Bible Dictionary
Custom
Custom can refer to a tax collected by Roman publicans on goods and transactions. Scripture also describes temple tribute, money-changing, and the abuses that made tax collectors objects of public hatred.
Definition
Custom in this entry refers chiefly to a tax or tribute, especially the tax collected by Roman publicans on goods and transactions. Publicans maintained stations at city gates, highways, and designated places called the receipt of custom.
Biblical Usage
The Gospels mention the receipt of custom and the taxes collected by publicans. Publicans were disliked because they were tempted to exact more than the lawful amount. Scripture also mentions the annual half-shekel temple tribute and the money-changers who exchanged foreign coins for Jewish money.
Historical Background
Money-changers served pilgrims who needed Jewish coin for the temple tribute. Jesus drove them from the temple because the traffic was being conducted for gain contrary to the law.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A tax imposed by the Romans. The tax-gatherers were termed publicans (q.v.), who had their stations at the gates of cities, and in the public highways, and at the place set apart for that purpose, called the “receipt of custom” (Matt. 9: 9; Mark 2:14), where they collected the money that was to be paid on certain goods (Matt. 17:25). These publicans were tempted to exact more from the people than was lawful, and were, in consequence of their extortions, objects of great hatred. The Pharisees would have no intercourse with them (Matt. 5:46, 47; 9:10, 11). A tax or tribute (q.v.) of half a shekel was annually paid by every adult Jew for the temple. It had to be paid in Jewish coin (Matt. 22:17-19; Mark 12:14, 15). Money-changers (q.v.) were necessary, to enable the Jews who came up to Jerusalem at the feasts to exchange their foreign coin for Jewish money; but as it was forbidden by the law to carry on such a traffic for emolument (Deut. 23:19, 20), our Lord drove them from the temple (Matt. 21:12: Mark 11:15).