Please, follow your heart. The Church is a gift God left us on earth, to be better followers of His Son. Yes, sinners (like me) are in the Church, But we are here for the same reason you would be here -- to become less of a sinner, and more of a saint. I'm glad to pray for you. (Someone prayed for me.)
Thank you Dr Bergsma! I’ve learnt so much in just an hour. Presentation was very well done. Definitely one of the best presentations I’ve seen in recent years. 🙏
Matthew is tied for my favorite bible book. I'm not RCC myself but I do appreciate how the Catholic churches seem to place more priority on the gospel books than other Christian churches. (thank you for this video and for pointing people to this SUPERB gospel)
I really enjoy Dr Bergsma's "The Word of the Lord" which is a commentary for each Sunday's Bible readings. He has an amazing perspective and historical presentation of the OT and Psalms.
Thank you Lord for your modern day disciples in bringing to our attention this very important knowledge and understanding about Matthew the Apostle. Very informative! for us lay people. God bless you Dr Bergsma! 🙏🙏🙏
Many thanks to the "Little Red Hen" for working on this and sharing it with the laity who don't have the expertise to discover all the truths in the gospels. Please know that some of us are very appreciative of your efforts. What a gift!
This is so helpful. Thank you so much for giving this teaching to prepare us for this up coming church year. Please keep giving us teachings. I will pass it on to my R.E. students. 🙏🏻
(It is nearly midnight on Dec. 14, 2022). Dr. Bergamot, thank you for this great lesson on St. Matthew’s history and Gospel, and for pointing out so many important issues or teachings from his Gospel. The information on all the gospels and how they relate to each other is information I was not aware of. The history you give us brings the Gospels into perspective for all of us. It helps to make more sense to those of us who are not theologians. I look forward to hearing more from you. May God bless you and guide you always.
All the presentations from St Paul Center merits a billion like! Whew... wish we all could give that to them huh. Thank you guys! Maraming salamat from Pilipinas!
Letters from Home is still available as a daily audio podcast but, yeah, I miss the videos and being able to share them on social media. I also miss the segments by some of the previous hosts including Rob Corzine and Curtis Mitch. It would be nice to see (or hear) them sub occasionally.
I think all of our world leaders should read the book of St. Mathew because our ancestors left us an important message about countries at war because they knew how to deal with war. I memorized the message because I read it more than one time and it stated that countries at war shouldn't be given any arms or weapons nor any financial defense funding from other countries . Personally I think we should give war torn countries food, water, and medical supplies or assistance. One more reason we should take this good advice is because if we don't it would cause war to escalate and was advised against by our federal government's top advisors.
I agree completely. All world leaders should carefully read this book and consider its message. Also, all christians should prayerfully read this book and take every last word of it seriously. If this were to happen it could not help but effect change. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isa55
This lecture was so powerful detailing the importance of this deciple of Christ. I am watching the fantastic series The Chosen, and it presents Matthew in such a wonderful way. Thank you for this lecture, I will watch it again and others! Thank you!
Thanks. I have been missing the teaching on certain aspects of theology and going into the details of different scriptures readings since you did change the format so months (over a year) ago and dropped the videos on daily readings. The very short three minutes q&a sort of tiktok format did not convince me. Glad you’re now bringing something deepened one can actually learn from. God bless
This was the most illuminating material I’ve seen about the structure of this gospel or any other. Hoping there’s one coming for each of the others… perhaps the Emmaus Academy!
Thank you Dr. Bergsma, excellent presentation! Just received your new book for year A and I am already diving into it! Blessings to you and your family!
Thank you. I am thinking to takeup a bible study course sometime in the future. This study of Gospel of Mathew is intriguing. Thank you once again and God bless
There's some debate about which figure in Caravaggio's painting is intended to be St. Matthew, but I agree that it's the guy on the left (i.e. the figure featured in this video) because he's the only one whose eyes haven't been touched by the light - i.e. the only person in the picture who hasn't made a decision yet.
What was the design for deciding the readings at masses before the council? What was wrong with it from the start until it was disolved, what did we not learn about the church teachings which were based on the bible?
Why individualize the Gospel so much? St Matthew wrote his Gospel for a distinct community, in a specific place, at a particular time. They would have been concerned with questions relevant to them. It would be great to hear more about these contextual factors. For example, the Quadratos approach of Alexander Shaia covers these points beautifully.
Hello, I’ve been reading Matthew and I’m looking at Chapter 6:22-23, what does this mean? I am getting mixed interpretations of this verse, some people say that it talks about giving generously and another interpretation is about what we watch and look at
Here are some scriptures which should help understanding: Prov28:22 He that hasteth to be rich hath **an evil eye,** and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him. Deut15 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and **thine eye be evil** against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. Mat20 > But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? **Is thine eye evil,** because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. Mat6:22 > (context) Lay not up for yourselves **treasures** upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if **thine eye be evil,** thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and **mammon.**
Really?? Because I've given all my time since b4 Lockdown 'til now trying to find valid arguments that truly stood up to scrutiny that anything like that might possibly be so. I admit Lockdown made me a paranoid enough to be open to what look like bizarre challenges to the validity of the Church hierarchy although I wasn't SO stupid not to know that the weight of argument HAS to be incredibly strong, factual (not interpretive) & not subjective. As it turns out I never found any "arguments " that made it necessary to apply these stricter needs before deciding. I began thinking these people are all sincere but misguided but now I find it very hard to believe that the clerics, in particular, who put out the arguments can actually believe the paper thin & spurious apologetics & pseudo theology they push. IF they've convinced themselves I think there's something seriously wrong ,not just mistaken interpretation.
@@CatholicDefender-bp7my Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled **πληρόω** with the odour of the ointment. John12 Same Greek word. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil **πληρόω.** For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Mat5 > Filled full.
Blessed are the poor, in spirit? Poor in spirit, there’s no such thing, St Matthew could not reconcile being poor as blessed so he just added in spirit?
@Troll Patrol Book? the Webster Dictionary. I looked spirit means soul, poor in soul -- no, wine or alcohol--poor in spirit cud mean lousy drink. Carrying our cross is the best meaning of poor in spirit that I heard from a priest, am Catholic.
Sad that we've come to the place where many christians think that Christ's Apostles spoke of their own will & personal thoughts when they penned the words of Scripture, and not that they were prompted by the Holy Spirit. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Pet1:21 But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. Isa66:2
You said Matthew gently brings his Jewish reader to see Jesus as God. But is the first chapter describing a Virgin birth? That’s why Jews close their ears
Matthew/Zacchaeus was probably the *only honest Tax Collector in Judea!* Why? Matthew publicly told Our Lord that *he would repay 4-fold, if he had cheated anyone.* (Luke 19:8) Jesus would NOT have allowed a public claim like that, to stand, if Matthew was just "blowing smoke." So if Matthew had cheated anyone, he would have repaid them 4X, *which would been very costly.* If Matthew had cheated many Jews, *he would NOT have enough money* to repay them 4-fold! Most humans are creatures of habit. So *probably* Matthew cheated frequently, *or not at all.* However, IF Matthew had cheated only a few Jews, he would have had to repay them 4-fold, which would cost a lot of money! *So my guess is that Matthew/Levi was the only honest Tax Collector in Judea.*
@@CatholicDefender-bp7my You missed the point entirely! Tax Collecting is not a sin. And Zacchaeus did not cheat anyone, so he was not a sinful cheat in need of healing from cheating. Healing of sinners has nothing to do with Zacchaeus' story.
@@francikeennot to insert myself into this, but I don't think the other commenter missed the point. Zacchæus tells Jesus in Luke19 that he had repaid four-fold those whom he had defrauded (by exacting more tax than what was due). Remember Luke 3, Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto John the Baptist, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. In other words, Zacchæus in Luke 19 affirms that as a publican he had quit doing that and had "brought forth fruit meet for repentance." Whether tax collecting is a sin or not isn't the issue. We are told that Zacchæus repented from the sin of overcharging tax.
Everything you need to know about what comes out of Stubenville. . .in general, no serious scholar takes what they put out to be what might be termed as "heavyweights"....notice though, what they put out is miles ahead of what most protestants put out...
A hour of this video has taught me more about the Gospel of Saint Matthew than all of what I had learnt in my life. Thank you and God bless you.
Love Dr Bergsma. So good!
I really like this guy. Such a dignified and enthusiastic scholar. He nearly convinces me to become a Catholic.
Please, follow your heart. The Church is a gift God left us on earth, to be better followers of His Son. Yes, sinners (like me) are in the Church, But we are here for the same reason you would be here -- to become less of a sinner, and more of a saint.
I'm glad to pray for you. (Someone prayed for me.)
He was a huge influence on me to join. His knowledge and conviction really struck my heart and mind. 😊 I’ll pray for you.
😊
@@susand3668you can pray for me, I am really looking into the Catholic faith
You are welcome home to the Catholic Church and Faith.
I hope Dr. Bergsma does this for all of the Gospels. Please!
I would like to see them too 😄
Thank you for casting such a light with this way of seeing Matthew's gospel. I loved the visual note on the gospel overview!!❤
Thank you Dr. Bergman. I really enjoyed that.
Would love to hear more of these extended form podcasts from Dr B. His teaching on Matthew was so good and I love his books.
Thank you Dr Bergsma! I’ve learnt so much in just an hour. Presentation was very well done. Definitely one of the best presentations I’ve seen in recent years. 🙏
You're very welcome!
Brilliant. What a great presentation and a fantastic resource. Thank you Dr Bergsma and the St Paul Centre for all you do.
Matthew is tied for my favorite bible book. I'm not RCC myself but I do appreciate how the Catholic churches seem to place more priority on the gospel books than other Christian churches.
(thank you for this video and for pointing people to this SUPERB gospel)
Wow alot of connections i missed in Matthew im liking this immensely
I really enjoy Dr Bergsma's "The Word of the Lord" which is a commentary for each Sunday's Bible readings. He has an amazing perspective and historical presentation of the OT and Psalms.
Thanks for sharing! We love "The Word of the Lord" so much too!
Happy feast of St. Matthew! Reading St. Matthew's gospel changed my life.
same story here.
I _LOVE_ this book!
Outstanding for teaching at the parish level. Thank you Dr. Bergsma.
Thank you Lord for your modern day disciples in bringing to our attention this very important knowledge and understanding about Matthew the Apostle. Very informative! for us lay people. God bless you Dr Bergsma! 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you for all the good that you do for His Church and may God continue to bless you, your family and your ministry 🙏
Really loving it Dr
Many thanks to the "Little Red Hen" for working on this and sharing it with the laity who don't have the expertise to discover all the truths in the gospels. Please know that some of us are very appreciative of your efforts. What a gift!
This is so helpful. Thank you so much for giving this teaching to prepare us for this up coming church year. Please keep giving us teachings. I will pass it on to my R.E. students. 🙏🏻
(It is nearly midnight on Dec. 14, 2022). Dr. Bergamot, thank you for this great lesson on St. Matthew’s history and Gospel, and for pointing out so many important issues or teachings from his Gospel. The information on all the gospels and how they relate to each other is information I was not aware of. The history you give us brings the Gospels into perspective for all of us. It helps to make more sense to those of us who are not theologians. I look forward to hearing more from you. May God bless you and guide you always.
Thanks for sharing
Beautiful what a Christmas gift for now and eternity.💌
Thank you!! Thoroughly enjoying this. I’ll be watching several times trying to absorb as much as I can. ❤
All the presentations from St Paul Center merits a billion like! Whew... wish we all could give that to them huh. Thank you guys! Maraming salamat from Pilipinas!
Thank you Dr. Bergsma. By far, the best teaching I have heard you share.
Best professors from Steubenville. Thank you Dr Bergsma.
Hello, so glad to see you back on UA-cam. I miss Letters from home. I absolutely like your talks :) Blessings
Letters from Home is still available as a daily audio podcast but, yeah, I miss the videos and being able to share them on social media. I also miss the segments by some of the previous hosts including Rob Corzine and Curtis Mitch. It would be nice to see (or hear) them sub occasionally.
Listen to Letters from Home everyday right here!: saintpaulcenter.libsyn.com/ And Vince, you can share the podcasts from this page as well!
Love you!!!!✝️🕊️🙂🙏
Thank you for this video John, I have learned a lot. God bless you more
I’ve listened several times and learn something new each time, just wow!
Thank you. Loved the visuals 🙏🏼
Thank you Dr. Bergsma. Truly appreciate this. God bless. From the Philippines.
I have been begging for His Kingdom to Come since I was 6 years old
❤ Thank you 💕 very much Sir John
Praise God Forever AMEN 🙏
I think all of our world leaders should read the book of St. Mathew because our ancestors left us an important message about countries at war because they knew how to deal with war. I memorized the message because I read it more than one time and it stated that countries at war shouldn't be given any arms or weapons nor any financial defense funding from other countries . Personally I think we should give war torn countries food, water, and medical supplies or assistance. One more reason we should take this good advice is because if we don't it would cause war to escalate and was advised against by our federal government's top advisors.
I agree completely. All world leaders should carefully read this book and consider its message.
Also, all christians should prayerfully read this book and take every last word of it seriously.
If this were to happen it could not help but effect change.
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isa55
Thank you, brother, God bless you for this!
This is a blessing more of this great teaching God bless mate, from Sydney Australia
Thank you for this enriching teaching on St Matthew. Absolutely splendid and well explained. With gratitude and blessings
Thank you Dr. Bergsma’s . The presentation was very good and useful . May God bless you abundantly.
Great explanation about Apostle Matthew, thank you! 🙏
Dear lord I'm a Sinner please let me see the way to do right things and Spred the Truth God Bless St Mathew Amen
Thank you for this video,❤🇨🇦
I love this study. You are helping a seminarian.
I'm so glad! Helping seminarians is one of biggest priorities. May God continue to bless you and your vocation!
This lecture was so powerful detailing the importance of this deciple of Christ. I am watching the fantastic series The Chosen, and it presents Matthew in such a wonderful way. Thank you for this lecture, I will watch it again and others! Thank you!
A.ma.zing. So clear and thorough and profound. Thank you 🧡
Thanks. I have been missing the teaching on certain aspects of theology and going into the details of different scriptures readings since you did change the format so months (over a year) ago and dropped the videos on daily readings. The very short three minutes q&a sort of tiktok format did not convince me. Glad you’re now bringing something deepened one can actually learn from. God bless
This was the most illuminating material I’ve seen about the structure of this gospel or any other. Hoping there’s one coming for each of the others… perhaps the Emmaus Academy!
Thank you Dr. Bergsma, excellent presentation! Just received your new book for year A and I am already diving into it! Blessings to you and your family!
Wow, thank you!
I really enjoyed this, thank you.
Thank you
wonderful presentation! took down notes and drew my own diagram. finished in one sitting! thank you thank you!
Love it 😊 🙏
Thankyou John
❤ thank very
I enjoyed this, Dr. Bergsma. However, I disagree with you that John makes no mention of the institution of the Eucharist. John chapter 6 does.
I agree. I heard that and thought the same thing.
Superd explanation!
Thank you. I am thinking to takeup a bible study course sometime in the future. This study of Gospel of Mathew is intriguing. Thank you once again and God bless
Please do! We may have something for you coming very soon!
if the ESV used the septuagint, as it says on line, for some reason it also includes Hosea 11:1 "out of Egypt I called my son"
There's some debate about which figure in Caravaggio's painting is intended to be St. Matthew, but I agree that it's the guy on the left (i.e. the figure featured in this video) because he's the only one whose eyes haven't been touched by the light - i.e. the only person in the picture who hasn't made a decision yet.
What was the design for deciding the readings at masses before the council? What was wrong with it from the start until it was disolved, what did we not learn about the church teachings which were based on the bible?
Why individualize the Gospel so much? St Matthew wrote his Gospel for a distinct community, in a specific place, at a particular time. They would have been concerned with questions relevant to them. It would be great to hear more about these contextual factors. For example, the Quadratos approach of Alexander Shaia covers these points beautifully.
Am grateful for the Teachers who consider ALL his students.
@@ralphbinney5456 Yes Ralph agreed. And the universal meaning always comes from the local, particular one. That's incarnational, surely?
Yes as long as you know your not the only one in the universe.
how can i cite this presentation? al the way from Tonga.
Hello, I’ve been reading Matthew and I’m looking at Chapter 6:22-23, what does this mean? I am getting mixed interpretations of this verse, some people say that it talks about giving generously and another interpretation is about what we watch and look at
Here are some scriptures which should help understanding:
Prov28:22
He that hasteth to be rich hath **an evil eye,** and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
Deut15
If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and **thine eye be evil** against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
Mat20 >
But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? **Is thine eye evil,** because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Mat6:22 > (context)
Lay not up for yourselves **treasures** upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if **thine eye be evil,** thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and **mammon.**
Seen again.
👍
I Thought Mary Cleophus was Mary's older sister/cousin, not a relative on Joseph's side.
I have heard enough arguments to know that the "2nd" Vatican Council did not give us any "great" gifts
Suggest you watch Bishop Robert Barons "Was Vatican 2 a failure?" God Bless.
Really?? Because I've given all my time since b4 Lockdown 'til now trying to find valid arguments that truly stood up to scrutiny that anything like that might possibly be so. I admit Lockdown made me a paranoid enough to be open to what look like bizarre challenges to the validity of the Church hierarchy although I wasn't SO stupid not to know that the weight of argument HAS to be incredibly strong, factual (not interpretive) & not subjective. As it turns out I never found any "arguments " that made it necessary to apply these stricter needs before deciding. I began thinking these people are all sincere but misguided but now I find it very hard to believe that the clerics, in particular, who put out the arguments can actually believe the paper thin & spurious apologetics & pseudo theology they push. IF they've convinced themselves I think there's something seriously wrong ,not just mistaken interpretation.
Matthew should be the Patron Saint of all accountants, I'm sure he made Judas uneasy.
Jesus came to establish the law, not to abolish the law.
@@CatholicDefender-bp7my
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled **πληρόω** with the odour of the ointment.
John12
Same Greek word.
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil **πληρόω.** For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat5 >
Filled full.
Blessed are the poor, in spirit? Poor in spirit, there’s no such thing, St Matthew could not reconcile being poor as blessed so he just added in spirit?
@Troll Patrol Book? the Webster Dictionary. I looked spirit means soul, poor in soul -- no, wine or alcohol--poor in spirit cud mean lousy drink. Carrying our cross is the best meaning of poor in spirit that I heard from a priest, am Catholic.
Sad that we've come to the place where many christians think that Christ's Apostles spoke of their own will & personal thoughts when they penned the words of Scripture, and not that they were prompted by the Holy Spirit.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2 Pet1:21
But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Isa66:2
Sheeps-Catholics
Goats-Protestants
You said Matthew gently brings his Jewish reader to see Jesus as God. But is the first chapter describing a Virgin birth? That’s why Jews close their ears
Matthew/Zacchaeus was probably the *only honest Tax Collector in Judea!* Why? Matthew publicly told Our Lord that *he would repay 4-fold, if he had cheated anyone.* (Luke 19:8) Jesus would NOT have allowed a public claim like that, to stand, if Matthew was just "blowing smoke." So if Matthew had cheated anyone, he would have repaid them 4X, *which would been very costly.* If Matthew had cheated many Jews, *he would NOT have enough money* to repay them 4-fold!
Most humans are creatures of habit. So *probably* Matthew cheated frequently, *or not at all.* However, IF Matthew had cheated only a few Jews, he would have had to repay them 4-fold, which would cost a lot of money! *So my guess is that Matthew/Levi was the only honest Tax Collector in Judea.*
@@CatholicDefender-bp7my You're right! Thanks for the correction.
@@CatholicDefender-bp7my You missed the point entirely! Tax Collecting is not a sin. And Zacchaeus did not cheat anyone, so he was not a sinful cheat in need of healing from cheating. Healing of sinners has nothing to do with Zacchaeus' story.
@@francikeennot to insert myself into this, but I don't think the other commenter missed the point. Zacchæus tells Jesus in Luke19 that he had repaid four-fold those whom he had defrauded (by exacting more tax than what was due).
Remember Luke 3,
Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto John the Baptist, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
In other words, Zacchæus in Luke 19 affirms that as a publican he had quit doing that and had "brought forth fruit meet for repentance."
Whether tax collecting is a sin or not isn't the issue. We are told that Zacchæus repented from the sin of overcharging tax.
Everything you need to know about what comes out of Stubenville. . .in general, no serious scholar takes what they put out to be what might be termed as "heavyweights"....notice though, what they put out is miles ahead of what most protestants put out...
Would Joe Biden be one of those "rascals" you speak of?