I'm trying to prepare a sermon for this weekend on Luke 5:27-, the call of Levi. As usual, none of the many commentaries I possess bother to think through the practical results of Jesus' call of Levi.
Here's what the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says about Levi's job:
Since no one pays taxes willingly, people dislike and fear tax farmers. Traders run into problems at toll and customs stations. On long journeys goods are often taxed several times as they pass through various districts.
Levi is sitting in his "tax booth". This is a toll booth at the side of the road where people are taxed for their possessions as they pass by. Jesus calls Levi to leave the tax booth. There's now no-one at the toll booth, since tax collectors work alone. What this means is that Jesus has turned a toll road into a freeway. By encouraging the dereliction of duty of a tax inspector, he has undoubtedly committed revenue fraud. Funny that nobody touches on this; all the commentaries are struck dumb will how lovely it is that Jesus calls the lowest of the low in society. They don't stop to think about what happens next.
I keep trying to say that Jesus was apolitical, that his struggle was against evil and injustice and not political systems, but he keeps making it more and more difficult for me.
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