Jesus’ relationships: Gentiles and tax collectors (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Revision Notes

Jesus' relationships: Gentiles and tax collectors

Introduction

In St Mark's Gospel, several accounts highlight the special relationships Jesus developed with people who were considered outcasts by Jewish society. Two particularly important groups were Gentiles and tax collectors. Understanding these relationships helps us see how Jesus challenged social prejudices and demonstrated his message of universal salvation.

Gentiles were non-Jewish people who were often viewed as impure by Jewish religious authorities. Tax collectors were seen as dishonest collaborators with the Roman occupation and were considered unclean due to their association with Gentile rulers.

The Greek woman's daughter (Mark 7:24-30)

This powerful story demonstrates Jesus' relationship with Gentiles through his encounter with a non-Jewish mother seeking help for her possessed daughter. The woman was described as Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia, making her doubly foreign to Jewish society.

When the woman begged Jesus to heal her daughter, his initial response seemed to prioritise Jewish people, telling her:

"First let the children eat all they want, for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs."

However, the woman's remarkable faith and quick thinking led her to reply:

"Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."

This response so impressed Jesus that he immediately granted her request, saying:

"For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter." (Mark 7:25-30)

The story shows that whilst Jesus acknowledged his primary mission to the Jewish people (the "children"), he was also willing to extend his healing power to Gentiles who demonstrated genuine faith. The woman's persistence and clever reasoning proved that God's love and power were available to everyone, regardless of their ethnic background.

The call of Levi (Mark 2:13-17)

Jesus' relationship with tax collectors is perfectly illustrated through his calling of Levi, a tax collector who became one of his disciples. This encounter caused significant controversy because tax collectors were despised by Jewish society for several reasons: they collaborated with Roman occupiers, were often dishonest in their dealings, and their work made them ritually unclean.

When religious leaders questioned why Jesus associated with such people, he responded with a powerful statement about his mission:

"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:16-17)

This declaration revealed that Jesus deliberately sought out those who were rejected by society. Rather than avoiding tax collectors and sinners, he actively included them in his ministry, showing that God's mercy was especially available to those who recognised their need for forgiveness.

Significance of Jesus' attitudes

These accounts reveal several crucial aspects of Jesus' ministry and character. Firstly, Jesus consistently challenged the discriminatory attitudes of his time, demonstrating that salvation was not limited to any particular social or ethnic group. His willingness to heal the Greek woman's daughter and call Levi as a disciple showed that God's love transcends human boundaries and prejudices.

Secondly, Jesus actively worked to break down stereotypical views held by various groups in society. He refused to accept that Gentiles were automatically excluded from God's blessings, or that tax collectors were beyond redemption. Through his actions, he showed that everyone deserved dignity and the opportunity for spiritual transformation.

Finally, Jesus' behaviour consistently reflected his core teachings about loving everyone and treating people as you would wish to be treated. By associating with outcasts and responding to their needs with compassion, he demonstrated that his message of love was not just theoretical but practical and inclusive.