The Tax Collector

Origin
The New Testament

Story
One of the biggest lessons we get from Jesus is the need for compassion. The next story is a perfect example of Jesus’ compassion.

Once, while passing through the town of Jericho, Jesus showed the world the meaning of hating the sin, not a sinner! As he was passing through the down, a crowd of people followed him. They wanted to hear Jesus talk about God’s Kingdom!

In that crowd, there was also a man called Zaccheus, the tax collector. He too wanted to see Jesus Christ. But he was a short man and could not see over the crowd.
So, Zaccheus hit upon a clever idea. He climbed to the top a tree so he could see who Jesus was.

As Jesus was passing under the tree, he looked up and said “
“Zaccheus, come down, I must stay at your house today.”
The jubilant Zaccheus climbed down and began walking with Jesus towards his home.

But the crowd was not pleased with this change of events. Most people in Jericho did not like tax collectors as most of them were greedy and dishonest.

Jesus’ followers did not want their savior to be kind to such a sinner. But Zaccheus was a changed man. He promised Jesus that he would give half of his earnings to the poor and also return the money he had grabbed from common folks.

This is just what Jesus had hoped for. He blessed Zaccheus and showed that one must hate the sin, not the sinner.

Lesson
Hate the sin, not the sinner.