Tax-collectors were usually lumped together with a group called "sinners." They were avoided by the godly people because of the bad influence they had on others and because of OT scriptures such as the Psalms that encouraged separation from sinners.
Tax-collectors were separated from other wealthy people in Israel. Why?
It could be they were shunned because of their intimate ties with Rome. Indeed the Saducees and Pharisees owed their well being and their positions to Rome, but their allegience to Rome was not a warm friendly one. Theirs' was a submission based in part to Rome's superior armies. To keep their positions secure they had to do whatever services and taxes were required of them by Rome. They were Rome's puppets who dreamed of losing their strings and becoming even more powerful in their positions.
The tax-collectors were like suckers, willingly attaching themseles to and feeding from the shark called Rome.
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