christ _ paid _ _ _ the taxes imposed upon him - Matthew 17: 2 4 - 27; Luke 20: 22-25.

Ill. THE PUBLICAN'S CONVERTION:

_
Like all the M s _ ave _ _ then _ baptized under ministry of John the
_

_
i
T h e actual account f Matthew's salvation would fit n 3-14. John preached
o
today
3:8) and faith 1 t h e same message we preach
today.

I n L 3: we read that publicans t o John presenting themselves f (indicating

_ conversion
they have exercised in Christ). evidence of genuine _ _ _ _ John sought was

not
______ that they quit being but they crooked tax collectors,

3:13.

I t reasonable was one of those publicans . his testimony in

Capernaum - an honest collector!

There are some tremendous truths t o be learned here:

A. Christ Came To Save lost Sinners.

Luke 19:1 O ; I Timothy 1 :15.

B. Christ receiveth Sinful Men.

Luke 15:1; 19:2-10.

C . The Vilest Offender Who Truly Believes ...

That moment from Jesus a pardon receives! Luke 18:9-14.

D. Repentance & Faith In Christ Saves Any Man.

Matthew 21 :31,32; Luke 7:29,30; Hebrews 7:25.

prideful
The Pharisees shut themselves out of the kingdom o f God through their ______ self-

righteousness - Matthew 23:13.

The only person Christ cannot save is one who willfully rejects i s gracious invitation t o be saved -
H

Romans 2:1-6, Hebrews 10:26, 27, 38, 39; I I Thessalonians 2:10-12

IV. THE PUBLICAN'S CALL:

Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:14-17 and Luke 5:27-32 record the call of Matthew Levi into

_
" _ _ _full-time _ _ _ Christian seNice."
_
_
When Christ called him:

A. He left all •

Luke 5:28. This is the attitude o f true discipleship - Luke 14:33.

Lordship
_______ demands it! Notice his response was immediate. He was giving up a life of
nothing
great wealth, but it meant ______ to him.

cf.Philippians 3:7,8