* The people who collected taxes for the Roman government would often demand more money from the people than the government required. The tax collectors would keep the extra amount for themselves.
* Because tax collectors cheated people in this way, the Jews considered them to be among the worst of sinners.
* The Jews also considered Jewish tax collectors to be traitors to their own people because they worked for the Roman government which was oppressing the Jewish people.
__*[34:06](en/tn/obs/help/34/06)__ He said, "Two men went to the Temple to pray. One of them was a __tax collector__, and the other was a religious leader."
__*[34:07](en/tn/obs/help/34/07)__ "The religious leader prayed like this, 'Thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like other men—such as robbers, unjust men, adulterers, or even like that __tax collector__.'"
__*[34:09](en/tn/obs/help/34/09)__ "But the __tax collector__ stood far away from the religious ruler, did not even look up to heaven. Instead, he pounded on his chest and prayed, 'God, please be merciful to me because I am a sinner.'"
__*[34:10](en/tn/obs/help/34/10)__ Then Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, God heard the __tax collector's__ prayer and declared him to be righteous."
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