Luke 5:27-32 ...Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Levi was a tax collector. Tax collectors of those times were oft times theives of people's money. A dishonest collector would tell people they owed more than they did, then he would pocket the extra change. Backed by the Roman government, people were scared of these collectors for fear of going to prison. Levi and his professional comrades were among the richest wherever they lived.
These facts bring a whole new light to the Pharisee complaints. This passage doesn't say if Levi was honest or dishonest in collecting taxes. The passage does say that Levi left everything to follow Jesus when he was commanded. Then Levi held a banquet for Jesus where many tax collecters and others were eating with them. Levi answered the call of Jesus and threw a party. Like us Levi sinned--"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)--but this did not stop Levi from following Jesus, nor should it stop us. In addition, we should note that many other tax collectors showed up, and they had all sinned too, along with the Pharisees and the disciples. This fits in with our slogan at Stonelake, "No perfect people allowed". Jesus is our one exception.
Levi was a tax collector. Tax collectors of those times were oft times theives of people's money. A dishonest collector would tell people they owed more than they did, then he would pocket the extra change. Backed by the Roman government, people were scared of these collectors for fear of going to prison. Levi and his professional comrades were among the richest wherever they lived.
These facts bring a whole new light to the Pharisee complaints. This passage doesn't say if Levi was honest or dishonest in collecting taxes. The passage does say that Levi left everything to follow Jesus when he was commanded. Then Levi held a banquet for Jesus where many tax collecters and others were eating with them. Levi answered the call of Jesus and threw a party. Like us Levi sinned--"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)--but this did not stop Levi from following Jesus, nor should it stop us. In addition, we should note that many other tax collectors showed up, and they had all sinned too, along with the Pharisees and the disciples. This fits in with our slogan at Stonelake, "No perfect people allowed". Jesus is our one exception.
The Pharisees just don't get it. They say, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" The truth is, we all screw up like they did. God made it so all our problems have one solution: Jesus. And through His answer, Jesus shows them the reality they face, and shows us the reality we face. Doctors help the sick. Jesus is our spiritual doctor. He helps us patch up our wrongs for a straight pathway to Heaven. As sinners, weneed to repent, to ask forgiveness for our sins. We can ask forgiveness from Jesus as many times as we need to. Jesus tells the Pharisees that He's here to heal the wounded, here to heal the sick, here to heal those who call on him. Jesus calls on the sinners of the world to come to him, live life with him, and then go to Heaven!
In Matthew 19: 21-22, how Jesus forgives is explained, "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times..." Ask and it will be given." We will always be forgiven! Our Lord is great!
We at Stonelake ask you to reflect and pray on this passage today, and to thank Jesus for all the times he's forgiven us. So much has been given to us. How much will we give back to God who made us?
Let us know how this ministry has affected your life today. Please comment either with quotes from the Bible, so we all can look them up, or with a short statement of what's happening in your life. If this was too much reading, let us know. Your help with this project will encourage others to do the same, so that we may we keep growing God's family through Jesus. Amen.
In Matthew 19: 21-22, how Jesus forgives is explained, "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times..." Ask and it will be given." We will always be forgiven! Our Lord is great!
We at Stonelake ask you to reflect and pray on this passage today, and to thank Jesus for all the times he's forgiven us. So much has been given to us. How much will we give back to God who made us?
Let us know how this ministry has affected your life today. Please comment either with quotes from the Bible, so we all can look them up, or with a short statement of what's happening in your life. If this was too much reading, let us know. Your help with this project will encourage others to do the same, so that we may we keep growing God's family through Jesus. Amen.
